Roof Repair Kits

Cabriolet Roof Repair kits consist of patches and glue, and they allow you to patch a hole in a fabric, or more usually, a vinyl roof. 

They work best if the patch can be done from the inside, so you might want to ensure you have access when considering this option.

"It is what it is", and you are unlikely to get an invisible repair, and in many cases it will be an ugly repair.  A replacement roof is usually the better option, but while a D.I.Y. repair kit costs around £6.99, a replacement roof fitted by a professional will usually cost between £600 - £1200.

What it means

A roof repair kit is a boxed or bagged set of DIY materials sold to fix damage on a convertible soft top. Most kits include some form of adhesive and one or more pieces of fabric or vinyl to stick over a tear, hole or split seam. Some also include clear films for plastic rear window repairs, or coloured compounds that claim to fill cracks. The idea is to give the owner a way to patch localised damage without replacing the whole roof.

Why it matters

• Offers basic DIY patching: For small, simple damage in a non-critical area, a carefully applied kit may reduce water ingress for a while.
• Rarely invisible: Even the best DIY patches are usually visible at close range, especially on modern, tight-fitting mohair roofs.
• Short term rather than permanent: Sun, flexing and movement mean many kit repairs are best viewed as temporary measures, not lifetime fixes.
• Not suitable for tired roofs: If the fabric is generally thin, torn in several places or the stitching and membrane are failing, a roof repair kit is unlikely to be a sensible solution compared with professional retrimming or replacement.

Where you’ll see it

You will see roof repair kits advertised online, in motor factors and in accessory catalogues aimed at convertible owners. Quotes or inspection notes may say previous DIY patch from roof repair kit, roof has been repaired with stick-on patch or roof condition too poor for roof repair kit, recommend replacement. Trimmers and leak specialists may comment on existing patches when assessing whether a roof is still worth saving.

Context

A roof repair kit sits at the very light end of convertible roof repair options. At one extreme you have simple cleaning, proofing and minor stitching work; at the other you have fitting a full replacement roof kit or complete roof assembly. DIY kits sit in between, offering a way to patch a small problem but not to reverse long term wear, roof green, embedded grit, failed membranes or widespread tears. On some older or low value cars a neat patch may be an acceptable compromise, but on many modern vehicles the priority is proper diagnosis of leaks and professional advice on whether repair or replacement is more sensible.

Common mistakes

• Using a roof repair kit on a roof that is already badly worn, shrunk or torn in several places, when replacement is the realistic option.
• Sticking patches onto dirty, damp or poorly prepared fabric, leading to poor adhesion and early failure.
• Expecting a small DIY patch to be invisible and resale friendly on a modern prestige convertible.
• Relying on patches to cure leaks that actually come from failed membranes, seams, drains or seals elsewhere in the roof system.

Written by Danny Argent. Last updated 04/12/2025 03:45