Can you repair soft top roofs?
Quick answer: Yes -- we handle minor cosmetic repairs. Small holes can be patched from behind (where accessible) and blended with loose fibres; it's durable but not invisible. We can also tidy rubbers and trim, and we specialise in finding and fixing leaks. For mechanism or electrical faults, or roofs needing a replacement kit, use a folding-roof specialist.
We carry out minor cosmetic repairs to soft-top roofs, rubbers and trim, and we're specialists in finding and fixing leaks. Anything involving the mechanism, electrics, or a full roof replacement belongs with a dedicated folding-roof company.
Small holes and tears
If we can get access behind the hole, we glue a patch to the back of the fabric and fill the gap with loose fibres blended to match. It's the same technique we use for carpet repairs -- hard-wearing and stable, but not invisible. Up close you will still see where the tear was; from a few feet away it disappears into the weave.
The same approach works on a vinyl or mohair hood where access allows, though mohair is harder to blend because of the pile.
Rubbers, trim and leaks
Perished rubbers and lifting trim are straightforward for us to sort, and they're often the real cause of a roof that looks tatty. We also run full leak finding and fixing on convertibles -- including weather-proofing the fabric once a leak has been traced and resolved.
What we don't do
For serious mechanical or electrical problems with the roof mechanism, or for a full replacement roof kit, we suggest a company which specialises in folding-roof systems, such as Cayman Autos.
More serious fabric damage -- longer rips, seams coming apart, rear windows falling out -- is rarely economically viable to repair. An upholstery trimmer isn't a seamstress (as they like to remind us with colourful language -- "Right? Want me to darn your f#$%ing socks for you too?") and they will not sew by hand with the roof in place. To do it properly, a trimmer has to remove the roof, cut out the damaged panel, source matching fabric if it still exists, sew the new panel in, and refit the roof. At that point you may as well fit a new roof kit.