A sagging roof lining is one of the most common car interior faults in South Africa. Heat breaks down the thin foam behind the cloth, the glue lets go, and the fabric droops onto your head and blocks the rear view. Car roof upholstery repair is a trimmer's job: the board comes out, the old cloth and crumbled foam are scraped off, and new foam-backed headlining is glued on. Tell us the vehicle and whether it has a sunroof, and we pass it to independent motor trimmers near you. They quote you directly. The request is free, with no obligation.
Why roof linings sag
The roof lining is a moulded board covered with headlining fabric that has a thin layer of foam bonded to the back. After years of sun on the roof, that foam turns to powder and the fabric lets go of the board. It usually starts at the back window or around the sunroof and spreads. Things that speed it up:
- Cars parked in the open sun all day
- Water leaks from a blocked sunroof drain or a windscreen seal
- Smoking, and cleaning the lining with wet products
It is a common car upholstery repair.
Pins, spray glue or a proper relining
Pins, twist clips and a can of spray glue hold the cloth up for a while, but the glue soaks through and stains the fabric, then lets go in the next hot spell, because the crumbled foam underneath has nothing left to hold. A proper job removes all the old foam and uses new foam-backed headlining fabric with a heat-resistant adhesive. Choose the colour to match the pillars and sun visors; most trimmers carry greys, beiges and black, and some customers choose faux suede for a sportier look.
What the job involves
The trimmer removes the sun visors, grab handles, interior lights, pillar trims and seat belt guides, then eases the board out through a door or the boot. On many cars a front seat is tilted or removed so the board comes out without cracking. The board is scraped clean, recovered, left to cure and refitted. Sunroofs, roof consoles and wiring for lights add time. Ask the trimmer to fix any leak first, or the new lining will stain. If the seats are tired too, see leather car seat repair.
What affects the price and what to ask
The price depends on the size of the vehicle (a hatchback against a double cab or a kombi), a sunroof or panoramic roof, how many fittings come off, the fabric and whether the board is cracked. Ask:
- Do you replace the foam-backed fabric or only reglue it?
- Is a cracked board repaired, and is that extra?
- Can you recover the visors and pillars to match?
- Is the work guaranteed against sagging again?
Caravan and camper ceilings can often be lined too; see boat and caravan upholstery.
What to include in your request
- Vehicle type, year and body shape
- Sunroof or panoramic roof
- Where the lining has dropped
- Any water leaks or stains
- Colour to match the pillars
Car Roof Lining Repair for homes, cars and businesses
- Homeowners and tenants: the family car whose roof cloth has dropped onto the back seat passengers
- Restaurants, hotels, guesthouses and lodges: guest shuttle kombis and lodge vehicles with sagging, stained roof linings
- Offices and businesses: company cars that need the roof lining redone before handover or resale
- Car, bakkie and taxi owners: used car dealers and panel beaters getting roof linings redone before a sale
- Boats, caravans and 4x4s: campers, caravans and 4x4 canopies with ceilings that have lifted in the heat
- Clinics, salons, spas and gyms: patient transport vehicles with a tired, stained roof lining over the stretcher area
- Churches, schools and halls: school kombis and municipal vehicles where the lining hangs over the rear seats
- Upholsterers, makers, designers and DIYers: car restorers and dealers who send out headliner work to a local trimmer
Frequently asked questions
How much does a roof lining repair cost?
Can I just glue my sagging roof lining back up?
How long does car roof upholstery repair take?
Who will quote me for my roof lining?
Car Roof Lining Repair by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg