One of the most important things about a conversion is the insulation, the aim of this is:

1. Keep the van cool in the summer, and warmer in the winter
2. Help with sound proofing, and noise reduction
3. To make sure condensation does not form on the metal sides of the van (this is very important to help stop corrosion)
4. For more information go to SMBCC (Self Builders Motor Caravanners Club)

There are several types of insulation that you can go for, some of these include:

1. Spray foam insulation
2. Camping mats
3. Polystyrene, (kingspan, polystyrene sheets e.t.c.)
4. Rockwool/fibreglass
5. Foil back bubble wrap

As the Panels in my van were not sound proofed, and did echo alot when driving and when the doors were shut. I decided to put a few panels of tar-board up this greatly reduced the echo, and helped with making the van feel more solid.

The most important thing is to make sure that you have a waterproof barrier on the metal panels of the van. For My van I have decided to use a mixture of different insulation, for the first main layer i have decided to use 3mm foam, which was designed for laminate floorings, the advantages of this is it has good sound proofing properties, and gives a water resistant barrier thanks to its closed cell formation, also had good thermal properties. This is the green layer in the picture below:

The next photo shows the blue 8mm foam layer I put on top of the base layer, this foam also has a good thermal rating, and works out cheap to use, I used spray contact adhesive glue to stick it.

This photo shows the polystyrene layer that I stuck on (using grip fill glue), the polystyrene was 2.5cm thick which i purchased cheaply at Wickes.

 

 The photo below shows the wooden ply panels (this will be another topic) with foil backed bubble wrap, this is suposed to be a very good insulator, apparently one layer of this can provide the same insulation as 50mm of polystyrene, but you have to have an air gap, or it wont work.

 The last two photos shows where i used rockwool for insulation, I used it in hard to reach, and difficult to fix places, as in parts of the side door, and the rear tailgate! beware, this stuff can make you itch like mad!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see, I have used alot of insulation, and different types. My theory on it, is the more the merrier, im sure that you cannot have to much insulation, every little must help in its own way. I have already noticed that my van feels quieter in the rear, and the van sounds so much more solid that it before. So now, hopefully i wont get chilly in the night when sleeping.