"Suede" headliner installed

Got the headliner out today. Pretty brittle in spots, and some cracks. What do you recommend using to strengthen/reinforce the board? Fiberglass resin?
 
Resin alone without fiberglass fabric will likely crack too easy. Why wouldn't you want to lay down a patch of fiberglass? It's going to be covered up anyway.
 
Why? because the board will easily absorb the resin, which will strengthen it alone. Why go through he effort of using extra fiberglass? Its not like its structural or anything close.
 
Peeling off the old fabric resulted in several sections where the old headliner peeled off with the foam. This stuff is kinda of like a paper onion, coming up in layers. This also left some valleys, which I think will show when I apply the fabric.

So, rather than resin what if do this 1. Apply drywall fiberglass tape. 2. Apply thin coats of bondo to the tape. 3. Sand until smooth. Coat with latex paint. 4. Apply new fabric.

The more I thought about the mess and smell of resin, the more I tried to think of a better solution. Should be cheaper, and I can work on it in the house without creating too much flak.

Thoughts??
 
Or, use the fiberglass drywall tape to go over the "valley" ( indentation)and then coat with resin, then gently press the new fabric on, the resin strengthening the tape so it doesn't dip?
 
Thats more damage than you originally said. In this case I would use some of the tape or fabric with the resin. Let it dry then apply the headliner fabric. Do not use latex paint as it really has crap adhesion. The problem with sanding is blending when you get to the uncoated area. The naked headliner board won't like being sanded too much.
 
Thats more damage than you originally said. In this case I would use some of the tape or fabric with the resin. Let it dry then apply the headliner fabric. Do not use latex paint as it really has crap adhesion. The problem with sanding is blending when you get to the uncoated area. The naked headliner board won't like being sanded too much.

Yes, the damage showed up after stripping the fabric..Thanks Talyn. I'll use tape and resin. Appreciate your input. Will let you know how it comes out.

Greg
 
Why? because the board will easily absorb the resin, which will strengthen it alone. Why go through he effort of using extra fiberglass? Its not like its structural or anything close.

Hell I generally just patch the back side of the crack with duct tape and smooth the front. The glued on headliner fabric then holds the front together.
 
Hell I generally just patch the back side of the crack with duct tape and smooth the front. The glued on headliner fabric then holds the front together.

The headliner is the last part of my restoration. I've owned the Jeep since 87, and I am anal about the Jeep.

When I peeled the foam off, some areas of the board came with it. Not doing headliners for a living, I don't know if the new fabric will lie smooth over the indentations. I don't want to take the chance, so I want to use drywall tape to cover the rough spots. I'll use tape on the back side, and maybe some wood paint sir sticks to reinforce certain areas.
 
The headliner is the last part of my restoration. I've owned the Jeep since 87, and I am anal about the Jeep.

When I peeled the foam off, some areas of the board came with it. Not doing headliners for a living, I don't know if the new fabric will lie smooth over the indentations. I don't want to take the chance, so I want to use drywall tape to cover the rough spots. I'll use tape on the back side, and maybe some wood paint sir sticks to reinforce certain areas.

How deep? I've had some peel off as well. It has been invisible after putting the foam-backed fabric on.
 
How deep? I've had some peel off as well. It has been invisible after putting the foam-backed fabric on.

Not bad. The foam is 3/16, so it will probably be OK. I just don't want to buy fabric and have to rip it off. I know it's above my head and out of line of sight. OCD :)
 
The only issue I've had that can be seen is where I've not been paying enough attention and allowed the fabric to buckle. This is more common on sound bars and overhead consoles. As long as you pay half attention doing the headliner board itself is easy.
 
The only issue I've had that can be seen is where I've not been paying enough attention and allowed the fabric to buckle. This is more common on sound bars and overhead consoles. As long as you pay half attention doing the headliner board itself is easy.

That's good to know. Thank you!
 
With a Cherokee I find it best to take the fabric and lay it out on top of the cleaned/prepped board. Then I'll fold it in half length wise and lift it off. Then spray the glue and let it tack up a few minutes. After that I'll drop the fabric on the middle as it's folded. I'll then carefully let the sides roll into place so that they conform to the board.

Don't worry about small air bubbles, the fabric is forgiving. What you want to avoid is bunches of extra fabric or spots where the fabric is pulled taunt over a valley (common if you let the fabric fall into place instead of gently rolling it so that it sticks to the glue).
 
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