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Why You Should Never DIY a Spray-On Bedliner: Get it Professionally Installed
If you’re the kind of truck owner who enjoys a weekend project or loves the idea of customizing your ride yourself, you might think that applying a spray-on bedliner is a great DIY opportunity.
After all, how hard could it be to grab a can of spray-on liner and apply it to your truck bed? The answer, in short: much harder than it looks. While DIY bedliners are available, there are several reasons why having a professionally installed spray-on bedliner will save you time, money, and future headaches.
In this article, we’ll walk through why tackling a spray-on bedliner installation on your own could turn into a DIY disaster and why leaving it to the pros at LINE-X is worth every penny.
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Why DIY Spray-On Bedliners Aren’t Worth the Hassle
1. Surface Prep is Key, and It’s Not Simple
One of the most underestimated parts of the professional spray-on bedliner installation is the prep work. Prepping your truck bed isn’t just about wiping down the surface and getting to work. To achieve a long-lasting, smooth and durable finish, the bed must be meticulously cleaned, sanded, and degreased. If you miss even a spot, the bedliner may not adhere properly, leading to bubbles, peeling, or cracks over time.
2. Achieving an Even Coat is Nearly Impossible Without Experience
One of the biggest challenges with DIY spray-on bedliner applications is achieving an even coat. Without the right technique, it’s easy to end up with areas too thick or too thin. Uneven application not only looks bad but can affect the bedliner’s performance. If it’s too thin, it won’t provide adequate protection. Too thick, and the liner could start to crack or peel.
3. DIY Kits Don’t Stand the Test of Time
There are several DIY spray-on bedliner kits on the market, and while they may claim to be just as good as professional products, they typically don’t compare. Most of these kits contain lower-quality chemicals, which may look good right after application but tend to degrade quickly. The DIY kits you can buy at your local store don’t have the same strength, UV resistance, or durability as the professional-grade liners installed by spray technicians..
4. Without a Warranty, You’re Taking a Big Risk
When you apply a spray-on bedliner yourself, you’re on your own. If the liner peels, cracks, or doesn’t adhere properly–you’re left footing the bill to fix it. Most DIY bedliner kits don’t offer any meaningful warranties, and any mistakes you make are on your dime.
In contrast, LINE-X backs every spray-on truck bedliner with a Limited Lifetime Warranty. If something goes wrong, like peeling, bubbling, or cracking, you can simply return to any LINE-X dealer, and they’ll make it right. No stress, no extra cost.
This kind of peace of mind is one of the main reasons truck owners choose LINE-X. It’s not just about getting a professional installation—it’s about knowing your truck bedliner is protected for as long as you own your truck. Why gamble with a DIY kit when you can trust the proven durability and support that only LINE-X offers?
5. Professionals Bring Skill You Can’t DIY
When you hire a professional to install your spray-on bedliner, you’re paying for more than just labor—you’re paying for expertise. Professionals know the ins and outs of different truck beds, how to tackle tricky angles, and how to ensure a perfect, seamless application. They’ve done this hundreds (if not thousands) of times, and they’ve encountered every possible issue. In other words, they know how to do it right the first time.
6. Your Time is Better Spent Elsewhere
Let’s face it: installing a spray-on bedliner yourself isn’t going to be a quick Saturday afternoon project. Between the prep work, application, and drying time, you could be looking at several days before your truck is ready to hit the road again. And if you make a mistake, you could end up spending even more time (and money) fixing it.
7. Avoid Health and Safety Risks by Hiring Pros
The chemicals in spray-on bedliners aren’t something to mess around with. DIY kits often require you to wear protective gear and work in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling harmful fumes. You also need to be cautious about overspray–get that liner on anything besides the truck bed, and you’ve got a permanent mess.
Trust the LINE-X Spray-On Bedliner Process
At LINE-X, we don’t just install bedliners–we’ve perfected them. Every LINE-X spray technician is extensively trained to ensure each bedliner is installed with precision. We’ve got the high-grade applicators, tools, top-quality materials, and 30 years of hands-on experience to ensure a bedliner that’s built to last and tough enough to withstand anything– from hailstorms and harsh debris to everyday wear and tear of the road.
As professional storm chaser Ricky Forbes says, “Whether it's your truck getting hit with baseball-sized hail or a tornado throwing debris at us, the LINE-X protective coating takes the punches, and you would never know.” That’s the kind of durable protection LINE-X delivers.
The secret to a flawless bedliner starts with the prep work. It’s labor-intensive, meticulous, and crucial for long-lasting results, which is why many DIY kits fail.
Here’s how our professionals do it right, every time:
Thorough Scuffing: Proper adhesion starts with scuffing the bed, which requires serious commitment, elbow grease, and the right tools. This step ensures that the liner bonds seamlessly to the surface.
Rust and Repair Work: After scuffing, we go the extra mile by repairing any rust, patching holes, and removing flaking or peeling paint. This step adds years to the life of your bedliner.
Second Cleaning: After the scuffing and repairs, your truck is cleaned again to remove any dust, grease, or grime.
Expert Masking: To protect your truck from overspray, we meticulously mask off every inch that shouldn’t be coated using a combination of masking tape, wire tape (for sharp, straight lines), blocking paper, and masking film. Precision matters.
Unlike DIY kits, which use a cold application, we use the LINE-X exclusive two-part polyurethane elastomer system, applied at high pressure and high temperature. The components are mixed at the spray gun tip, ensuring a perfect blend every time.
Our bedliners begin to dry in seconds, eliminating the risk of drips, runs, or uneven patches. The result? A flawless finish built to handle whatever comes next. “There are never any dents, scrapes, fading, or rusting because LINE-X protects against all of that,” adds Forbes, speaking to the protective power of our bedliners and protective coatings.
Attention to Detail You Can’t Achieve with DIY
Whether it’s a truck bed, rocker panels, or your entire rig, we follow the same thorough prep for every LINE-X application to ensure your liner lasts a lifetime. The best part? You won’t be without your vehicle for a few days. Most LINE-X dealers will have your truck back to you the same day you dropped it off, though we recommend a full 24-hour cure time before you start loading items in the bed.
Don’t DIY When the Job is This Important
Ready to protect your truck bed for life? Don’t gamble with DIY—choose a professional LINE-X spray-on bedliner that’s built to take a beating and backed by our lifetime warranty. We provide a variety of options, from the tried-and-true Standard to the UV-stable Premium, the extra-durable MAX sprayed 25% thicker, and even custom colors to suit your style. With professional installation, you’re not only getting superior protection but also long-term confidence that your bedliner will stand up to the toughest challenges.
Request a quote or find your nearest LINE-X dealer and get your truck bed protected today.
Updated 3/12/2025
