How To: Install a floating headliner

A Cadillac Escalade with a sunroof gets a new headliner that floats.

Upholstery Journal | June 2009

By Marshall Spiegel

  • A section of headliner fabric was measured to cover the new sliding sunshade. The brothers then test-fitted the fabric over the headboard shell opening.
  • A shot of trusty spray adhesive and the newly fashioned depression for the front overhead console was readied to be installed onto the new headliner.
  • After removal of the old headliner fabric, the padded section of the sliding sunshade was cleaned with a wire brush to remove dried adhesive. The sunshade is coated with spray adhesive, covered in the headliner fabric and prepared for installation.
  • After the sunroof was glued back in place, the glass panel was checked again to be certain it opened and closed properly.
  • Although the headliner appeared perfect, it was beginning to sag slightly, unacceptable for restoring the 2001 Cadillac Escalade to showroom condition.
  • Jaime Castaneda began removing roof-mounted fixtures, like the overhead console, to facilitate removal of the headliner.
  • Jaime cleaned the border of the roof opening in preparation for gluing the sunroof back in place.
  • Javier began the surgery on the new headboard shell, carefully cutting it to accommodate the sunroof.
  • Removing the aftermarket sunroof was necessary before the existing headliner could be removed.
  • The area surrounding the sunroof was scrubbed free of old, dried adhesive with a stiff wire brush.
  • The contoured front section of the original headliner housing the overhead console was measured in preparation for moving it onto the new headliner. The electrical wiring from the roof-mounted lighting was removed to be transferred to the new headliner.
  • The existing headliner was taken out through the rear hatch. All the roof-mounted fixtures—air vents, overhead lights and so on—were removed from the original headliner to be reinstalled onto the new headliner.
  • The finishing touches were then applied to the new headliner.
  • The floating headliner was stretched tightly from corner to corner, putting the Escalade’s ceiling in showroom condition befitting a professional restoration.
  • The new headliner was brought into the vehicle through the rear door. It was then wrestled into position and the installers anchored it in place.
  • The new shell was covered with fresh foam-backed headliner fabric. Adhesive was applied generously. The headliner fabric completely covered the shell.
  • The sun visors and roof- and side-mounted accessories were reinstalled, including the light into the center overhead console.
  • Upholsterer Javier Castaneda of Bud’s Upholstery in Signal Hill, Calif., began by removing the installed headliner.

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After a long look at the headliner in this 2001 Cadillac Escalade, the staff at Bud’s Upholstery in Signal Hill, Calif., couldn’t figure out why the customer would ever want to replace it.

“The guy is ‘refreshing’ the whole truck,” explained shop owner Tom Benson. “He’s spending a bunch of money to bring it back to showroom condition after seven years of service. Even though the present headliner looks perfect, it is beginning to sag slightly in the corners.”

The handsome, well-kept SUV sports an aftermarket sunroof. Installing a new headliner requires removing the old headliner, cutting a standard headboard shell to accommodate the sunroof, and covering the new headboard with the right color headliner fabric. All roof fixtures and wiring have to be transferred onto the new headboard before the new headliner can be installed.

Because part of the headboard is cut away and the replacement headliner is stretched from one side to the other, instead of being glued in place, it is known as a “floating headliner.”

Replacing the headliner in a vehicle equipped with an aftermarket sunroof presents the upholsterer with some unexpected problems. Brothers Jaime and Javier Castaneda show us that these problems are surmountable with a little ingenuity and some dedication to the task.

  • A section of headliner fabric was measured to cover the new sliding sunshade. The brothers then test-fitted the fabric over the headboard shell opening.
    A section of headliner fabric was measured to cover the new sliding sunshade. The brothers then test-fitted the fabric over the headboard shell opening.
  • A shot of trusty spray adhesive and the newly fashioned depression for the front overhead console was readied to be installed onto the new headliner.
    A shot of trusty spray adhesive and the newly fashioned depression for the front overhead console was readied to be installed onto the new headliner.
  • After removal of the old headliner fabric, the padded section of the sliding sunshade was cleaned with a wire brush to remove dried adhesive. The sunshade is coated with spray adhesive, covered in the headliner fabric and prepared for installation.
    After removal of the old headliner fabric, the padded section of the sliding sunshade was cleaned with a wire brush to remove dried adhesive. The sunshade is coated with spray adhesive, covered in the headliner fabric and prepared for installation.
  • After the sunroof was glued back in place, the glass panel was checked again to be certain it opened and closed properly.
    After the sunroof was glued back in place, the glass panel was checked again to be certain it opened and closed properly.
  • Although the headliner appeared perfect, it was beginning to sag slightly, unacceptable for restoring the 2001 Cadillac Escalade to showroom condition.
    Although the headliner appeared perfect, it was beginning to sag slightly, unacceptable for restoring the 2001 Cadillac Escalade to showroom condition.
  • Jaime Castaneda began removing roof-mounted fixtures, like the overhead console, to facilitate removal of the headliner.
    Jaime Castaneda began removing roof-mounted fixtures, like the overhead console, to facilitate removal of the headliner.
  • Jaime cleaned the border of the roof opening in preparation for gluing the sunroof back in place.
    Jaime cleaned the border of the roof opening in preparation for gluing the sunroof back in place.
  • Javier began the surgery on the new headboard shell, carefully cutting it to accommodate the sunroof.
    Javier began the surgery on the new headboard shell, carefully cutting it to accommodate the sunroof.
  • Removing the aftermarket sunroof was necessary before the existing headliner could be removed.
    Removing the aftermarket sunroof was necessary before the existing headliner could be removed.
  • The area surrounding the sunroof was scrubbed free of old, dried adhesive with a stiff wire brush.
    The area surrounding the sunroof was scrubbed free of old, dried adhesive with a stiff wire brush.
  • The contoured front section of the original headliner housing the overhead console was measured in preparation for moving it onto the new headliner. The electrical wiring from the roof-mounted lighting was removed to be transferred to the new headliner.
    The contoured front section of the original headliner housing the overhead console was measured in preparation for moving it onto the new headliner. The electrical wiring from the roof-mounted lighting was removed to be transferred to the new headliner.
  • The existing headliner was taken out through the rear hatch. All the roof-mounted fixtures—air vents, overhead lights and so on—were removed from the original headliner to be reinstalled onto the new headliner.
    The existing headliner was taken out through the rear hatch. All the roof-mounted fixtures—air vents, overhead lights and so on—were removed from the original headliner to be reinstalled onto the new headliner.
  • The finishing touches were then applied to the new headliner.
    The finishing touches were then applied to the new headliner.
  • The floating headliner was stretched tightly from corner to corner, putting the Escalade’s ceiling in showroom condition befitting a professional restoration.
    The floating headliner was stretched tightly from corner to corner, putting the Escalade’s ceiling in showroom condition befitting a professional restoration.
  • The new headliner was brought into the vehicle through the rear door. It was then wrestled into position and the installers anchored it in place.
    The new headliner was brought into the vehicle through the rear door. It was then wrestled into position and the installers anchored it in place.
  • The new shell was covered with fresh foam-backed headliner fabric. Adhesive was applied generously. The headliner fabric completely covered the shell.
    The new shell was covered with fresh foam-backed headliner fabric. Adhesive was applied generously. The headliner fabric completely covered the shell.
  • The sun visors and roof- and side-mounted accessories were reinstalled, including the light into the center overhead console.
    The sun visors and roof- and side-mounted accessories were reinstalled, including the light into the center overhead console.
  • Upholsterer Javier Castaneda of Bud’s Upholstery in Signal Hill, Calif., began by removing the installed headliner.
    Upholsterer Javier Castaneda of Bud’s Upholstery in Signal Hill, Calif., began by removing the installed headliner.

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