Reupholstering the ceiling with Alcantara: step-by-step instructions

Examples of car ceiling reupholstery work

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* Portfolio of work on reupholstering interior parts * Common reasons for reupholstering the ceiling * What materials are used for reupholstering the ceiling * Technological process of reupholstering the ceiling * Video portfolio of our work on reupholstering the ceiling * Cost of services for reupholstering the ceiling

Choosing fabric, glue and method of fixation

If you do not have specific requirements for style and design, we use Alcantara as the material for upholstering the car ceiling - the most affordable and popular microfiber-based fabric. Due to its structure, the material has all the necessary qualities of a decorative and practical material:

• pleasant texture, reminiscent of suede in appearance, comfortable to the touch;
• high resistance to ultraviolet radiation, low temperatures, wear, pollution;
• high elasticity forgives mistakes and shortcomings due to lack of experience; reupholstering a car ceiling with Alcantara almost always gives a good result.

In addition to Alcantara, we can recommend carpet as a material for upholstering a car ceiling - a durable and elastic material with a nice fleecy surface, which has a good ability to absorb noise and sound insulation in a car. Depending on the purpose, velor, natural and artificial leather are used to upholster the ceiling in a car.

Numerous tips on choosing an adhesive for re-upholstering a ceiling boil down to the need to use an option that provides a vibration-resistant, durable connection that does not show through the pores and does not change the color of the material.

The most commonly used product, the favorite of shoemakers and motorists, is glue 88. Despite its excellent gluing capabilities, it requires increased care and can cause allergies. The well-known “Moment”, which exists in colorless modifications, is not inferior in characteristics, therefore, when reupholstering the ceiling, the risk of colored spots appearing is minimal.

To work with large surfaces in specialized salons, aerosol forms of glue are often used, which have the following advantages:

• it is easy to handle and use;
• allows you to dose and evenly apply the adhesive layer to the fabric and base, in the absence of lumps or debris;
• dries quickly without leaving any adhesive marks.

Aerosols compete with self-adhesive materials made from fabric for ceiling upholstery; how convenient their use is can be established after several tests of gluing individual fragments.

In what cases do we reupholster a car ceiling?

When is a car ceiling reupholstered? Here are just a few typical situations when you need to tighten it:

• There is physical wear and tear or damage to the skin, for example, there are scratches, cuts, because you don’t want to put on patches and spoil the look.

• There is a desire to make the appearance of the car different from others or to replace the factory faceless material with more attractive and high-quality trim.

• There is dirt on the roof of the car that cannot be eliminated. Such stains are sometimes difficult to remove even if expensive cleaning products are used. Then the only option is to cover it with new trim.

• Upholstery of a car roof is no less difficult than upholstery of the entire interior. Its removal and subsequent installation on a number of machines often takes a very long time, although it is relatively inexpensive.

Our auto studio in Moscow also offers various non-standard trim options, with their help it is easy to emphasize the design of the car interior and its individuality:

• we will reupholster plastic - lampshades, handles, and paint them in compliance with all technologies. It is also possible to order original parts of the desired color from a car dealer.

• we will carry out a seamless covering, including changing the texture and color of the coating, for example, reupholstering with fabric or Alcantara. We can also cover it with eco-leather.

• we will apply embroidery, diamonds, stitches, and use combinations of various finishes, which will make the tuned roof of the car interior even more original.

Materials for reupholstering a car ceiling

DIY car interior lighting

Structurally, the ceilings of all modern cars are made according to the same design - a plastic base on which a coating is glued. This scheme is more repairable than a real suspended ceiling with stretched arcs, and the maximum that an unsuccessful repair can result in is damaged fabric. We will try to prevent this, but first we need to choose this fabric. You can start from the interior design concept of the salon. Fortunately, there are a lot of materials for upholstery, thanks to them you can adapt to any style. Let's start with the simplest and cheapest.

Video tutorial on reupholstering a car ceiling

Automotive ceiling material, or auto fabric

A group of materials that are specially designed for lining car ceilings and pillars. They can have either a foam or rubberized base. The disadvantage of the foam base is that if dust gets under the casing, it is almost impossible to remove it from there. All attempts to use cleaning products will end with dust spreading over the outer surface until the ceiling again turns into an unsightly grayish canvas. The advantages of such fabric are its relatively low price and discreet and non-marking colors. Color also extends the life of the ceiling. Automatic fabric can please you with a good selection of textures - from the smallest weave to textures with more relief. It fits quite well, since it has a certain elasticity, and in operation it will not bring unpleasant surprises in the form of cracks from overheating or heat shrinkage. Inexpensive, practical material.

In the photo Alcantra is one of the popular materials for ceiling upholstery.

Ceiling reupholstery with automotive leather

How advisable it is to turn the car interior into a leather suitcase is up to everyone to decide for themselves. Inside, leather is in its place on the seats and in the design of the panels, dashboard, steering wheel trim and similar parts. Based on what the automotive industry offers, the leather on the ceiling only looks logical in light colors. Moreover, you can even use snow-white leather, since it washes perfectly.

This is the most expensive upholstery material on the market, and this is justified by the fact that automotive leather is made only from the skin of cattle, which is either raised in Scandinavia, Germany, England, or is of southern origin - from Asia and Africa. Southern leather is less valuable because it has many defects. Blood-sucking insects in Africa don't care much about leather car interiors. In addition, the price of auto leather is influenced by the degree of its treatment with impregnations that protect against overheating and deformation, temperature changes and aggressive environments.

Carpet on the floor

Car carpet is used to soundproof the interior and insulate it.

This is exactly what happens - a carpet on the ceiling. Carpet, or car carpet, was named in consonance with the English carpet, that is, “carpet”. The main purpose of the material is floor coverings, trunks, but it has proven itself best in sound insulation. Therefore, it is often used when installing powerful audio systems, so that only part of the residents of the block can appreciate the subtle musical taste of the car owner. Carpet on the ceiling makes sense primarily for sound insulation, but also insulates the interior, although the quality of the carpet is a big question. The material looks voluminous and, when installed correctly, will create the effect of car comfort. Carpet is durable and non-flammable, and does not create any problems when stretched.

What materials are used to reupholster the ceiling, visors, pillars in a car?

Eco leather

Does not cause allergic reactions, is widely used for reupholstering any interior elements

* Manufacturer: China, Russia

Leather

For lovers of natural Italian products.

* Manufacturer: Italy

Alcantara

Microfiber material, artificial suede made of cotton, polyurethane and polyester.

* Manufacturer: Italy, Korea, Türkiye, China

Original materials

Upgrading the interior with factory materials: Fabric

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Steering wheel reupholstery

The quality of the steering wheel finish must not only meet aesthetic requirements, but also not cause discomfort to the driver. The basic design of this vehicle control element is easy to improve. High-quality steering wheel reupholstery performed by our craftsmen will exceed all client expectations. Genuine leather and decorative elements will create an impressive appearance and make driving comfortable.

Covering the steering wheel with leather is far from the only upholstery option. We will help you choose the most suitable material for a harmonious combination with the interior design. Upholstery in Alcantara or perforated leather will provide a unique appearance and eliminate sweaty palms. Re-upholstering the gearbox, performed in the same style with all control elements, requires no less attention. We will help you create a unique design composition that will make your car exclusive.

Price from 3500 rub.

Covering a car's ceiling in Moscow inexpensively with thermal vinyl or fabric? Eco-leather, leather or Alcantara?

When upholstering car interiors in Moscow, we use the following types of materials: • Eco-leather. It is an analogue of real leather, created to cover car components. Eco leather is usually quite difficult to distinguish from natural leather in appearance and to the touch. In addition, it is also valuable because it does not emit an unpleasant odor and does not create a “greenhouse effect”, as is the case with PVC. It is cheaper in price than its natural counterpart. • Carpet. This type of synthetic fabric is highly prized. It can serve for a long time, is not affected by mold when exposed to moisture, does not fade, and has noise and heat insulation characteristics. • Alcantara - valued even more than leather for a number of its characteristics. The analogue has an anti-reflective effect. Alcantara is very pleasant to the touch, somewhat reminiscent of suede. It can serve for a long time and not fade. In addition, Alcantara does not become greasy and always looks great. Alcantara is not exposed to high air temperatures and high levels of moisture. • Flock. Ceilings are sheathed with it less often, since it is more difficult to do technologically. The advantages of using flock are as follows: ease of maintenance, high wear resistance, excellent appearance, and noise-absorbing characteristics. Flock is available in different colors and textures. It is relatively inexpensive. • Genuine Leather. This material is highly valued, although it is very expensive. Automotive leather is very durable and can therefore last a long time. It is, among other things, fire resistant. Covering it with genuine leather can perfectly emphasize the status of the car owner. And thanks to the sealing of the joints, there is less chance of extraneous vibrations and squeaks after the car is tightened. • Textile. The most common option is to cover it in black. It is non-staining, which becomes the main selection criterion. For example, traces of cigarette smoke are not visible on a dark-colored roof. Therefore, it is often chosen before pulling the top. In addition, the car interior is often decorated in dark colors, and a black ceiling goes well with it. But light-colored fabrics can also be used to cover the roof.

How to reupholster a car ceiling with your own hands using carpet

Over time, the ceiling upholstery in a car gets dirty, fades and deteriorates. This is especially true for ceilings made of light-colored materials. With “old age” they darken and look more like dirty gray rags. At the same time, in the places where the sun visors are located, the upholstery remains new. Therefore, every time they are lowered, any driver has the thought of re-upholstering the ceiling of the car.

But not all motorists immediately decide to take such a step. They first try other means to renew the ceiling, such as dry cleaning. As a result, they throw money away, because if the product is old, nothing will help it. Some drivers buy so-called dry cleaning, which can completely ruin the upholstery. After treating the ceiling with this product, the fabric peels off from the foam rubber.

Therefore, the best way out of this situation would be to reupholster the ceiling in the car. We will tell you how easy it is to perform this procedure yourself, without the help of specialists. First of all, you need to choose the right upholstery material.

Some drivers cover the ceilings with leather or leatherette, auto vinyl, or carpet. But we recommend that you use auto velor. This material looks very beautiful and is pleasant to the touch. The modern market offers us a wide variety of automotive velor. Choose stretch velor with a large cell structure. It looks like 3D carbon film and is very practical to use. Such car velor practically does not get dirty, and minor dirt can be easily removed.

As for the color of the future ceiling, we recommend choosing calm pastel shades. You should not give preference to bright white color - it is too easily soiled and will very soon turn into a dirty gray rag. It will be easier for you to work with materials in discreet tones, since flaws are not visible on them. In addition, bright colors distract the driver from the road, irritate and tire the eyesight. When choosing a shade of material for the ceiling, remember - it must be combined with the colors of other interior elements.

Having decided on the material for reupholstering the car ceiling, proceed to the procedure itself. The first and most difficult thing you need to do is remove the ceiling. Many drivers mistakenly believe that this requires removing the windshield. However, this is not so: it is enough to remove the front passenger seat and reach the ceiling through the rear door of the car.

The video shows the removal and reupholstery of the ceiling on a Passat B3:

It is necessary to remove the old coating and glue residues from the ceiling. To do this, use a solvent and a hard sponge. Then we recommend going over the surface with sandpaper. This will eliminate all irregularities. In addition, the new coating will adhere better to rough surfaces. Glue the auto velor onto the ceiling matrix using “88” glue. It perfectly bonds non-porous materials.

In essence, do-it-yourself reupholstery comes down to simply gluing the material onto the matrix. It's no more difficult than wallpapering. However, your main task is to glue the fabric evenly, without a single fold. Therefore, it is better to perform this procedure together with an assistant.

To begin, apply a thin strip of glue in the center of the matrix. Its length should be about ten centimeters. Then attach the central part of the fabric scrap to the strip. Using the same method, glue each side of the fabric in turn from the center of the matrix (apply glue every ten centimeters of the ceiling).

The task of your assistant is to pull the auto velor on the sides of the glued center. At this time, you yourself must smooth the material from the center to its edges. Carry out these steps while wearing cellophane or cotton gloves. If you choose cotton mittens, they should be white. Otherwise, stains may remain on light-colored fabric, so proceed as carefully as possible.

When gluing ten centimeters on each side, watch the bends of the matrix. You must glue the material as tightly as possible to the surface of the ceiling. Wrap and glue the edges of the car velor. Carefully trim off excess pieces of fabric. Then carefully make small holes for the fasteners and then proceed to install the ceiling matrix into the interior.

When carrying out the ceiling covering procedure, follow some rules. First of all, we advise you to take care of a sufficient amount of fabric in advance. Also prepare auxiliary tools. The beauty of a material such as automotive velor is that it does not require the use of any special devices. All you need to do is prepare the fabric itself, good glue, a leather roller and a hair dryer.

Some drivers don’t bother too much about glue and fix the material using “Moment”. However, this should not be done, since such a product emits toxic fumes when exposed to sunlight. Therefore, the best option would be “88” glue. You can also buy spray adhesive. Its advantages are good surface distribution and quick drying. However, in order to use this tool correctly, you must carefully study the instructions.

Video about reupholstering a car ceiling:

If you have not previously reupholstered the interior or dealt with car velor, we recommend that you practice in advance. Try covering some small element with fabric first. For example, drag handles, door sill parts or inserts on car doors. Once you are sure that everything is working out well for you, proceed to reupholstering more complex interior elements.

Of course, you don’t have to reupholster the ceiling in your car with velor. There are other materials that have their own advantages. Let's take a closer look at the advantages of other fabrics for upholstery.

Today, Alcantara upholstery of the interior and, in particular, the ceiling of a car is becoming increasingly popular. This is due to the excellent characteristics of this material. Alcantara is ideal for conditions of intensive use of the car interior. It is a non-woven ultramicrofiber that has all the qualities inherent in natural leather. Moreover, the cost of such material is much lower.

Alcantara is highly elastic, making it well suited for ceiling coverings. When working with it, practically no folds are formed. In addition, this material is repairable and durable, and therefore durable. The Alcantara ceiling is easy to clean and resistant to various mechanical influences. This is especially true for those motorists who often have children in the car.

Automotive carpet is mainly used for tuning or covering subwoofers, as it can improve acoustic properties. However, it is also excellent for covering the ceiling, since it stretches well and takes the shape of any element of the interior. There are several types of carpet, including waterproof materials. The color range of autocarpet is very diverse.

Leather substitute is quite often used to cover the ceiling of a car. The material looks very beautiful and respectable. However, leatherette has a couple of disadvantages. Firstly, when pasting the ceiling of a car, it can wrinkle, and secondly, it is not very durable and will form cracks over time.

In the video, the ceiling is reupholstered on an Opel Vectra:

Now you know how to reupholster a car ceiling without going to a workshop. If you do everything in accordance with our instructions, then the ceiling will please your eyes for a long time. The main thing is to do everything carefully and slowly. And remember - the upholstery material must be elastic. Only in this case the ceiling will be smooth, without wrinkles.

Please leave your comment on the article! We are interested in your opinion.

It's no secret that over time, all the upholstery of a car's interior begins to rapidly lose its appearance. This is reflected most strongly on the ceiling: it darkens, fades, spots and cracks appear on it. This is especially noticeable if you smoked a lot in the car. In this case, the cheapest way to correct the situation is to reupholster the car ceiling with your own hands.

The process, of course, is quite labor-intensive, but it allows you to save a considerable amount on the services of specialists. In addition, before work you can watch a video on this topic, then many questions will disappear by themselves.

The first thing to do is to choose the material for reupholstering the car ceiling. Today, the choice is simply huge; the ceiling can be upholstered with flock, carpet, Alcantara, natural or artificial leather, or fabric can be used. They all have their own merits, and making a final decision can be difficult. On average, it takes at least 5 square meters to reupholster the ceiling and racks. m of material, be it leather or fabric.

Perhaps the best material that you can choose for upholstering a car ceiling with your own hands is automotive leather. The list of its advantages is impressive:

1. it is strong, durable and abrasion resistant;
2. not afraid of open fire;
3. it cannot be damaged by chemical compounds used to clean the interior;
4. not afraid of water;
5. does not deteriorate from temperature changes and high humidity.

Perhaps the only drawback this material has is its high price, so not everyone can afford it.

As an alternative to natural leather, you can use artificial leather to reupholster the ceiling. This material also has very high performance characteristics, but is much cheaper. Here are its advantages:

• it is easy to care for, you just need to wipe it periodically with a slightly damp cloth; you can use ethyl or ammonia to remove greasy stains;
• does not crack at low temperatures;
• does not get wet;
• does not wear out;
• the surface is smooth and soft;
• rich color range;
• long service life;
• low cost.

Alcantara has deservedly earned the title of “breathable” material - air passes through it unhindered. The advantages that Alcantara has allow us to classify it as one of the best options for do-it-yourself interior reupholstery:

• has a pleasant appearance and is pleasant to the touch;
• long service life without loss of quality (does not wear out, does not fade, does not stretch);
• not afraid of temperature changes and high humidity;
• wide choice of colors.

This material is not used for reupholstering car interiors with your own hands as often as the previous ones. However, it has a number of advantages that make it recommended for use:

1. attractive appearance, variety of colors and textures;
2. high wear resistance;
3. noise-absorbing properties;
4. ease of care.

Re-upholstering the ceiling with flock will require, in addition to glue, the use of a flocking agent and a degreasing agent, i.e. is associated with additional costs.

Finally, you can use carpet to reupholster your car ceiling with your own hands. This is one of the most affordable synthetic materials. In addition to the price, it also has other advantages, namely: it is wear-resistant, does not fade, is not afraid of mold, and acts as an additional heat and sound insulation layer.

After the material and glue have been selected and purchased, it is necessary to dismantle the ceiling and remove it from the car interior. In a hatchback this is somewhat easier to do due to the presence of a fifth (or third) door, whereas in a sedan you may need to remove the front passenger seat.

First of all, all additional elements are removed, such as visors, handles, lampshades, and plugs. After the ceiling is removed from the car's interior, you need to carefully remove the old material from the base, as well as any remaining glue and foam rubber, if it was there.

Then the new material is carefully glued to the base. It is better to glue together. You need to start from the center to the edges. The glue (you can use “Moment”) is applied evenly, the assistant must stretch the fabric (or skin), and the adhesive carefully smoothes it out. It is better to do this with gloves (cellophane or rubber), otherwise hand marks may remain.

Particular attention should be paid to bends and recesses; the fabric in these places should be glued as securely as possible. The edges of the material need to be wrapped and glued to the back of the ceiling. After this, you need to cut out holes for bolts and additional elements, if possible in such a way that the edges of the material are also wrapped and glued to the back.

After the glue has dried, you can begin installing the car ceiling in the reverse order. Despite the apparent complexity, reupholstering the ceiling in a car with your own hands is quite within the capabilities of even an amateur, especially if you watch the instructional video. The main thing is a little patience and diligence. » alt=»»>

Car roof covering in Moscow - technological process

How to drag the top panel?

We begin the upholstery work by dismantling the previous material. To prevent the front seat on the right from getting in the way, we can temporarily remove it while the work is being carried out. To begin with, we remove additional roof elements, for example, canopies, handles, plugs, and lampshades. Then we dismantle the skin and remove any remaining glue, as well as foam rubber. When working, we use a solvent and a hard sponge. Then we process the surfaces with sandpaper. This way, it is possible to subsequently tightly glue textiles or leather, and it will not sag or come off after some time. Next we carry out the fitting. We apply glue in the center in the form of a strip 10 centimeters long. To it we glue the central part of the leather used for repair. We continue gluing to the sides, while applying strips of glue every 10 centimeters. When carrying out work, we monitor the bends of the working surfaces. We glue fabric or other material to the surface very well. As a result, the ceiling does not sag later. While working, one person stretches the fabric, the second immediately smoothes it out. We fold the edges of the leather and glue them on the back side, immediately cutting off the unnecessary excess. Finally, we make holes for attaching bolts of additional elements and install the finished car roof. If the material is sagging, it is enough to treat it with a hairdryer or re-cover it. Sagging is often caused by exposure to moisture or simply a constantly high level of humidity in the car interior. To prevent this, among other things, it is important to check whether the roof is sufficiently sealed. Sometimes the roof of a car with a sunroof sags. If the skin of the car ceiling is sagging, you can try to use it in the future in order to tighten it. But that's if it wasn't damaged. And if you wish, we can make a beautiful ceiling with the effect of a starry sky. It costs more, but the car looks simply incomparable.

Padding

The removed old upholstery will be used as a pattern.
You need to remove dust and dirt from it, carefully spread it on a flat surface, and secure the edges with masking tape. After the new upholstery material is evenly positioned on the template, it is necessary to cut out the holes that are provided for in the ceiling design. This is done with a knife and scissors. In general, reupholstering a ceiling with your own hands is about gluing it: the main task is not so much to remove it as to correctly glue the new fabric without folds or unevenness. First you need to apply glue in the center of the ceiling with a thin strip (10 cm), and press the central part of the material. After this, you can glue from the center of the ceiling to each side, applying glue in strips of 10 cm. If you have an assistant, his task is to pull the material away from the center and smooth the fabric, moving from the center to the edges. In this way, you need to glue each side and watch all the bends and indentations, pay more attention to them - in such places the upholstery fabric should be glued very well. The edges of the fabric are folded and glued, the remains are cut off. All the necessary holes for the fasteners are very carefully cut out.

Interior headliner trim in Moscow – price in our tuning studio

Are you interested in the price of reupholstery? To find out the cost of reupholstering a car, you should first meet with the master and discuss the nuances: what materials will be used when the craftsmen reupholster it. Based on these aspects, the price will be determined. The specialists of our automobile studio in Moscow will give the necessary advice and answer any questions you may have regarding how to re-tighten the top panel. In addition, it is possible to inexpensively carry out work in accordance with your sketch. And then you can find yourself the owner of an individual car interior at an affordable price, pleasing both car owners and passengers.

Dashboard reupholstery

Making changes to the trim of the dashboard provides enormous opportunities for transforming the entire interior of the car. This element is always in the spotlight and allows you to more fully appreciate the car. An original upholstery of the dashboard will emphasize the driving characteristics of the car and the comfort of the interior. Often, the upper part of the panel is finished with easy-to-care materials, and the bottom is covered with leather.

Usually reupholstering a car's dashboard

requires the master to have knowledge in installing the dashboard. Our specialists will carefully finish all elements, which eliminates the slightest defects in the work. After the work is completed, the condition of the interior will be ideal, and the quality of the finish will exceed all expectations.

Price from 30,000 rub.