A black roof is the most visible upgrade for the smallest budget, and the best job to start wrapping with: it's a large, almost flat surface that's easy to reach. With our 152 cm wide rolls, you cover the roof in one piece, with no joins. Here's how installers do it, explained so you get it right first time.
What you need
- Vinyl: 2 m for a small car or a hatchback, 2 to 3 m for a saloon or an estate, and 3 m for an SUV. The most popular are gloss black, which looks like a panoramic glass roof, matte black and Premium gloss black carbon.
- Tools: a felt-edged squeegee, a fine-blade cutter, wrapping gloves. If you're working alone, a wrap magnet acts as a second pair of hands.
- To cut without touching the paint: knifeless tape (optional, but highly recommended if you're not confident with a blade).
- Also: a heat gun or a powerful hairdryer, isopropyl alcohol, microfibre cloths and, ideally, a second person.
1. Prepare the roof and the space
80% of a good result is in the cleaning. Wash the roof with soapy water, dry it and then wipe it with isopropyl alcohol to remove wax and grease, paying special attention along the seals and trims. Any speck of dust will show as a bump under the film.
Work in the shade or in a garage, out of the wind and on a cold car: between 15 and 25 °C is ideal. In the sun the adhesive grabs too hard; in the cold the vinyl goes stiff.
2. Measure and cut
Measure the roof from side to side and from the windscreen to the rear window, and cut the vinyl with about 10 cm of spare on each side. That spare is for holding and stretching the film, and you'll trim it off later. If you also want matching wing mirrors, use the same roll: add 50 cm.
3. Position the vinyl
Peel off all the backing paper and, with two people, hold the film by the corners, adhesive side down. Let it settle on the roof without pressing, centre it and stretch it slightly from all four corners: it should be like a tight sheet, with no creases. If you're alone, peel half the backing and hold one side with the magnets.
Our films have air-release channels against bubbles and can be repositioned: if it isn't straight, lift it and lay it again before you squeegee.
4. Squeegee from the centre
With the felt-edged squeegee, make a first pass down the middle of the roof, from front to back. From that line, work out towards the sides in overlapping, fan-shaped strokes, always from the centre outwards. That way the air escapes at the edges. If a crease forms, lift that area, stretch it slightly and squeegee again. Any small bubbles left disappear with a press of a finger: the air escapes through the micro-channels in the adhesive.
5. Heat on curves and edges
In the corners and where the roof curves down towards the pillars, warm the vinyl with the heat gun from about 20 cm away, keeping it moving: the film goes soft like chewing gum. Then stretch it gently and squeegee it down. Don't stretch it cold: it would later try to shrink back and lift.
6. Trim and seal
Trim off the excess with the cutter along the window seals and side trims, holding the blade at a low angle and without pressing: you want to cut the film, not the paint. Where there are trims or seals, leave 2 to 3 mm and tuck it underneath with the squeegee: the edge will be invisible. With knifeless tape it's even easier: you lay it before the film and then pull the filament, which cuts on its own.
Finally, heat all the edges and press them down with a gloved finger. This "post-heating" activates the adhesive and stops the film lifting when you wash the car.
Panoramic roof, roof bars and aerial
- Panoramic or sunroof: wrap only the metal and trim along the glass.
- Roof bars: it's best to remove them. If not, make a relief cut and work around them.
- Shark-fin aerial: on many cars it unscrews with two screws from inside; if not, trim carefully around it.
Mistakes to avoid
- Rushing the cleaning: every speck of dust will show.
- Wrapping in direct sun or on a hot roof.
- Stretching cold instead of using heat.
- Pressing the cutter into the paint.
- Washing the car within 48 hours: the adhesive needs that long to bond fully.
Ready to start? All the finishes for the roof are on the car roof wrap page. And when you're done, the next easy part is the bonnet.
Frequently asked questions
How much vinyl do I need for a car roof?
For a small car or a hatchback, 2 m of 152 cm roll; for a saloon or an estate, 2 to 3 m; and for an SUV or an MPV, 3 m.
Is it hard to wrap a car roof myself?
It's the best job to start with: a large, almost flat surface. With patience, careful cleaning and heat in the corners, you can do it in an afternoon, even the first time.
How do I get rid of bubbles under the vinyl?
Our films have air-release channels: the air escapes through channels in the adhesive. Any bubbles left go if you press them with a finger from the centre towards the edge. If one won't move, lift that area and squeegee it again.
When can I wash the car after wrapping the roof?
Wait at least 48 hours so the adhesive bonds properly. After that, wash it by hand or at a car wash without hard brushes, and keep the pressure washer away from the edges.
