vinyl roof paint / dye

just wondering if anyone has had any experience in using vinyl roof dye or paint? I have a perfectly good roof, but its a naff colour and previous owner had left it stood under a tree so its a little stained. the rest of the roof is in good condition and looks fairly recent. im keen to try something a little cheaper before I go the whole hog and replace the roof!

if I use dye or paint…

will it crack etc when I put the roof down?

will it look streaky when applied?

thanks in advance!!!

usually end up looking a mess and need reapplying.
Just put a new one on then you know it's good. Plus if it's been sitting under a tree I doubt it's been treated to proper care like being cleaned and treated with a proper treatment to protect the plasticisers in the PVC, these break down to UVA light etc. These roofs should be treated at least twice a year, use 303 areospace protectant on Vynil and all your plastics, helps prevent door cappings from cracking etc, Fabric guard from 303 for Fabric tops etc.

not seen it for a vinyl roof, used dye on my Audi 80 Cab which was mohair, worked a treat

thanks fellas I was looking at something like this…

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINYL-HOOD-ROOF-PAINT-DYE-RESTORER-BOATS-CARS-500ML-/250685526519?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a5e0591f7

not really wanting to splash out on the roof as im thinking about selling the car….. decisions decisions!!!!

Why not just clean and restore the roof if you are thinking of selling it? What colour roof and car is it?
Lots of cleaners out there

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Renovo-Vinyl-Kit-Cleaner-Ultra-Proofer-Ultimate-Vinyl-Soft-Top-Kit-/131355339245?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1e956369ed
 

mark1gls said

Why not just clean and restore the roof if you are thinking of selling it? What colour roof and car is it?
Lots of cleaners out there

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Renovo-Vinyl-Kit-Cleaner-Ultra-Proofer-Ultimate-Vinyl-Soft-Top-Kit-/131355339245?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1e956369ed
 

roof is a bit of a naff colour and heavily stained on the top and side (sorry don't have a picture of the top. its also got two small tears that have been covered uop by those strips. the rest of the roof looks pretty new and it hasn't even had the rear windown cut in yet…

Why not just fit a new roof, they are £150ish if you fit it yourself or £300 ish fitted for you. If the roof does have rips in it, it's at the end of life.
If you are selling the car you will get your money back and it will be easier to sell.

it works great on leather interiors so can't see how it won't work on your hood. The trick with leather painting is the sealer afterwards, if you do that it should work fine.

Different types of paint or dye depending on material.

Personally If I was looking at buying your car I'd be down on the price because of the roof and if the roof paint doesn't work well and ends up messy that will detract a buyer, plus no rear window frame, seal or glass?  Plus it's been patched too. Could it be described as perfectly good or pretty new?

Is the rear window frame in place still behind the hood. Should see it from inside the car? If not what else is missing? I've had cars in with webbing straps cut off because the rear window frame was rusty etc, so they've binned the old frame, brackets, glass and seal and chopped the straps off that hold the frame in at the top. Going for the "Van look" It's a pig to re-fit those straps and refit the rear frame afterwards.

Paint looks nice on it though.. I'd put a new lid on and sort the rear frame, (straps), Glass and Seal and enjoy summer.. New roof properly sorted is only going to add value.

chortle said

Different types of paint or dye depending on material.

Personally If I was looking at buying your car I'd be down on the price because of the roof and if the roof paint doesn't work well and ends up messy that will detract a buyer, plus no rear window frame, seal or glass?  Plus it's been patched too. Could it be described as perfectly good or pretty new?

Is the rear window frame in place still behind the hood. Should see it from inside the car? If not what else is missing? I've had cars in with webbing straps cut off because the rear window frame was rusty etc, so they've binned the old frame, brackets, glass and seal and chopped the straps off that hold the frame in at the top. Going for the "Van look" It's a pig to re-fit those straps and refit the rear frame afterwards.

Paint looks nice on it though.. I'd put a new lid on and sort the rear frame, (straps), Glass and Seal and enjoy summer.. New roof properly sorted is only going to add value.

yeah ive got all the frame, think I will purchase a new roof and get it sorted!