As a soft top convertible owner, odds are you pay special attention to the wear and tear of your beloved convertible. From the tension cables to the headliners and the material of the fabric itself, your soft top is a delicate yet crucial part of your car. It protects you from heavy rains, strong winds, hail, extreme temperatures and just about any element. However, in doing so your car withstands a lot and this can often lead to unwanted tears or cuts in the soft top fabric. If you find yourself in this predicament, luckily there are some measures you can take in order to repair your soft top to last you a little longer before you really need to replace it.
How Do I Repair My Convertible Soft Top?
Then, you can also use strong tape and or glue to seal the tear in your soft top. You want to make sure to use a heavy-duty cloth tape instead of the cheap stuff. The best method is to use tape to close the laceration from the inside of the car and use glue to seal it from the outside of the car. Remember to apply both the tape and glue generously to completely seal your soft top.
Lastly, you should use marine canvas to completely patch up your soft top. Just simply cut a piece of canvas about 1 to 2 inches larger than the tear and emulate the shape of the tear as much as you can. Following this process is the most effective way to ensure that your convertible is as good as new.
Can Any Tear Or Cut Be Repaired?
Although this process is a great way to repair your convertible top, it is not a permanent fix. A soft top is only meant to last you about 5 to 15 years depending on the wear and tear it faces (rain, hail, sun, etc.). After a certain amount of time, the entire soft top will need to be replaced, not just for aesthetics, but for your protection. In fact, if the cut is longer than 12 inches, we would actually recommend that you replace your soft top altogether. In some cases, especially if the laceration in the soft top is the result of vandalism, the top cannot be replaced, no matter its size.
If you are unfortunate enough to face a tear or cut that you cannot repair using this process, we offer affordable replacements for a large variety of makes and models at AutoTops Direct. Also, if you simply need to replace a small piece and not the soft top itself, we also offer a variety of accessories that include headliners, seals and trim repair kits.
Which Material Is Best for My Replacement?
It’s also important to keep in mind which materials are best suited for the particular weather conditions that your car is prone to. We offer Everflex, Pinpoint, Sailcloth, Twill and Acoustic Vinyl as well as Stayfast, Sonnendeck and German Classic canvas.
For weatherability, we recommend using Sailcloth or Everflex vinyl, which is also known for extreme durability. However, if your main concern is wear and tear from the sun, we recommend using German Classic canvas, Sailcloth vinyl or Sonnendeck canvas as they are known to be fade-resistant.
But if you are looking for a more affordable fix and aren’t too concerned about the elements, then Pinpoint vinyl is your best bet. And if you are looking for a high-end replacement that offers you both durability and a clean look while reducing noise, we recommend using Acoustic vinyl, Twill vinyl or Stayfast canvas. All of our replacement soft tops offer you both durability and a clean look.
Choosing the right replacement for your car depends on the daily wear and tear that your vehicle is prone to. At AutoTops Direct we are proud to offer you a 5 year warranty on all of our soft top replacements and a 30 day price match guarantee so that you don’t have to break the bank purchasing a proper replacement.
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