The recipe for a good night's sleep

I don't know about you but if I'm too cold I can't get a good night's sleep. Insulating a van correctly should solve this problem and works by eliminating the build of of condensation as we exhale during the night.

So here's the method I'll be following for the T5. It's a tried-and-tested method that seemed to work pretty well in the old T3, but with a few upgrades this time around.

Layer 1
Hi-tack, self adhesive flashing strip.
This is applied directly to the van's internal panels. Mainly to the larger expanses to cut down any resonating and hopefully deadening some of the road noise found in an empty van.

Layer 2
25mm Celotex board
Cut to shape, the Celotex board becomes a barrier between cold external air and the warmer internal air to cut down condensation. In the old van I used the 'wool' type loft insulation which, over time, hangs on to moisture. Celotex actively repels moisture, is fully fire retardant, and is easier to work with than the 'wool' type insulation materials.

Layer 3
Thermal insulation foil
This is essentially a foil-lined bubble-wrap material that acts as another layer of air between interior and exterior. Again, it's fully fire retardant. This 'layering-up' process is just like clothing in Winter, more layers rather than one thick layer seems to work best.

Layer 4
Polythene sheet
As a final moisture barrier between interior and exterior, the previous layers are then 'sealed' in place using polythene sheets and waterproof tape.

Layer 5
Ply-lining
The original plyboard lining is then replaced to finish the sandwich.

Layer 6
Automotive lining carpet
As a final aesthetic, the plyboard, along with any final exposed metal areas, will be covered with automotive lining carpet.

As it's a Sunday after a night out, I've only had time to remove the ply-lining today. Here's the before shot:


Heavy-duty 6mm plyboard. Great if you're throwing tools in the back.

Here's a pic with the ply removed:


Next steps in insulation will be next weekend, watch this space.