Step 4: Apply adhesive
This is the fourth step in re-covering a car headlining with suede. With the board clean, smooth and your fabric already cut to size, you are ready to spray the adhesive. This is the step that bonds everything together, so it is important to get it right.
Use the right adhesive spray
Use a heat-resistant headlining adhesive spray made for car interiors. The inside of a car roof gets hot, and ordinary adhesive will not hold up to that. It will let go over time and you will be back to square one.
It is also worth having enough to hand before you start. Running out halfway through a large roof is not ideal, so make sure you have plenty for the whole board.
Why you spray both surfaces
This type of product is a contact adhesive. That means it goes onto both surfaces, the board and the back of the suede, and the two coated sides bond to each other when they meet.
This is why you cannot just spray one side. If only one surface is coated, there is nothing for it to grip against and the bond will be weak. So spray both the board and the fabric.
Keep the coat even
Aim for a consistent coat with no thick patches and no bare spots. An uneven coat shows up as poor adhesion once the fabric is on.
Where the board curves or bends, add a little extra. Those areas are under tension and they are the first to lift if they do not have enough adhesive behind them.
Let it go tacky
Once both surfaces are sprayed, give the adhesive a moment to go tacky before you bring them together. With a contact adhesive this happens quickly, usually around 30 to 40 seconds, so do not leave it sitting for long.
As soon as it feels tacky to the touch it is ready, and that is when it grabs best. It is always worth checking the guidance on your own can, as tack times vary between products.
The smaller trim pieces
It is not just the main board that gets covered. The smaller trim pieces are done in the same suede so everything matches once it goes back in the car. They are prepped and trimmed in exactly the same way, just on a smaller scale.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Spraying only one surface instead of both.
- Laying the suede while the adhesive is still wet.
- Patchy coverage, with thick spots in some areas and bare spots in others.
- Going light on the curved sections that need the most hold.
FAQ
What spray adhesive should I use for car headlining?
A heat-resistant contact adhesive made for vehicle interiors. It has to cope with the heat inside a roof, which ordinary adhesive cannot.
Why do I spray both the board and the fabric?
Because it is a contact adhesive. Both coated surfaces bond to each other when they meet, so spraying just one side gives a weak hold.
How long should I let headlining adhesive go tacky?
With a contact adhesive it is quick, usually around 30 to 40 seconds, though it is worth checking your can. Tacky adhesive holds far better than a wet coat.
Next step
With both surfaces sprayed and the adhesive turning tacky, you are ready to fit the suede.