I can still remember my first car: an old blue Honda Civic, good at getting me from point A to point B with decent gas mileage. What it wasn't good at was keeping cool in the summer and warm in the winter without a LOT of extra help. What it did good for gas mileage was often undone by how hard it had to work to regulate temperature because of bad insulation.

If I knew then what I know now, I would've saved myself the money and hassle by upgrading the car roof insulation. In the end, I could've saved the money by improving my car's fuel efficiency, and drive with a level of comfort rivaled only by a suite at the Ritz-Calton!

Read on to learn about roof insulation options that can keep the interior temperature just the way you like it.

A Second Skin customer's sprinter van insulation project where he lined the roof with Mega Zorbe, our best automotive insulator.

The Headliner

The headliner is the series of layers covering the ceiling of your vehicle’s interior. A knit fabric layer covers a foam-like layer of polyurethane that adheres to the fiberglass roof. This entire unit is the headliner, and it keeps the temperature comfortable inside the car while also providing a degree of sound deadening. However, outside of luxury vehicles, this standard layer of polyurethane in most cars is usually minimal, leaving significant room for improvement.

Benefits to Upgrading Roof Insulation

Upgrading your roof insulation will create a noticeably more comfortable environment by helping maintain temperatures inside the vehicle, and reduce rain and other weather-related noise. Per the Department of Energy, your air conditioning is the #1 cause of reduced fuel economy in hot weather. Blasting the AC can reduce fuel economy by more than 25%. By upgrading your car roof's insulation with a Second Skin roof kit, less cool air will escape and it'll take less energy to keep the vehicle cool in the summer. Better gas mileage and more comfort? Yes please!

You will also notice improved performance of your audio system, with the additional insulation reducing exterior noise through the roof and improving the clarity of the music. Some customers even find themselves turning the volume down since airborne noise is less of an an issue! And if you have a sub in the trunk, we don't need to tell you twice about the benefits of reducing roof flex. We designed our Roof Kit to improve all of it.

Mega Zorbe™ Car Roof Insulation

To greatly increase the amount of insulation above the headliner, consider Heat Wave Pro™ or Mega Zorbe™. Heat Wave Pro™ is an excellent thermal insulator made of recycled jute, while Mega Zorbe™, our hydrophobic melamine foam, is an industry-leading combination of thermal and sound insulation. These aerospace approved, melamine foam sheets are ideal when you have a bit of space to work with between your car roof and the headliner. You don’t want to squish Mega Zorbe™ due to the open-cell structure. If you’re limited to less than half an inch, we recommend sticking with the Heat Wave Pro™.

INSTALLATION TIPS

For Heat Wave Pro™ and Mega Zorbe™, use a good pair of scissors to cut to size.

Cut it down to the size of the install location first, making sure to leave room for wiring and other electrical components.

If soundproofing is your whole agenda, check out our article on car roof soundproofing where we talk about applying Damplifier Pro™ Sound Deadening Mats or Spectrum™ Spray-On Sound Deadener directly to the metal to act as a shock absorber to resist the energy of the vibrations, putting a stop to roof flex and “deadening” a lot of the noise from vibrations transmitting through the roof.

With 100% coverage of Damplifier Pro™ you are also adding an extra layer of thermal protection, even if its "main" purpose isn't thermal insulation. We love bonuses benefits around here!

INSTALLATION TIPS

Cut Damplifier Pro™ with a sharp razor blade to get clean, precise lines.

Damplifier Pro™ Car Roof Sound Deadening

The first step in removing the headliner is to remove all attachments, like grab handles, seatbelt heads and brake light covers. Next, you’ll remove the trim pad panels that run along the sides of the headliner. This will release the headliner from the roof of your car, at which point you can simply pull it out. Make sure to check out that pro tip!

PROFESSIONAL TIP

Take notes and/or photos of your car’s headliner as you remove it. The reference will help you reinstall the headliner correctly when you're done putting in your new insulation.

Okay, okay! We have two options that will take you from dud to stud! Whichever you choose, complete coverage is a must, so always measure to find out exactly square footage you need.

If you have limited clearance or are on a tighter budget Heat Wave Pro™ jute insulation is highly effective with an R-value of 3.91 per inch.

If you're looking for sound blocking as well (for those rainy days), Mega Zorbe™ hydrophobic melamine foam has an R-value of 4.16 per inch! You'll want to be certain you have at least 1/2" of clearance as this open cell foam technology only works when it's not compressed (that's why we don't suggest it for insulating a car floor.).

PROFESSIONAL TIPS

Attach your insulation with with spray adhesive or strong double-sided tape (if you don't get the adhsive backing). Be sure to also tape the seams.

Don't throw out the factory car heat insulation (unless it's gross or completely worn out)! Save it in case you still have room above the headliner when you complete your install. Extra layers will increase the total r-value and further reduce heat transfer!

We wouldn't be surprised to see hands in the air right now, as this always seems to be an afterthought (and a regrettable one, at that). Sound deadening material is our first layer in most every project. While one could argue the primary function is to deaden vibrations, with the recommended 100% coverage, our sound deadening material is going to act as a second thermal layer for when it's really hot or cold.

Damplifier Pro™ should be applied first as your vibration reduction layer. Damplifier Pro™ comes in sheets that you can cut to size with a sharp utility knife for easy application. Installation is fairly simple – just cut to size, peel to reveal the built-in adhesive, and stick. Most people get a wooden hand roller to roll the sound deadening mat onto the metal sheet and ensure a firm bond.

If you choose to apply Spectrum™ liquid deadener, you can spray it on with a spray gun or simply paint it on with a brush. Spectrum should be applied in 1mm layers to ensure proper adhesion. For most situations, we recommend doing at least 2mm total but no more than 5mm. This is an important step to solving noisy vehicles like Ford Bronco noise.

The thermal insulation product (Heat Wave Pro™ or Mega Zorbe™) will go on next as the heat barrier layer. Make sure to fully attach the barrier layer with spray adhesive or double-sided tape. Don’t skimp! Cover 100% of the roof, as this application will fight gravity, heat, and movement on a daily basis. Tape the seams and edges to protect them from daily wear and tear.

If you decide to use Mega Zorbe™, make sure you have at least a half-inch of clearance, as it’s an open-cell foam and needs to be fluffed out in order to be effective. After the vibration and heat barrier layers have been applied, you may reapply the factory foam material IF you have extra clearance. With insulation, more is almost always better.

PROFESSIONAL TIP

Your average car roof is 20-25 sqft. But like Mom always said… Measure twice, cut once! Thanks Mom.

If you’re looking for the quickest and easiest way to get maximum results, consider a Second Skin Audio Car Roof Kit. It's easy to toggle between the various options discussed in this article, and each kit combines exactly what you need to get the job done (with a 10% discount included!). Aside from the soundproofing and thermal insulation materials, each kit also includes any needed adhesives and tools to make the job easier.

• Damplifier Pro will stop your car's roof vibrations whether you're trying to max out your SPL or just drive in peace and quiet.
• For your insulating layer, choose between Mega Zorbe and Heat Wave Pro. Both materials will absorb sound and resist heat transfer.
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