headlining

[mm5aho]

My Rival's headlining is thin plywood panels screwed up to the coachroof timbers, and covered with a vinyl stuff. It's pretty scabby, so I think to replace it this winter. There seems nothing wrong with the plywood, so can I just remove the old an stick on new?
Is it sensible to do myself, or should I get someone else like a marine upholsterer to do it?
It's not padded with foam behind, just flat vinyl type fabric.
There's a partition though that does have foam backed stuff, same pattern, perhaps the same material with foam added. Is that an altogether different problem,?

[pagoda]

If it's not the foam backed version it won't be quite so horrible to deal with. I re did our ply headlining panes a couple of years ago, and found the surface of the old panels AFTER removing the vinyl and glue was not really good enough to put up again.
I used the originals as templates and cut new ply panels.
The vinyl and the proper adhesive came from Hawke House . I chose the solvent based stuff, but take care with where you do the work- both for your lungs and fire hazards!

High temp spray adhesive is easier than brush on. I rolled the vinyl onto the board with an old rolling pin - and got a nice flat surface
Worth the effort!

[mm5aho]

When cleaning off the old panels what aspect of them made you decide to replace the ply?

And then what type of ply did you use? Marine? supplier? Aitkens?

[SteveN]

I've begun what may well be more than a lifetime's project to replace my headlining with UPVC profiles/strips. Clearly it only works on flattish panels but the effect is really nice (in the eye of this beholder..). Elsewhere, such as the heads ceiling I've replaced the vinyl with a sheet of Formica glued onto the plywood after stripping off the vinyl. I'm trying to avoid putting back new vinyl wherever possible.
Just food for thought..

Pics:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B95Pf ... XVSOERQdkk
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B95Pf ... l9rb0txcUE
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B95Pf ... W1LOHBRVUk
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B95Pf ... jZCR3Z6YlU

[mm5aho]

Looks nice.

[pagoda]

When cleaning off the old panels what aspect of them made you decide to replace the ply?

And then what type of ply did you use? Marine? supplier? Aitkens?

5mm exterior ply- can't recall the brand?

I could not get enough of the traces of old glue off- they would not give a flat surface with the new vinyl rolled flat over the original panels.

[mm5aho]

I noted a post from Hawkehead (?) who do this type of thing in PBO, and they recommended PVA (waterproof type) for this rather than the smelly nasty contact adhesive. There's an article in PBO archives on this job.

[BlowingOldBoots]

Make new panels, it is faster and easier in the long run than trying to clean up the old ones, not that expensive. Do not use contact spray, you don't get the depth of coverage needed and it will fall off. Use foam back stuff as it hides any irregularities much better.