Sometimes when you are considering a custom auto upholstery project for your car, you may plan to replace or fix up the headliner. The headliner is that part of fabric that is attached to a board on the inside roof. Moisture and heat can affect the foam binding the material and this can result in sagging or falling fabric. This is particularly common in vehicles that were manufactured in the 1970's but can happen to any vehicle.
It could cost upwards of $200 to get the headliner changed (probably less, if you do it as part of a greater custom auto upholstery project) so it is something you might wish to think doing yourself. It's not difficult but can be boring and may need 2 people. Do not attempt to do it on a day when the weather conditions is against you. You want it to be warm but not extremely hot as that will make the glue too tacky.
Remove all the screws you can see i.e. these holding the lights and visors to the headliner. Keep these in a safe place as you will need them when you're putting it back together. You then remove the headliner which as we have seen is simply a board covered in fabric. You'll have to remove the existing covering and scrape off as much of the old glue as possible. If you don't do these steps you'll affect the uniformity of the new finish.
While choosing your fabric, it would be a good idea to tell the fabric shop assistant what you wish to use it for. A few materials just aren't suitable. You can alteration the color scheme but it would be wise not to change the texture of the fabric very much. Don't go from thin to very thick as this would make putting all the pieces back together that a lot more difficult! You also have to pick a covering that is suitable for use with glue adhesive.
Don't skimp on the fabric. It is always best to have too much rather than too little. Spray the board with glue adhesive and put the cover over it. Keep it taut to avoid any crinkles or gaps. You'll need to pay attention to the corners and make them very neat. You then have to let it dry entirely before putting back into the car. If you would rather not chance doing it yourself and messing it up, but, any decent custom auto upholstery expert who's worth anything can do it fast and easily for you.
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