So, what does your headliner do for you? First, it serves to tie together the interior design of your RV. Headliner fabric is usually a neutral color (such as beige, like RecPro offers) that melds well with most RV color palettes. This is important so that it doesn’t distract from the rest of your RV’s beautiful interior. If all your cabin mates are looking at is the ceiling then there is something wrong with your vacation. While every aspect of your motif should be beautiful, some should blend so well that they are unnoticed. A new headliner should offer a clean new look, without making everyone sit with their heads tipped back for long periods (as this will be painful).
The headliner is actually a vital part of your interior’s construction. Without it, you would have exposed bleak metal, fiberglass, or plywood. It is crucial to have these exposed surfaces covered because if you don’t, they allow for severe sound bleed through. This can cause a large amount of road noise in the cabin because the headliner isn’t there to baffle the sound. Your temperatures inside of your rig would also be out of sorts because there would be nothing to insulate the unprotected roofing material from the outside temperatures. The bare outer skin, without the support of the headliner, allows for external temperatures to infiltrate your interior. It can also hide a multitude of sins like unsightly wires and joints.
One aspect of cloth headliners that is not so great is they can absorb cooking odors and moisture. Over time heat and humidity degrade the foam backing and glue that hold this vital piece to the ceiling as well. Stained, smelly and sagging, now you are going to notice this feature which was once intended to be virtually invisible. For those buying secondhand recreational vehicles, replacing the headliner will give your “new to you” rig a facelift like no other.
If the foam in your headliner has begun to break down, the fabric has come loose, or it just is no longer looking great, then it may be time to take a look and see what can be done to increase your comfort by restoring your ceiling. So, what is a headliner made of, and what kind of project are you getting into?
RV headliner, similar to automotive headliner, is made from a layer of polyurethane foam with a knit fabric adhered to it. The fabric-foam combo is glued to the ceiling often using a spray type of glue. Depending on what your manufacturer used in the construction of your rig, the fabric overlay could be woven, knit, or extruded materials. But essentially all types are glued to a foam which is then glued to whatever material is holding your roof in place. Over time with exposure to the heat and cold, the glue and foam will start to break down. Various types of repairs can be done from the re-glue to the patch-in, to complete restoration and you’ll find the essentials for this project here.
There are some things you might want to consider if you are looking to take on this project yourself. For instance, your ceiling might not be flat, so just using the width of your interior will not work. If there is a curve, you’ll want to properly measure the inside and allow extra for the width of the piece you need. Most types of headliners are easy to cut down, so it’s better to be too big than too small. Secondly, after carefully removing your existing headliner, be sure and get all the little pieces off and clean the surface before adding the new material. Also, since this product is intended to be glued down, you’ll want to make sure your area is well ventilated.
If you are not sure that this is a project you want to take on by yourself, we understand. But if you are ready to move forward, then you will want to find the best products for the job, and you’ve come to the right place.
Headliner Fabric
Our Headliner fabric is made from knitted polyester and comes in a neutral beige color that will not fade over time. You can choose from either 8 1/2 feet or just over 4 feet wide. Once you have chosen the width you need, then it can be ordered in any length from 5 to 30 feet (by the foot).
Padded Headliner
Similarly, our Padded Headliner has a neutral ivory color overlay to blend with your interior and resist fading. The 3/8” thick padding helps to insulate your interior. Again, we will cut this to the length you need from 5 to 20 feet and it is just over 4 feet wide.
Glue
But neither product is going to be very successful if you do not have the appropriate adhesive to hold it in place. That is why we offer Bender’s Flexible Foam. This glue is intended to glue foam products to wood, metal, glass and more. It is water-resistant, heat resistant, and creates a strong bond. If you aren’t sure how much glue you are going to need, we thought of that, too. All of our headliners can be ordered with or without glue. When you choose a kit that includes glue, the number of cans is predetermined based on the square feet of material ordered.
When you are ready to repair drooping/sagging older material, swing by our product pages and take a look. There should be something there that can help you restore your headliner. This simple addition will restore your comfort level and you can breathe a sigh of relief.
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