Insulation on the walls and roof?

[Kirk]

Should i get insulation laid on the walls and roof under the lining/panels im going to make? is there a special sort of insulation bat thingy for cars, ive seen a members pic (light blue) who has all this silver mat stuff that looks like it might be insulation, also should i spray some kind of rust protection on the walls and floor before covering them?

[Adam S]

The silver stff you've seen is called Dynamat - very good soundproofing and insulation qualities - but pricey - worth it if you have the $.  Rustprrofing etc first is always a good idea - but again all depends how much you want to spend.

[ShaneJ]

Dynamat is very good for sound proofing but as said its very expensive.

The next best thing is felt with a bitumen barrier. See here: http://www.tru-fitcarpets.com.au/S_SHIELD.HTM

Get some of that stuff and a can of 3M spray adhesive. Spray some lines or spots of the adhesive where you want the felt to go and stick it on. You will have to some how hold it in place for a while, but it sticks pretty quick.

[Sundownernz]

Dynamat is great for sound deadening but limited for thermal insulation. Talk to a specialist insulation place about what's best to use. They have some neat stuff available now days. I'm using a synthetic wadding stuff that looks like the white batting stuff quilters use. It's about 50mm thick and works well. Just stapled to the back of my interior panels. Got it from Forman Insulation over here but that doesn't help you I guess.

Don't use household batts as the vibration over time will disintegrate them and you'll end up with a bunch of fibreglass powder in the bottom of the walls. Be carefull with the white polystyrene foam, Eski stuff, as when it moves next to steel it squeeks and that's bloody annoying.

I have seen a van interior sprayed with polyurethane foam, the sort they insulate fridges and spa pools with. Make sure you greese or mask off any ribs you do dont want covered as it's hard to get off once on. And make sure all the body works done as welding heat can set it alight.

With my last van I just glues foam sheets, upholstery type foam, to the roof and walls. 1" on the roof and 2" to the walls. You tend to get high on the Ados and you get bitten with static electricity after rubbing the foam sheets on then touching the steel body. Worked great for both sound and thermal though. And fairly cheep as well.

Garry.

[atk1]

Good info Garry. Is the stuff you used on their website? If so which one? Im keen to line my van with something that will stop me from freezing if I sleep in it over night. I was thinking about the foam they use in sound recording studios but I dunno about its thermal qualities? I dont really want to have to then reline it with wood if I dont have to, so something that looks good just stuck to the walls would be good, cheers

[eddy]

for those cold kiwi nights (we did a two week South Island mid winter mobile home trip last year. brrrr) I would use the synthethic batts they have here, its a white insulation that has better properties than batts and has no fibreglass and does not disentergrate over time, light, easy to cut and install, you don't have to pack it in hard for effective results, actually your are advised not to pack it in tight. It is used in big audio speakers and comes in batts sizes. You will have to panel over it though. I used batts along time ago but as Garry states there were issues with longetivity and the hot Oz sun tended to harden it over time. In winter it acted like a sponge and kept water so I would not use the household batts again, and breathing in fibreglass is no good. Do you have the synthetic insulation there ?, if unsure I have a pack in the garage and I can take some pics of the labelling for you, pretty sure that what is in Oz is available in NZ under a different brand name. Use the synthetic insulation on the walls and roof, I would use the Dynamat or similar of the floor. The insulation will keep the van cooler in summer as well. Carpet stuck to the walls will help but will not be a serious insulator when Jack Frost comes looking for little tootsies to bite bbrrrr...   

[atk1]

Yes I know the white stuff, I used some of it in my first bedford, thanks for your info

[Sundownernz]

Hi atk1,

Just had a look at formans site (forman.co.nz) and under product/thermal & acoustic/building insulation, its the one at the bottom called Novatherm. It works well. Not easy to cut but a really sharp knife of scalpel does the job. I just staple it to the back of the ply panels used for the interior using a staple gun. I leave a gap where the panel fits to the vans ribs so the novatherm fills the gap between the panel and the side or roof of the van. When you take the panel down it comes with it and leaves the van body bare so you can still do any maintenance you need to. I've lined the van with Dynamat so the two combined produce a great result.

Garry.

[KGG86]

http://www.uesint.com these guys do all different kinds of thermal and acoustic padding .. not 100% on the price but i was going to get a quote