Automobile
headliners are the one part of a car interior that has gives consumers the
most grief. Basically, the way the headliners is constructed is a colored
cordinated material is glued on a form fitted board made specifically for
a particular type of car. The reason headliners come loose and start hanging
is the material getting cooked over a period of time from interior heat
and disintergrating a thin layer of foam (1/4" thick) that is milled
on the colored material. When this happens, the process for repair is:
1) Taking the
board that the material is glued to out of the car
2) Cleaning
the old foam off the board
3) Gluing the
new material on the board
4) Reinstalling
the board in the car
The average cost to recover headliner boards - only - in automobiles is
$85. Extra panels covered in headlining material, board repair and trim
molding repair are extra charges.
Sunvisors are
extra with an average cost of $40 - $65 pr. If sunvisors are to be considered
for repair, it is recommended that the sunvisors are covered at the same
time as the headliner with the same bolt of material. Because of possible
slight dye lot variations in color shade from one roll of headlining material
to the next, this way the sunvisors will be sure to match the headliner.
New headliner material being glued on original board
Older type of headliners - seamed headliners - are more complex and more
expensive. These type of headliners are designed to have fittted panels
of material sewn together with a pocket on the back side of the seam. This
pocket holds a curved rod that snaps into holes on each side of the interior
of the car. These rods in the pockets is what holds the headlining material
up. Some automobiles may have design alterations concerning the rod, but
the principal will still be the same: a floating headliner. These type of
headliners - only - average $200 and up. Other considerations on price adjustment
is windlace, hydem, tack strip repair, patterns, original material match,
roof padding, missing bows, removing and replacing glass for installation
with possible new rubber seals, and misc custom modifications and repairs.
Below is some examples of sewn headliners done by Catalina Custom.
Chrome bars / Sherpa blue tweed material
1955 Chevy 2dr Hardtop
Chrome bars with white perforated material.
Sunvisors has UltraLeather HP comfort panels added
Headliner done with original knap material
All jobs must be seen for final prices.
Other examples of headlers may be viewed in the Showcase Gallery.