FAQs
Oct. 16, 2026
FAQs
There are several common materials used to make car roof liners, including polyester fabric, PVC vinyl/rubber and leather. Each material is designed to provide your car with different levels of protection against the elements. Polyester fabric is often the most popular choice, as it offers excellent protection against sun damage, water penetration and dirt build-up. PVC vinyl/rubber and leather provide more protection against the elements, but may be too heavy for some vehicles.
Can You Repair Car Roof Upholstery Yourself? Your Top Questions Answered
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question about the stuff underneath my car's roof upholstery
Got an older GM model, eh?
This "gold dust" material was originally a polyurathane foam much like what is often used in upholstery or carpet padding that was quite soft. But, over time, it has deteriorated and become brittle.
The only fix, as Mr. Mete has said, is to remove the headliner, scrape out all of the old stuff while using a vacuum to catch it, put in new foam, and replace the headliner. A body shop can do this for you for a few hundred bucks. It's a messy job.
The foam material used must be a fire-retardant material so that a minor fire won't quickly spread and kill you before you can stop the car and get out, so be sure to use the right stuff. The deterioration of the old foam was accelerated by heat. We all know how hot a car gets sitting out in the sun. Newer materials are more resistant to this, but, again, you have to use the right material. So, get a replacement material that is made for this application.
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