A Bentley convertible in for roof clean and reproof. Small holes have begun at the fold lines -- Gary repairs them, though warns the repair is not invisible. Nearby an Audi needed a full replacement roof at £1,800. For a Bentley, a new roof would be at least £10,000.
A Bentley convertible in for a roof clean and reproof. The fold lines are showing wear -- on a brand new roof you get fold lines within the first few months of use, just as a new leather shoe creases within the first week. That is normal. What is not normal is letting grit accumulate in those fold lines, because every time the roof opens and closes that grit is grinding away at the fabric from inside.
On this Bentley, two small holes have started on the nearside. Gary repairs them with a specialist sealant -- it is not an invisible repair, but it prevents the holes from growing and buys the roof more time. Had they been left another season, Gary is confident they would have gone through completely.
The Cost of Getting It Wrong
There is an Audi in the workshop at the same time that did not come in when it should have. That one needed a full replacement roof -- £1,800 including VAT. For a Bentley, Gary estimates a new roof would cost at least £10,000. A professional clean and reproof every couple of years costs a fraction of that. The two-year hydrophobic nano-coating means the roof sheds water rather than absorbing it, and each soak-dry cycle is part of what accelerates the degradation.
Recolouring -- When We Do and Don't Recommend It
We offer roof recolouring but Gary chooses not to recommend it at this stage. He is confident a thorough clean will get the fabric black again -- and the nano-coating darkens it further. Recolouring is only worth doing when there is a genuine reason: a vintage car where a replacement roof cannot be sourced, or a roof that is so far gone that cleaning alone will not do enough. Otherwise a good clean and reproof gives a better result and does not involve painting over the fabric.
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