My first car was 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-Carlton!

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

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.

Sound deadening material is part one of our Second Skin System. While 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 it 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.

PROFESSIONAL TIP

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

The car roof thermal insulation – Heat Wave Pro™ or Mega Zorbe™ – will go on next as the heat barrier layer. Heat Wave Pro™ should be attached to the headliner using spray adhesive or double-sided tape. 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 1/2" of clearance, as it’s an open-cell foam and needs to be fluffed out in order to be effective. You can easily peel & stick with the PSA backing, or use a spray adhesive to adhere it to the Damplifier Pro™.

After the vibration and heat barrier layers have been applied, reapply the factory foam material IF you have extra clearance. With insulation, more is almost always better.

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.

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. It's only 3/8" thick and can be compressed a good bit too. Install it on the headliner to gain the added benefit of the reflected radiant heat in the summer.

If you're looking to improve the acoustics inside as well, Mega Zorbe™ hydrophobic melamine foam does just that with an R-value of 4.16 per inch! Melamine foam sheets are an open cell foam so you won't want to compress it (that's why we don't suggest it for insulating a car floor.), so you'll want to be certain you have at least 1/2" of clearance.

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!

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

The Headliner needs insulation

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, responsible for insulating over-head. We use R-value to determine a material’s capacity to resist heat flow.

However, outside of luxury vehicles, this standard layer of polyurethane in most cars is usually minimal, leaving significant room for improvement. And 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%.

Benefits to upgrading roof insulation

Upgrading your roof insulation with one of our preferred thermal insulation materials will create a noticeably more comfortable cabin by helping maintain temperatures inside the vehicle, and with less cool air escaping in the summer, it'll take less energy to keep the vehicle cool. Better gas mileage and more comfort? Yes please!

The additional insulation will also absorb echoes for improved audio clarity and reduced noise from rain and other weather. Some customers even find themselves turning the volume down since airborne noise is less of 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.

The Second Skin Car Roof Insulation Kit follows the Second Skin System to get the Second Skin difference. Combine our high-quality sound deadeners and one of our preferred thermal insulation materials to get the best thermal protection and the best soundproofing a roof can get. By using a layer of our high-quality sound deadener and a layer of insulation, you cut down on how much heat transfer there is AND how insulated the roof is.

The Second Skin Car Roof Insulation Kit takes the sound and thermal benefits of Damplifier Pro™ and marries it with either Heat Wave Pro™ or Mega Zorbe™ for the ultimate car roof insulation solution (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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