Great video. I also used spray foam in my van and am very pleased with it. The spray foam not only acts as a great insulator (stops conduction of heat), it also stops condensation (rust inhibitor) and muffles a great deal of road noise. The only thing I did not spray was inside the support channels because I wanted to be able to pull/replace electrical wiring in the future.

I think its a great time saver and the knock-test was impressive already. And regarding 'ruining your van' I would never want to take the armaflex off my van walls, it will be a total mess also. Great job, looking forward to updates!

Awesome video Hugh, as always giving good tips and advices! I might probably do it on my next build!

Fascinating to watch. Hope you are pleased with the final result. Thanks for sharing 👍

The vents are used to let air pressure escape when you close the doors. Otherwise you'd have a hard time closing the door. Well... Unless there is a roof vent, other door or window open to let the temporary pressure build up escape.

Glad you did this , its what I'm looking at doing 👍cheers

Awesome vid. I’ve always been semi against the idea of using expanding foam as insulation however after seeing this my opinion has definitely changed

thanks for showing us how you did this and for going into so much detail... really very informative and helpful!!!! she looks great!!!

Hi Hugh. You have done a very good job on this spray foam insulation.

Those flappy vents are there to release the pressure build - up from closing the doors. Even cars have these flaps.

It's a great time saver for sure, hoping it stands up over time 😊

Epic job, I've been so tempted to do this on my conversation and now definitely thanks to this brilliant guide.

Looks fab! Good job 😎👍🏼

Hiya buddy. I've returned to this vid again. several months later and still very impressed. When I get my van I think I'll be giving this spray insulation a whirl. Thanks for your very informative vid. Appreciated, Des

Great job 👏 impressive and brave to do this for the first time and on your own van too! 😎👍 huge respect.

Hey , I found this video by accident! This is amazing. I also have a camper van like yours being conversion in China. Thanks for the video, it gave me a lot of inspiration！

Good job not something I'd have thought to do but might do if I build another van. Also its probably lighter than sound deadening, celotex etc.

cutting a layer out from a closed cell foam does NOT brake the vapour barrier as the foam itself is closed cell foam so you can cut it how ever you want. It is true on open cell foam sprays (normal urethane spray).

First time I’ve seen someone in the Uk do this. Great results 👍

Brave man, I just started with a transit trend 460 minibus, nice and quiet in the back, factory heating and air con for the rear. Not going to insulate, just have a very good heating system, lots of air movement to allow drying behind the factory panels. Yours is definitely insulated though.

Hi. I followed your videos earlier in the year while converting my Transit custom. Having just dropped in to see what you're up to I happened on your spray foam video. First I thought why did he bother doing it himself? But rechecking I realised your best contractor quote was £900!! I got mine professionally done with closed cell for €200. He normally does houses but had done a good few campers for a professional outfit. And the lad cut back the floor to level for me, plus a lot of the other excess bits. In response to a poster re windows: I did install the two windows and the roof vent. Just make sure ye cover/mask them well. And be careful masking door seals etc. also. I told him not to bother with a couple of spots that had a lot of factory wires and did them myself with some rockwool I had from an attic job. I had also installed battens for the ceiling boards and upper presses beforehand - mainly because I had installed plusnuts (great!) and didn't want to 'lose them'. Anyways throwing in my tuppence worth now because you gave me some good tips . And by the way my conversion (lockdown project) came out lovely.

Great video, definitely works out cheap when you factor in all the time saving alone. I don't know how many days I spent insulating with celotex, vapour barrier etc...well I do...it must have been more than a week.

Well done mate

If I were doing another van, I would do this. Saves so much time. I hope you didn't spray over the rear light access? The thing with these van's is that they are galvanised. I still have a roof cut out and only the very edge has corroded. So you could drill a hole and add no protection and not a lot will happen. From what what I've read, put the tanks in bins filled with hot water.👍

Yep I'd recommend always using mastic sealing tape as well as sikaflex trust me I speak from experience I had an awful time with my roof vent on my transit there would be no leaks when I tested it and when it rained but then a couple weeks later when and it rained I'd get a tiny drip inside the van because I didn't use enough mastic tape and sika flex. It was quite frustrating in the end my roof vent had to be re-done three times.

great video mate , we are just at the end of our new build and I wish id have done this to mine at the start , it would have saves so so much time and just seems better , a mate of mine got his done by a company and it cost him £1000 but seeing you do it , I'm going to have to show him just to annoy him that he could have saves money , and may I add that your job and the pro-company job are totally the same . great vid

Fair play, squeaky bum cheeks time, I’d be terrified but a much more efficient way of doing insulation. Will try this on my next build. Time saving is a no brainier, so depends how much you value your time I suppose. This method is the way forward. great vid. Very informative

Your brave. Will be interested in how this performs and will it stay together with all the vibrations while driving. Its a big time saver though, thanks for showing us how.

I'm sure someone will say it but there's very little off gassing from closed cell spray foam, off gassing will come from open cell spray foam as the foam is full of small bubbles which not only allows the gas to pass through but will also allow water inside the foam. So after about 3-5 minutes the surface of the closed cell spray foam hardens then over 24 hours the whole foam hardens and there's no air bubbles in closed cell foam so no gasses pass through. Open cell foam will soak up water like a sponge, closed cell won't. Closed cell is a very good sound deadener and as said in the video, makes a great vapour barrier once the surface hardens. Tests have been done with closed cell spray foam which shows structural vehicle strength is also increased with closed cell spray foam. The only downside is when it comes to welding, the foam is a little bit flammable so make sure all welding work is done before you spray your van. At around 6.5 'R' value per inch thickness, it's a great insulator and only beaten by AeroGel open cell foam which is 7.0 'R' value BUT is friggin expensive !!. :)

i'm in the planning & research stage and this has made me think again about insulation!! I'm OK and have experience installing electric hardware (many youtube videos), but am dreading running all those cables and how best to do (not many....|Videos) and tips e.g. is it better to have a number 'local' of distribution fuse boxes to cut down on cbling etc. I am very interested to see how you do this 'on top' without impacting van aesthetics. Many thanks for all your videos Hugh

Should be mega ! Condensation can’t form on a metal surface if it’s bonded to foam 👍 You’ve got balls biting the bullet doing that ! It’s one of those jobs where if you’d done half a dozen before your own you’d be laughing !

nice one fella

Great vid, well done, I work with a guy that uses that foam insulation in the Building trade, Its Highly toxic stuff and will give off nasty gases for quite a while even after installation, He said he would never put it in a confined space such as a van as it, needs to be completely sealed in a cavity to be safe and work properly insulation wise, He wears a full on sealed body suit when applying it after his best mate past away with lung cancer, he was 43 and a none smoker, I think the safety of this is product for camper vans is very much in its infancy and best avoided for peace of mind

I had mine done up in Bolton, £269 (2011) roof, sides doors and floor min 25mm deep most nearer to 50mm, insulation levels were really good winter and summer.

HI Hugh, thanks for posting this, its very informative. I'm looking at doing the sae thing to our van and its given me the confidence of tackling it now. A quick question if I may. Its not clear to me from the video if you sprayed over the hard to cover with wood surfaces (Ie the bits that would normally be carpeted) if you did, how did you achieve a smooth finish and has the carpet stuck to the insulation foam OK? Many thanks.

Brave man!

Looks like a great job. Have seen on some videos that spray foam can warp the metal and its noticeable on the outside of the van. Did you see anything like this?

Great video. Thank you. I am thinking of doing this to my new camper conversion. Which kit did you buy? Thank you.

Whilst the canisters of product you used had a recommended temperature range, does the surface you are spraying it onto also have a temperature requirement. Obviously not so cold as to have condensation (or even ice) forming on the surface, and also in anticipation of warmer weather next year, is there a maximum - I’m thinking of a dark or black van parked in the sun next summer. A link to the product you used, containing this sort of information, would be much appreciated thank you. Great work as always 👍

Great videos, really useful for newbies. About the spray foam, given we've had some really terrible weather in the UK over the last few months and now starting to get some warm weather have you had the chance to test it to see if it's better than the alternatives you've used in the past? And from the company link you provided in other comments, they offer two systems, did you pick Touch N Foam over Froth Pak just from a price point of view? I'm very interested just in the time saving alone but have lots of windows so wondering whether any benefits might be lost. Lots to consider!

Hiya buddy. Really enjoying your vids mate. What did you use to clean the van with please? Degreaser or anything in particular? Thanks a bunch mate, Des

Good job mate so my question is after a year, did the foam warped the skin of your van?.

What is the approximate R value of the foam. looks good and quite neat I thought it would get more mess than it did.

Hi what's thickness is recommended for the insolation cheers good vid as always

That’s such a cool workshop. What is the rent like? Trying to find something similar

Nice video! Do you have an idea of how thick your foam is on average?

So, I reckon the pros are making about 100£ an hour. Not bad for a half-days work! Thanks for showing it's doable with no experience. Wonder how much more insulated you could get adding reflectix or such?

Nice vid. What thickness of battens did you use on the floor?

I've got a condensation issue in my overhead cab where I couldn't insulate due to hard to reach areas. What kind of spray foam did you use and did it expand much as I'm looking for one that doesn't expand too much

A year on how did it fair out ? Is there any condensation forming while sleeping in it over night

Hi did you fill in the holes at the bottom along the sides.

So 2 years past would you still recommend spray foam insulation ? I’m thinking of doing it to my van ? Soo much quicker

Thanks Hugh, what size (kg) foam kit did you use, and do you know if it was just about right or tonnes left over, Just about to get my van but its a bit smaller cheers

Other videos say that it distorts the outside metal? Any help on this

Very brave mate. Is this van yours or is it for a customer? If I did another van project I would definitely use the foam. You’re an inspiration!!!

Would it be good to put wiring in first?

Hey Hugh, really appreciating all of the knowledge you share on your channel - question - what do you reckon for this spray foam with fibreglass roofing/aluminium roof sticks - we're doing a luton box van conversion at the moment and are questioning whether this might be the way to go - knowing that fibreglass can change with temperature - expand/contract do you think this would be a suitable option? Plus with the 600 kit did you have much leftover - our van is an old removals luton so a lot larger than the Peugeot - more like your mate's one that he's been steadily converting...? Cheers :)

Great video, couple questions what size is the van and did you have any chemicals left, as seen they do a smaller version for around the £300 mark

Hi Hugh, I’m also in Dorset. I’m thinking of going this way with my horsebox, but paying a company to do it. You said you were quoted about £900, who was that from?

I would like to purchase the product you used in your van, would you be willing to provide the link or name of the spray foam product?

Hey, Hugh. I understand this is a fairly old (relatively speaking) video and likely u will not reply, but I was wondering if u became aware of any immediate sound deadening qualities from this product? I imagine this has also had a rather dramatic effect on panel vibration as well? If u could possibly update me/us with ur opinion on these matters, and let me know if u have had sufficient time with this product to confirm that u are pleased u did it this way, I would be very grateful, mate. Thanks in advance. *EDIT:* For anyone who may be considering this, from what I have learned it is best to start at the top and work _down_ ur van, because the cylinders are at their highest pressure to start with. Obviously as u deplete the contents and the pressure, if u have left the roof till last, u may not get the application/coverage u would wish for.

Ok, at this time Did it Insulate Correctly as good as it should? Is there anything you would change? Is the foam Highest Quality?

Great video, what kit did you use and where did you buy it?

Did you install windows after the spray foam install?

Did you fill all the support beams solid too?

which kit did you use Hugh?... Also do you think the kit is different to the cans you can buy and attach a nozzle/gun to. There are large cans od spray foam you can buy in hardware stores, wondering if its the same stuff?

Hugh...unrelated, but did I see you on a TV advert the other day? 😁

Have you heard whether this type of closed cell insulation would work on the underbelly of an toy hauler? I’ve already purchased the kit but I’m hoping it’ll be okay exposed to the elements.

Wouldn't it make more sense to do the ceiling first then fill the crevices first then do the side panels? Could there be a downside to spraying 2 coats of foam, in that the second coat is sealing in the first and could delay off-gassing? Reading some other comments, the upside of 2 thin coats are probably less likely to distort the panels, especially as you only put about an inch of foam on them. mind you, I'm surprised one 1inch is thick enough to give you the insulation you need.

11:22 are these to equalize the pressure when i fart?

Share the link to the kit please 👌🏼 Looks awesome

What kind of coverage would you get from the kit ? Do you think you'd get a luton done for instance?

Did you notice any deformation on the outside wall? I want to do the same in my next build but I saw a video that the guy said tried in 3 different van and all so them they had to removed because cause deformation on the sheet metal outside.

Nice one Hugh, you made it look alot less daunting. Do you have a link to where you got the kit?

That's some craz insulation!!!! Check ours! Self adhesive

Interesting! 2 layers. Sonif you cut the top-Layer You still have a water vapor barrier.😮

Have I just seen you on the Hobby Craft advert?

I've heard that spray foam insulated vans can't have any welding work done due to the foam being flammable. Does anyone know if this is true? I'm asking because I'd like to go with this option of insulating as it's quick and cheap but I only have a small budget for a van so it's likely to have rust in certain parts that may need welding in the future.

Let's hope it never gets damaged and needs a replacement panel welded in

did you learn anymore about cutting the foam and it losing its outer sheen affecting the R value as it sort of seals itself off?

So pleased to see this actually being done by someone that has not attempted it before ,so well done and it looks a pucker job. I have been toying with this for my van and i think it will be the best and most efficient way to go. Plus it has the extra bonus of really stiffening up the panels of the van . Only one thing that i was thinking is, should you have run all your cabling first!

I don't see any red lead etc to protect the cut edges of the metal.

Easy to reuse nozzles! Clean with acetone.!!!!

Do you have a link for the kit?

Yay and cool

Where in Dorset are you?

Are you not having windows in your van then !?

Were did you get the kit thanks

Bit late but thought I would point you in the direction of another sealing tape, there is an art to fitting it you put it in the jount then let it expand. I used it on 32 storie tower blocks to seal widowes etc on the facade of the building www.illbruck.com/en_GB/product/tp600-compriband-600/

Hugh, you forgot to do the affiliate links in the description.

Mate...thank you so much...excellent vlog,, .... is there a R value per sqm? Thanks

Hi m8 just s quick question ive noticed you've done a quite a few insulation jobs now just wondering what one do u feel happiest and most secure about. Also are there any things you look back on now when doing the spray foam insulation and think I should of done it this way or that way instead. Also were did you get the 2 bottle kit from and have you found it cheaper yet anywhere

This is were you can purchase this here in Ireland smartenergystore.ie/diy-expanding-foam-kits-for-your-insulations-nee.php and here is the kit types smartenergystore.ie/Userfiles/DIY%20Expanging%20Foam%20Kits.pdf or UK based www.spray-insulation.co.uk/

sugestion for priming bare battons round window, two flood coats dry between coats. www.duluxtradepaintexpert.co.uk/en/products/primer/dulux-trade/dulux-trade-weathershield-preservative-primer-bp

Would it make sense to spray the underside of the vehicle with it?

*

BE INTERESTING HOW YOU SCREW THE BATTENS ON THE WALLS

Nice work! Do you have a link for that lovely skylight window?

Great job Hugh, What is the name or link for the foam kit please ?.. thankyou 👍👍🚙

What about your windows? Wouldn’t you do those first?