Upholstery and Trim in South Africa

Interior trim ages badly in the South African sun, and a sagging roof lining is the most common complaint because the foam backing on the headlining board breaks down with heat. The correct repair is to remove the board, strip the old fabric and foam, and bond new material, not to pin the old lining back up. Leather seats can be recoloured and repaired where the damage is surface wear, and reupholstered where the panel has split. Cloth seats are usually replaced panel by panel with matching material. Other regular jobs are worn steering wheels, cracked dashboards, broken seat mechanisms, damaged door cards and carpet replacement after water damage. Full retrims on classic cars are craft work and are quoted per vehicle after inspection. Ask to see and feel the material samples before committing, ask whether the price includes removal and refitting of seats or panels, and check the workshop's turnaround time, since good trimmers are usually booked ahead.