Knowledge Base

Welcome to the Carr Designs Knowledge Base, created by OBS Interiors LLC. DBA Carr Designs.

This section of our website provides fact-based explanations of terminology, products, materials, processes, and other commonly misunderstood subjects within the automotive interior restoration industry. These articles also examine widespread assumptions, correct misinformation, debunk common myths, and address some of the harder truths that can affect the quality, scope, cost, and durability of a project.

The goal is to help customers and potential customers become more knowledgeable before deciding what services or materials to purchase. This information is not intended to convince readers to choose our shop. It is meant to help them understand what they may be paying for, recognize meaningful differences between services, ask better questions, and make informed decisions—whether they ultimately work with us or a different shop of their own choosing.

These articles are not intended to provide step-by-step DIY instruction or disclose proprietary products, methods, or workflows. Whenever possible, technical statements and definitions are supported by manufacturer information, technical documentation, research, or other reputable references. When we discuss observations from our own testing and experience, we identify them accordingly and avoid presenting them as universal scientific conclusions.

Automotive interior terminology is not always used consistently. The same word can describe substantially different materials, processes, or levels of work depending on the person or business using it. A familiar product name, impressive finished appearance, popular method, or higher price does not establish quality by itself. Understanding the actual materials, preparation, process, scope, limitations, and supporting evidence is far more useful than relying on labels alone.

We encourage readers to continue their own research and not rely solely on our articles—or anyone else’s. Comparing information from multiple reputable sources and asking thoughtful questions are among the best ways to understand what a service truly includes and whether it fits your goals.

If there is a topic, term, product, material, or process you would like to see addressed in a future article, we would be happy to hear from you. Please feel free to contact us with your suggestions.

All Posts

It Looks Great. But Is It Actually Quality?

Looks and feel help form a first impression. They do not tell the entire story. Two automotive interior parts can look nearly identical when they are finished and still be dramatically different in quality. The opposite can also be true. One material may look richer, feel softer, or appear more expensive than another while being less suitable for the way the part will actually be used. Appearance and feel matter. Uneven stitching, visible defects, poor fitment, incorrect shee

contactobsinteriors

Aug 247 min read

Leather vs. Vinyl: What Actually Determines Durability and Lifespan?

When customers compare leather and vinyl, the discussion is often reduced to broad claims: Leather is always the premium choice. Vinyl is always more durable. Leather is easily ruined by skin oils. Vinyl requires less care. A material that feels softer or has a larger abrasion number must be higher quality. Those statements attempt to rank two entire categories of materials as though every product within each category is made the same way. It is not that simple. Good-quality

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Aug 1511 min read

The Biggest Mistake Customers Make When Comparing Automotive Interior Estimates

When a customer receives an estimate, the total at the bottom is often the first thing they look for. That reaction is understandable. Everyone has a budget, and the final number determines whether a project is immediately affordable. However, the total is also the part of an estimate that provides the least information by itself. A price does not explain what will be repaired, replaced, restored, fabricated, refinished, or left untouched. It does not identify the materials b

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Aug 1416 min read

The Adhesion Promoter Advice Everyone Repeats Can Make Paint Stick Worse

“Just spray adhesion promoter on it.” That advice is repeated constantly in videos, social-media groups by "professionals" as well as DIY people, and conversations about painting automotive interior plastics. Sometimes it is presented as though adhesion promoter is a universal insurance policy: spray it on every plastic, make sure the surface is thoroughly covered, and whatever coating follows will stick better. That is not how adhesion promoter works. Different promoters use

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Aug 1419 min read

The Adhesive Everyone Recommends for Automotive Plastic May Be the Wrong One

Why sticking is not the same as bonding—and why no product is right for every repair One of the most common questions surrounding plastic repair is, “What adhesive do you use?” It sounds like a simple question, but there is no single correct answer. Automotive interiors contain many different plastics, and the parts themselves vary in thickness, rigidity, construction, and how they are used. An adhesive that performs exceptionally well in one repair may be completely inapprop

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Aug 1312 min read

What Is Plastic Coloring?

One of the most common services performed on automotive interior plastics is changing their color. Throughout the industry, this process is described using a variety of terms, including painting, dyeing, refinishing, and recoloring. While these terms are often used interchangeably, they don't necessarily describe the same products or processes. Understanding the terminology helps customers better understand the work being performed and the scope of the service they're purchas

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Aug 34 min read

What is restoration?

One of the most commonly used words in the automotive industry is restoration. Ironically, it's also one of the most misunderstood. Depending on who you ask, restoration may mean returning something to factory condition, rebuilding it from the ground up, or simply making it look new again. So what does restoration actually mean? Definition: "Restoration" means the process of restoring a motor vehicle or specific components thereof, to original condition, or better, through th

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Aug 33 min read

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Knowledge Base

All Posts

It Looks Great. But Is It Actually Quality?

Leather vs. Vinyl: What Actually Determines Durability and Lifespan?

The Biggest Mistake Customers Make When Comparing Automotive Interior Estimates

The Adhesion Promoter Advice Everyone Repeats Can Make Paint Stick Worse

The Adhesive Everyone Recommends for Automotive Plastic May Be the Wrong One

What Is Plastic Coloring?

What is restoration?

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