Revitalizing your car’s interior can make your vehicle feel new again. You can recondition the vinyl and plastic components on your doors, dashboard, seats, and console, or even undertake a complete interior overhaul including carpets, velour, and upholstery. Recoloring virtually every interior surface is achievable. With a thorough vacuuming and shampooing beforehand, you can accomplish the entire rejuvenation process within a weekend, accounting for drying times between each step.
Meet the Expert
Larry Trexler, the National Trainer and Technical Service Manager for SEM Products, brings 27 years of hands-on experience in auto body repair and restoration to the table. Here are Larry’s expert tips for repairing your car’s vinyl interior.
Essential Materials and Vehicle Preparation
The Right Products Matter
Several brands offer reconditioning products, but SEM Products is a preferred choice among professionals, making it an excellent option for DIY enthusiasts. SEM products are readily available at numerous auto parts stores and online retailers like vinylpro.com and tcpglobal.com. SEM provides a comprehensive range of products designed for repairing and refurbishing plastic, vinyl, velour, leather, and carpet within vehicle interiors. When correctly applied, SEM’s flexible colored coatings are designed to resist chipping, flaking, and fading, ensuring a long-lasting finish.
We consulted SEM’s restoration expert, Larry Trexler, to guide us through the professional techniques for reconditioning vinyl, plastic, carpet, and velour car interiors. For specific guidance on leather restoration, you can visit semproducts.com.
Matching the Original Colors
SEM offers refinishing products in over 50 different colors. Obtain a color chart from a local SEM dealer and carefully match the color chips to your car’s existing carpet and plastic components. It’s important to note that this process is intended for restoration, not for drastically changing the interior color scheme of your vehicle. You will achieve the most satisfactory and natural-looking results by selecting colors that closely resemble the original shades of your car’s interior.
