Headlining for Volkswagen LT

What is a headliner for?

The headliner covers the inside of the roof, which is the largest visible surface in the passenger compartment after the upholstery. It serves three purposes: it conceals the metal panel and its reinforcements; it absorbs some of the road noise that echoes through the roof; and it reduces heat transfer through the roof, which is the part of the car most exposed to the sun.

It is also the element that makes an interior look the most dated. A headliner that is peeling or stained is visible from the outside, through the windows, and is enough to make an otherwise well-maintained car look neglected.

Why a headliner comes away from the panel

The fabric of a modern headliner is not glued directly to its backing: it is laminated onto a thin layer of polyurethane foam, and it is this foam that adheres to the panel. With the heat built up under the headliner and the passage of time, this foam literally crumbles into powder.

The fabric is then no longer held in place by anything: it sags, forming a pouch above the passengers’ heads, and orange-coloured powder remains on the panel. This is why simply re-gluing it never works: the adhesive has nothing to bond to. The only lasting repair is to remove the old fabric and its residual foam completely, down to the bare panel, before fitting a new fabric panel. On the oldest types of display, where vinyl is stretched over ribs, the process is different: it is the vinyl itself that hardens and cracks.

Fabric, vinyl, canvas for gluing: which to choose

• Clear,perforated vinyl is the most common finish on installations from the 1960s and 1970s. The perforations are not decorative: they allow the material to breathe and contribute to sound absorption.
• Smooth vinyl gives a cleaner finish and is easier to clean. It is often used in utility vehicles and understated finishes.
• Patterned fabrics, including the diamond-patterned variety, correspond to specific finishes from certain eras. This is the choice for authenticity, and the pattern is what immediately stands out if it is not the correct one.
• Adhesive fabric, sold by the metre, is used to refurbish an existing panel yourself. It is the only solution when the pre-formed headliner is no longer available for the vehicle, and it allows you to choose the colour freely.

Also check whether or not there is a sunroof: the cut-out makes all the difference, and the two versions are not interchangeable.

Pre-formed or DIY

The pre-formed headliner arrives with the correct cut-outs and can be fitted in half a day. This is the most reliable solution where it is available for the vehicle, and it guarantees that the cut-outs for the sun visors, ceiling light and handles will line up correctly.

Fitting a fabric headliner requires removing the panel, stripping it completely, then stretching and bonding the new fabric before recutting the openings. It takes longer and requires careful work, but it’s the only option when no pre-formed headliner is available, and it allows you to choose your own colour. Make sure you use an adhesive designed for this purpose, one that can withstand heat: a headliner refitted with ordinary glue will sag by the first summer.

Fit without creating creases

• Strip the surface down to the bare panel. Any residual foam will create a raised area beneath the new fabric, and this will be visible.
• Work at a comfortable temperature, in a warm room: the canvas relaxes in the heat and tightens as it cools, which works in your favour.
• Start from the centre and work outwards towards the edges, applying the paste in sections rather than all at once, and smooth the canvas flat by hand.
• Take care with the corners and recesses around the reinforcements: this is where creases form, and a crease cannot be corrected once the glue has set.
• Cut out the openings last, once the canvas is in place and the glue has dried, leaving a margin for the flap.

For frames with ribs – that is, cross-bars that tension the fabric beneath the canopy – reposition them in the correct order and orientation: these are what give the canopy its shape, and corroded ribs will leave marks on the new fabric.