Constructing out your van conversion is a fancy course of with numerous shifting elements. Whereas it’s enjoyable to decide on paint colors and flooring, probably the most vital components is definitely one thing you by no means see: insulation!
Okay, insulation may not be all that thrilling however it’s a key participant for year-round consolation. Whether or not you’re spending time in chilly climate or beating the warmth in the summertime, selecting the best van insulation is crucial.
There are many other ways to insulate your van, ranging in worth and effectiveness. With so many various choices, looking for the most effective sort of insulation may be complicated, so we’ve carried out the give you the results you want!
With numerous analysis underneath our belts, we’ve put collectively this camper van insulation information to summarize our findings and clarify what labored greatest in our van construct.
Issues to Think about When Insulating Your Van
Many alternative elements make every van insulation materials distinctive. Sure supplies are greatest fitted to particular makes use of and places in your van construct. Listed here are the issues to search for when looking for camper van insulation.
Warmth Switch
The very first thing to deal with when deciding on van insulation is knowing how insulation works and why we want it. In a nutshell, insulation is a approach to management warmth switch. There are three several types of warmth switch: radiation, conduction, and convection.
All three of those warmth switch strategies are current in your van, from the solar baking in by way of your home windows to the recent cup of tea in your counter. Your objective when deciding on the correct insulation is to sluggish warmth switch by selecting supplies that tackle all three of its differing types. By slowing warmth switch, you may higher preserve a cushty temperature in your camper van.
R-Worth
When looking for insulation, you’ll see the time period “R-value” lots. R-value is the fabric’s resistance to the conductive circulation of warmth. Principally, it measures how nicely the fabric resists the three varieties of warmth switch talked about above. The increased the R-value, the higher the insulator the fabric is.
R-value is measured per inch, so a ½” foam board will solely provide you with half of the R-value’s insulating energy. Equally, doubling up 1” boards offers you double the R-value. R-values can vary anyplace from R1.0 for one thing like Reflectix to R40+ for the thick fiberglass insulation you’d use in a house attic.
In a home, you can stuff your partitions with the best R-value insulation yow will discover and name it a day. In a van conversion, you’re way more restricted with area since each further inch takes away residing area. Whereas an inch right here and there doesn’t sound like lots, it actually makes a distinction in such a small area.
Moisture and Mould Resistance
Condensation is an inevitable side of residing in a van. Each time you breathe, cook dinner, or run a heater, moisture is created when heat air meets cooler air. Sadly, there is no such thing as a approach to actually eradicate condensation, however we are able to choose an insulation materials to assist mitigate it.
Some say the answer to combating moisture is so as to add a vapor barrier behind your insulation. Primarily, the objective right here could be to guard the physique of your van from any moisture created inside. Whereas this looks as if a good suggestion, it’s laborious to seal off 100% of moisture.
If even a bit of moisture will get behind your vapor barrier, it will get trapped, which may be much more problematic. Your greatest wager right here could be to go for a breathable insulation materials, like sheep wool, or an impermeable materials like inflexible foam board. These supplies coupled with correct air air flow supply the best methods to fight moisture.
You’ll additionally need to be sure that your insulation is mould and mildew resistant. It is a pure perk to supplies like sheep wool and foam board. Keep far, far-off from fibreglass insulation when you don’t need to take care of mould points.
Worth Level
The perfect a part of a DIY conversion or campervan construct is that you simply want far fewer supplies than you’ll for a home. However even with fewer supplies, the worth of excellent high quality insulation can nonetheless add up shortly—and it’s not an space you need to low cost out on.
Just be sure you have enough room in your funds for insulating materials. It’s not one thing you’ll probably ever return and alter except you do an entire rebuild. It’s additionally vital to comprehend that correct campervan insulation supplies may also help you save on heating and cooling prices sooner or later, so it’s a worthy funding.
Discovering the most effective insulation balances price, R-value, and area constraints.
Environmental Friendliness
Discovering an environmentally pleasant materials makes good insulation that significantly better. This was an vital issue for us, as we didn’t need to use low cost insulation and incorporate poisonous supplies into our small residing area. Sheep’s wool is a good eco-friendly possibility, together with another recycled supplies which can be frequent in dwelling insulation, like cotton and cellulose.
Forms of Insulation
There are numerous varieties of insulation in the marketplace. On this listing, we’ll check out the easiest way to insulate a cargo van.
Sheep’s Wool
If you happen to couldn’t inform already, sheep’s wool is one among our favourites. It’s our most well-liked insulation materials for the partitions and ceiling. We used Havelock Wool, sheep’s wool sourced from New Zealand and proudly produced by an environmentally-conscious firm.
Sheep’s wool is a improbable insulation possibility attributable to its pure moisture management and fireplace resistance. It’s additionally recognized to enhance air high quality and assist with sound dampening. The wool has thousands and thousands of tiny air pockets, which entice air and regulate temperature. Similar to the wool retains sheep heat in harsh climates, it’ll do the identical on your van!
NOTE: Sheep’s wool is to not be confused with rockwool insulation, a kind of artificial mineral wool insulation. Rockwool is a sheathing board that’s generally utilized in dwelling insulation.
R-Worth
Typically, sheep’s wool insulation ranges from R3.5-3.8 per inch. Havelock Wool has an R-value of three.6 per inch. It’s often offered as R7 as a result of it’s 2” thick.
Professionals
Sheep’s wool is non-toxic, breathable, and naturally water resistant. You’ll by no means have to fret about mould and mildew behind your van partitions or moisture affecting its insulating properties. It’s pure, compostable, and straightforward to put in.
Cons
Sheep’s wool doesn’t have the best R-value per inch in comparison with another supplies on our listing. Due to this, you’ll have to make use of extra if area permits. Additionally, it may be difficult to trace down in shops so that you’ll almost definitely should order on-line.
The place to Purchase
You should purchase Havelock Wool by way of choose native suppliers however it’s greatest to buy by way of Havelock instantly. They’ve nice instruments for camper van-specific insulating.
Reflectix
Reflectix is that shiny silver bubble wrap-type materials that you simply typically see in van conversions. Whereas it did achieve some reputation in different areas, it gives the easiest way to insulate van home windows. It’s because it is just meant to be a barrier for radiant warmth, just like the solar coming in by way of the glass.
Crucial consideration when utilizing Reflectix insulation is having an enough air hole. If it’s pressed up towards one other materials, it received’t work nicely. The reflective floor must work together with air to be able to carry out as supposed. Most individuals don’t have an extra ¾” to spare behind their partitions, which is why reflectix is just not sometimes used for wall insulation and is extra standard as a camper window insulation.
R-Worth
By itself, Reflectix has a really low R-value of about 1.1 per inch. That is why it’s not supposed for use in partitions or ceilings. With a correct air hole, the R-value may be nearer to three.0 per inch.
Professionals
Reflectix is cheap, simple to seek out, and straightforward to work with for small purposes. It does an incredible job reflecting the solar as a radiant barrier for van window insulation.
Cons
If used incorrectly, it barely supplies any insulation. Additionally, when you boil it right down to price primarily based on R-value, it’s not probably the most bang on your buck.
The place to Purchase
You should purchase Reflectix by the roll at {hardware} shops like Residence Depot or Lowe’s, or on-line on Amazon.
Polyiso Inflexible Foam Board
Polyiso, brief for polyisocyanurate, is a standard selection for foam board insulation in a motorhome insulation. It is available in completely different thicknesses and is often coated with a reflective materials on each side. Because of this if in case you have the area to accommodate an air hole, you will get a formidable R7 worth from these boards.
Most individuals decide to maintain the boards near the partitions, which is completed simply because the polyiso foam boards are simply versatile sufficient to hug the curves of your van. Primarily based on R-value, inflexible board insulation gives top-of-the-line insulation for vans.
Supply: Sealle, CC BY-SA 4.0, by way of Wikimedia Commons
R-Worth
Most polyiso inflexible insulation foam boards are rated between R6.0-6.7 per inch.
Professionals
Polyiso foam board insulation is a good non-toxic resolution on your van construct. They’re naturally impermeable to water so that you received’t have to fret about mould they usually’re cost-effective too.
Cons
The primary disadvantage to insulating with polyiso is the lower in R-value when uncovered to very chilly temperatures. These aren’t made to insulate in under freezing temperatures, which is a significant component for these of us in colder climates.
Additionally, the right set up of those boards is crucial. You need as few air gaps behind the boards as potential. This may be fairly the problem in a van with numerous nooks and crannies!
The place to Purchase
Polyiso foam boards can be found at most massive field {hardware} shops like Residence Depot and Lowe’s.
XPS Foam Board
XPS stands for extruded polystyrene and is an identical foam board choice to polysio. The primary distinction is that it has a barely decrease R-value and isn’t wrapped in a reflective materials. As an alternative, it’s often offered in pink or blue sheets and is broadly obtainable in any respect {hardware} shops.
XPS is an excellent standard selection for DIY van builders as a result of it’s reasonably priced and robust. We used XPS foam board for our sprinter van flooring insulation as a result of it’s impermeable to moisture and has excessive compressive energy. Whereas polysio board would have been nice for its R-value, it’s barely softer than XPS.
R-Worth
Most XPS inflexible foam board is rated at R5.0 per inch.
Professionals
XPS foam board is cheaper than polysio and solely has a barely decrease R-value. Regardless of the written R-value, XPS really performs higher within the excessive chilly the place polysio falls flat. It’s simple to seek out, simple to put in, notably a subfloor insulation, and is impermeable to moisture.
Cons
Not like wool, XPS is just not a really eco-friendly possibility. It makes use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in manufacturing, that are dangerous greenhouse gases. Environmental companies are working to cut back—and ultimately eradicate—HFCs in insulation supplies. As of 2021, Canada and a number of other different nations will ban using HFCs utterly.
The place to Purchase
XPS foam boards are as frequent as fiberglass insulation. You may choose up completely different sizes and thicknesses at any ironmongery store.
Spray Foam
Spray foam is a well-liked insulation possibility used to fill within the air gaps that inflexible foam boards can’t. We used spray foam on our campervan flooring insulation to forestall any moisture pockets from forming. Closed-cell spray foam has an spectacular R-value and is totally immune to moisture.
We used spray foam together with foam boards, however some folks select to spray foam their whole van. If you happen to go this route, put together to spend some cash! Spray foam is an costly insulation possibility by itself and it may be very messy to use. It must be utilized evenly and is a nightmare to take away when you make any errors. For that reason, some van dwellers select to get spray foam insulation for vans carried out professionally.
R-Worth
Closed cell spray foam has an R-value of 6.5-7.0 per inch.
Professionals
Spray foam makes for very efficient Sprinter van insulation due to its excessive R-value and skill to get in hard-to-reach spots. It’s impermeable to moisture and is mould and mildew resistant.
Cons
Whereas spray foam performs nicely, it’s messy and expensive. It’s additionally a really everlasting choice in comparison with different van insulation choices, which might have an effect on resale. Lastly, utility must be utterly clean or your partitions received’t lay flat.
The place to Purchase
You should purchase spray foam in kits or in cans for smaller jobs. They’re each obtainable at any ironmongery store or by way of specialty retailers. There are many firms that do spray foam insulation when you’re trying to get it carried out professionally. If you’re going to restrict using spray foam on your Sprinter flooring insulation, a couple of cans from a ironmongery store is all you want!
Thinsulate
You’ve in all probability seen a 3M Thinsulate tag on gloves or a sleeping bag. This materials is comprised of polyester and olefin, that are each generally utilized in clothes. Thinsulate insulation for campervans is one other good non-toxic various for van conversion insulation .
Thinsulate is straightforward to use and boasts nice sound dampening properties as nicely. It’s not utterly water-proof like wool, however it doesn’t retain moisture due to its artificial fibres. It’s turning into an more and more standard possibility for van insulation and lining regardless of its decrease R-value.
R-Worth
3M Thinsulate has the bottom R-value on our listing (apart from Reflectix) at 3.2 per inch. Because of this most individuals would need to double up, which might be limiting for area.
Professionals
Thinsulate is called eco insulation, it’s non-toxic and simple to put in with a little bit of spray adhesive. It’s additionally mushy and versatile so buying a small quantity to shove into tighter areas might be useful. It additionally works nice as a sound deadening noise barrier.
Cons
Whereas Thinsulate has nice sound and moisture properties, it’s fairly expensive. In comparison with sheep wool, you’re getting a decrease R-value for comparable efficiency. If Thinsulate does ever get moist, it wants air circulation to dry out—identical to a sleeping bag. This may be problematic to entry if you’re utilizing it for ceiling insulation or wall insulation.
The place to Purchase
3M Thinsulate isn’t as simple to seek out at {hardware} shops as different insulation supplies. You may, nonetheless, purchase Thinsulate by the roll on Amazon.
Different Van Insulation Materials
When you’ve picked the most effective van insulation on your flooring, ceiling, and partitions, it’s time to take a look at different areas of your Sprinter insulation.
Window Covers
Making insulating inserts on your home windows is a lifesaver within the winter and the summer season. On chilly days, this barrier helps to scale back warmth loss by way of the home windows. On sizzling days, it is going to assist to replicate radiant warmth from baking your van.
Whereas Reflectix fell flat for structural insulation, it’s the right materials to make use of for window covers. You will have seen shades on your entrance windshield earlier than—these work the identical approach. If the reflective silver coating is uncovered to the solar, the warmth will replicate away out of your van.
We used Reflectix and a down blanket to make customized window inserts for our van. They’re simple to pop within the window with magnets they usually look good from the within and out of doors. Plus, they double as blackout curtains!
Sound Dampening
Barreling down the freeway in a van may be noisy. Whereas some insulation supplies are already sound dampening, including an extra deadening mat is a good possibility for lowering highway noise. Together with minimizing the vibrations whereas driving, sound deadening for vans may also help to quiet outdoors noise while you’re sleeping.
Along with our sheep wool insulation, we added Kilmat deadening mats for sound dampening. Sound proof insulation helped make our drives smoother and extra comfy. You should purchase them on Amazon.
Wheel Effectively Insulation
The wheel wells of your van are an typically neglected space for insulation. It may not appear utterly vital, however it may be helpful to insulate them. This can assist barely with temperature, however extra importantly, moisture and sound deadening.
Wheel wells are an excellent place to make use of Reflectix, spray adhesive, and foil tape. On this case, Reflectix will present simply sufficient of a barrier to stop moisture and create a layer between the chilly steel and your residing area. We selected to not insulate our wheel wells however we might if we had been to do one other construct. We’ve observed moisture buildup across the wheel nicely once we run our heater, which might be problematic sooner or later.
All in all, insulating your van is a giant process that deserves simply as a lot thought and a spotlight because the enjoyable stuff. Choosing the proper insulation on your wants and local weather will make van residing that rather more comfy. Primarily based in your funds, area, and R-value necessities, you need to use these tricks to discover the most effective insulation on your camper van very quickly!
Have you ever constructed out a van conversion earlier than? What was your insulation of selection?