[s-cars] Re; Headliner repair

[Tom Green]

Well then, now that we have all the contract terms, Let's retract that  
"good
deal" comment and insert a "no deal" recommendation, Kevin.  I don't
think this is a DIY job.  Before you take this on, I recommend you go  
to a
salvage yard that will let you practice on a vehicle that has no  
interior
parts of value, but is essentially all there.  I see lots of trashed  
A6 and
100 models that would fit this requirement go to the crusher.  If you  
do so
good, maybe buy that board to install and cut down the OOC time and
concern about your board.  Then $150 is too much to just torch off the
old foam, spray with adhesive and lay on new material.

I had an identical headliner done in Knoxville about 8 years ago for  
$125.
I approved the material choice when scheduling the job.  The owners two
adult kids did the job along with a Cadillac at the same time -  
finished both
in the same afternoon with professional results.  I offered some tips  
on how
the Audi was put together, but they said "not necessary, we do over  
100 of
these a year on every make of car".  I tipped them $20 each when I  
picked
up the car since the closest estimate I had over the phone was $400, but
"I can't get to it now".  They  said it was just a routine everyday  
job - no big
deal at all.

Oh, I forgot that you can't get here from Ashville since I-40 is  
closed for
several months because of the rockslide. : - (

I was told this was a common malady of southern cars due to heat and
humidity, and happened  to fairly new cars with sunroofs at that time.

That is the kind of shop you want - one that specializes in headliners.
There are good local shops that do a great job on convertible tops,
and shops that do total custom interiors and another does mostly
custom Katskin seat coverings, but they would all farm out a head-
liner job or just not take it in.  And, I would not let this headliner  
shop
touch anything else.

There is some suede headliner material available that is supposed to be
high quality that is not expensive - $10/yd for regular material and $15
something for the suede.  : - )   The Alcantara and Ultrasuede  
upholstery
material for seats is over $100/yd.  You might as well trick things  
out while
doing it.
http://www.miamicorp.com

Mike, most upholstery suppliers have both backed and unbacked
versions of the same material to eliminate the puffy look on door panels
and trim where a hard finish is best.



Tom


> On Tuesday, Nov 10, 2009, mike claire <mike.claire at gmail.com wrote:

> I had my headliner done last year.  I estimate I was without the car  
> for 3
> days.  Maybe it could have been done in 2 days, not sure.  I don't  
> think
> it's a 1 day job.
>
> I can guarantee that the glass does not need to come out.  I wasn't  
> there,
> but I'm sure he folded the front seats down, and removed the rear  
> headrests
> - that's a clue.
>
> This was done at a professional aftermarket accessory/pimp-my-ride  
> type
> place - all work done to a high standard.  Not bashful about  
> charging for
> it.  He did a great job, and afterwards said he wished he'd never  
> accepted
> the job.  He was a pro and dealt with it - I'd be worried about a  
> "lesser"
> guy walking from it 1/2 way into the job.
>
> I don't remember what I paid - the owner's a friend of my father in  
> law and
> I got a break.  I might have paid $250, but it might have been  
> more.  To me,
> just from looking at it - I'd say it's a $400+ job in the Boston area.
>
> One consideration - he found a "good" color replacement, which did NOT
> exactly match the A-pillars.  So he recovered them too - a nice  
> touch.  One
> minor issue is that he did not strip the A-pillar covering before  
> going over
> it with the new material.  It looks slightly puffy.  Not enough to  
> complain
> about, but I'd try to avoid that.
>
>
>
> Mike
>
>
> On Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 8:14 AM, Kevin Barnett <bluevr6 at yahoo.com>  
> wrote:
>
>> Just so I am clear in this...., The $150 is just the redoing the  
>> headliner
>> itself.  I have to pay to r&r the windsheild, and remove the piller  
>> trim,
>> and remove the headliner on my own dime, and he will just strip and  
>> recover
>> the headliner for the $150.
>>
>> The $150 is not causing me concern, its the being without my dail  
>> driver
>> for 3 days and the unknown cost of the windshiels R&R.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Kevin
>> ----------
>> 2 things - if he knew what he was in for he'd be quoting way over  
>> $150.
>> The second thing is that it's NOT necessary to take out the glass  
>> to do this
>> job.  But from what I hear, it's a challenge getting it out in one  
>> piece.
>>
>> Mike