How to glue the car ceiling with your own hands, the choice of means and step-by-step instructions

The vast majority of models have a light-coloured headlining. Over time, spots become visible on it. Washing, dry cleaning lead to deterioration of the coating. Wet processing breaks the adhesive base of the ceiling material. It sags, forming bubbles. You can replace the upholstery with your own hands if you know how to glue the ceiling of the car correctly.

Basic Adhesive Requirements

The choice of glue plays an important role in the transportation of the car ceiling panel. The composition must be:

• quite liquid;
• form a good adhesion of the panel and the material;
• withstand extreme temperatures;
• leave no traces;
• do not emit toxic fumes after the sticker.

You must read the manufacturer's instructions and fulfill the specified requirements for the bonding technology.

Suitable types of glue

In practice, adhesives are most often used, which include polychloroprene or polyurethane.

Based on polychloroprene

Polychloroprene adhesives contain solvents, resins or metal oxides to increase bond strength and resistance to temperature changes. During the bonding process, local heating with a hair dryer can be recommended, which speeds up the polymerization and gives a strong bond. After the completion of the constriction, the car is ready for use in 30 minutes.

Popular adhesive brands:

1. "Clay-88". Advantages: suitable for all types of cladding, resistant to high humidity. Disadvantages: poor hold, toxic smell during work.
2. "GTA Botterm". Advantages - resistance to temperature fluctuations, high humidity. To activate the connection, you need to apply heating up to 60 degrees.
3. "Mah". Forms a good connection, resistant to heat and humidity. The downside is the high cost.
4. Kaiflex K414. Single component UV resistant compound. Joint strength is achieved through the effect of cold welding.

Expensive glue brands are used by professionals.

Polyurethane

Polyurethane adhesives belong to the category of universal adhesives, they give strong fixation of the base and material. The drying time makes it possible to correct the defects of shrinkage. Polyurethane adhesives used in ceiling panels:

1. "Moment". For constriction use universal varieties - "Moment Crystal" and "Moment-1". Adhesives have good adhesion, moisture resistance, withstand temperatures from -40 to +100 degrees.
2. "Titan" ("Titan"). Specialized glue, has a viscous consistency, sets quickly. The composition gives a strong connection, is non-toxic, colorless, retains properties from -30 to +60 degrees, moisture resistant.
3. Demoskol. Colourless, stable in a humid environment, resists mechanical and thermal stresses.

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Polyurethane adhesives are produced ready for use in convenient packaging.

Alternative options

For the decoration of car dealerships, spray adhesives are used. Advantages of adhesives:

• economic;
• do not spread;
• leave no traces;
• give a uniform coating.

The disadvantage is the high cost, the mandatory availability of application skills due to the high drying rate.

Preparatory activities

The transportation process begins with the removal of the roof panel through the passenger door into the cabin. The seat is removed beforehand. In some cases, it is advisable to remove the windshield. The ceiling, caps, visors, handles are removed from the ceiling. The released panel is pulled out of the grooves and transferred to the room where the constriction will take place.

Completely remove the old casing with abrasive detergents. The remaining glue is cleaned with a solvent. The surface is dried.

How to properly glue the ceiling in a car

You can start gluing from the central part (in this case, an assistant is needed) or from the edge (you can do it alone). Pulling from the center, the glue is applied in small strips (up to 10 centimeters in length and width). The material in this place is pressed tightly.

The next section is treated with an adhesive composition, the fabric is straightened on it. In the place of bends and protrusions, the upholstery should be especially carefully attached to the panel. At the edges, the material is bent under the ceiling, glued, the excess is cut off. Then holes are made for the fasteners and the panel is installed in place.

If the constriction starts from the edge, the edge protrusion and ¼ of the panel surface are coated with glue.After carefully attaching the material to the glue base, the rest of the panel is coated and the gluing process is complete. The choice of method of pruning depends on the material: the thinner is glued from the edge, the denser - from the center.

The choice of ceiling fabric for constriction

The headliner material must externally match the interior upholstery of the passenger compartment. For example, eco-leather will be combined with natural leather, flocking - with velvet. For homogeneous materials, the main thing is to choose exactly the trim for the ceiling or a lighter tone.

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Herd

In appearance, the material resembles velor, but much cheaper and more practical. An artificial material is obtained by gluing chopped fibers of wool, cotton, synthetic materials to a base fabric. A mixed flock and polyester is used to stretch the ceiling in the passenger compartment.

The composition of the mixed herd includes: nylon (hair), cotton with synthetics (base). Polyester flock has similar properties to blend except for the color range (only available in black). Flocking is the most requested material to cover car dealerships. Reasons:

• practicality (easy to clean, does not deform, does not fade in the sun, withstands temperature changes);
• safety (non-flammable, does not emit harmful fumes);
• tactile and visual appeal;
• affordability.

The peculiarity of the use of upholstery materials is the prohibition of the use of cleaning agents containing alcohol, acetone. We recommend the use of special products to prevent the accumulation of static electricity.

Eco-leather

Eco-leather differs from faux leather in higher quality.The material consists of 2 layers: polyurethane (natural leather texture) and cotton/polyester (base). Polyurethane is a durable, non-toxic and breathable polymer. Dyeing and embossing give it a natural leather look.

The advantages of eco-leather are:

• in elasticity that protects against tearing;
• a wide range of colors and textures;
• hypoallergenic;
• incombustibility;
• dirt and water repellent properties;
• color preservation under the influence of sunlight;
• temperature resistance down to -40 degrees;
• availability in treatment.

Disadvantages of the material compared to other upholstery fabrics:

• mechanical damage leads to disrepair (loss of attractive appearance);
• no maintainability when the polyurethane layer is destroyed;
• warms up in the sun.

When cleaning the coating, do not use metallic and abrasive brushes, products containing chlorine.

Leather

For car dealerships, special automotive leather is used, which is stronger and more expensive than shoe and clothing leather. Genuine automotive leather is an expensive material used in high-end models. Unlike artificial surfaces, it has a number of significant disadvantages:

• has high thermal conductivity (the ability to heat and cool strongly);
• poorly breathable;
• difficulty leaving.

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The main advantage of natural material is prestige for the owner.

Alcantara

Alcantara is of two types: Italian and self-adhesive. The Italian material has textiles or foam rubber on the seam side. Self-adhesive Alcantara has an adhesive base. The material was developed specifically for the decoration of car dealerships.The fabric looks like suede (with the sticker, the pile is longer) and has the following characteristics:

• moisture resistant;
• easily cleaned of dirt;
• fireproof;
• does not fade in the sun;
• does not darken in the cold;
• does not crack due to temperature changes;
• wear resistant.

The material is available in a wide range of colors.

Carpet

The rug (carpet) is available in three versions, determined by the length of the pile:

1. The pile is missing. Dense, soft and elastic fabric.
2. Pile length - 6 millimeters (tufted carpet).
3. Pile length - 10 millimeters (premium material).

Advantages of synthetic fabric:

• resistance to moisture, high temperatures, UV rays;
• not electrified;
• nontoxic;
• wear resistant.

Application Feature: You cannot use hot melt adhesives, which require heating above 50 degrees.

General rules of procedure

Remove the ceiling panel, detach the spacers and sun visors. If the "native" padding has no bubbles, the new material is glued to it. The ceiling panel is primed with adhesive. When the adhesive dries, the procedure is repeated. Glue is applied to the prepared material and spread over the surface of the panel, leaving no wrinkles and bubbles.

If there are bubbles, remove the old coating from the panel. The surface is cleaned, primed with an adhesive, a new fabric is glued.

Additional tips and tricks

If this is the first time the ceiling is stretched, it is recommended to practice gluing in a small area, using the chosen glue and material. Eco-leather, the leather should be glued with a partner in order to obtain good tension and good adhesion to the base. Work should be carried out with gloves so as not to leave marks on the case. If you are doing the job yourself and have no experience, you should not use high-setting glues.