Wear Marks

Wear marks are darker stripes which appear along the lines where the roof folds when stored.

Grit and dirt builds up in the fibres of the fabric roof and each time the roof is folded, this causes abrasion which slowly damages the roof, destroying the fibres and causing them to fray.

This causes a fluffy/fuzzy patch along the line of the fold, which appears darker because of the way it catches the light.

If the wear continues, it will eventually wear holes right through the roof, destroying it completely. 

Once wear lines appear, they cannot be reversed, however, careful cleaning to remove the grit and dirt can stop the problem getting worse.  Applying a weatherproof coating also darkens the hood, making them less noticeable. 

What it means

Wear marks are patches where a surface has been physically rubbed down over time. On fabric and mohair soft tops they usually show as slightly shiny, smooth or lightened areas where the pile has been flattened and the fibres thinned. On paintwork they can appear as dull, hazy patches or high spots that have been repeatedly polished. On trims and rubbers they may show as glossy, polished-looking areas on what should be a matte finish. In all cases, something abrasive – often trapped grit combined with movement – has gradually worn the surface away.

Why it matters

• Early warning of damage: Wear marks are often the first visible sign that a roof or panel is starting to wear out in certain areas, especially at folds, corners and contact points.
• Can lead to holes and failures: If the same area keeps rubbing with grit in the fibres, light wear marks can progress to fully thinned fabric and eventually holes or splits.
• Weakens protection: On soft tops, worn patches can reduce the effectiveness of the membrane system and proofing, making it easier for water to creep through or for UV to attack deeper layers.
• Affects appearance and value: Even before holes appear, obvious wear marks make a roof or panel look tired, which can put buyers off and influence inspection reports.

Where you’ll see it

You will see wear marks most often on fabric soft tops along fold lines, where the roof rubs as it moves, on shoulders where people brush past, and in gutters where grit sits. On paintwork, wear marks can appear on edges, door handles and high spots that have been polished or washed aggressively. Inspection and detailing reports may mention wear marks on soft top above frame, wear marks at fold lines or paint wear on edges and high spots.

Context

Wear marks are part of the general picture of roof and paintwork condition. On soft tops they often go hand-in-hand with embedded grit, roof green and ageing stitching – all signs the roof has lived outside and not been cleaned deeply enough. On paint, they can indicate over-enthusiastic machine polishing or repeated hand polishing on the same spot. Understanding the difference between simple dirt, staining and true wear marks is important when advising what is realistic: cleaning and protection can improve appearance, but they cannot put missing material back once it has been abraded away.

Common mistakes

• Assuming wear marks are just dirt and scrubbing harder, which can accelerate the wear and make the patch more obvious.
• Continuing to fold and operate a roof with obvious wear at stress points without addressing the underlying grit and contamination.
• Trying to polish away paint wear marks on edges and high spots, risking cutting through already thin clear coat.
• Promising that cleaning or proofing alone will make heavy wear marks disappear, when in reality they can only be improved cosmetically and may eventually need retrimming or repainting.

Written by Danny Argent. Last updated 04/12/2025 03:03