A guide to Campervan Insulation

Insulating your campervan has many benefits that make it an absolute must. From ensuring your campervan remains at a comfortable temperature to blocking outside noise, the right insulation can make a huge difference to your road trips and overnight stays.

In this guide to campervan insulation, we explore why insulation is important and the different materials you can use. We’ll also look at how to insulate your campervan’s floor, walls, roof and doors.

Campervan insulation: Why is it important?

You may wonder if campervan insulation is something you need or could survive without. The truth is that without campervan insulation, you’re going to be very cold when the temperature drops. Insulation traps heat in your campervan, keeping heating costs down. Should you be travelling somewhere hot or happen to catch some great UK weather, insulation will also work to keep your campervan cool so you can sleep comfortably.

Campervan insulation will also help to keep your vehicle condensation-free, preventing damp and rusting that can otherwise be pricey to fix. It will also add soundproofing to your campervan, a huge benefit when pitched up on a noisy campsite and in need of a good night’s sleep.

Although there are numerous ways to winterise your campervan as the cold weather sets in, installing efficient insulation will ensure your van is a comfortable temperature, energy efficient, ventilated, and protected against condensation and damp all year round.

Best insulation for campervans

There are plenty of things to be mindful of when choosing the best insulation for your campervan. These include:

• Its ability to retain heat or keep heat out
• Whether it fits within your budget
• If it’s fire resistant
• How absorbent it is
• What it’s made from
• If it’s eco-friendly
• How easy it is to install

When it comes to budget, it can be tempting to opt for cheaper options to save money. However, doing your research and investing in high-quality materials will ensure that your campervan insulation is durable and that you get the most out of your efforts.

Once these factors have been taken into consideration, you’ll find that the following materials tick many boxes and are great options:

Foam board

Foam board is perfect for covering large areas, including your campervan’s floor, ceiling, and walls. It has good thermal properties, will help with soundproofing, and isn’t too tricky to install. Top-rated insulation board brands for campervan renovations include Kingspan and Celotex. There are three main types of insulation board you can choose for your campervan renovation, these are:

• Polyisocyanurate or PIR
• Expanded polystyrene or EPS
• Extruded polystyrene or XPS

PIR boards are typically favoured as they are lightweight, cost-effective, and boast high thermal resistance.

Spray foam

Spray foam will help with soundproofing and protect your campervan from condensation. It can be used to fill any gaps simply, quickly, and effectively. Spray foam is a great option for campervan insulation as it acts as an air and moisture barrier and limits heat transfer.

Sheep’s wool

Sheep’s wool is a good insulation material for campervans as it is natural, eco-friendly, renewable, and ideal for moisture control. This is especially important if you’re hoping to make your campervan as sustainable as possible. Thermafleece is a popular option for campervan owners. Other wools that can be used include:

• Mineral wool
• Glass-fibre wool
• Polyester wool

Polyester wool is similar to sheep’s wool but is cheaper, making it a good option if you’re renovating on a budget. However, sheep’s wool is naturally biodegradable, and its manufacturing process produces fewer emissions. Be careful when using mineral or fibreglass wool, as they can irritate skin, eyes, and airways.

Draught excluders

Draught excluders can be just as handy in your campervan as in your home. Use them to seal gaps around the doors, preventing heat transfer and blocking unwanted breeze. This can also help with soundproofing.

What are K-values and R-values?

When researching which insulation materials to choose for your campervan renovation, you’ll probably come across the terms K-values and R-values. These values are related to how effective a material is at insulating.

• K-values: A material’s K-value refers to how well a material conducts heat – this is how easily heat passes through it. To keep heat in or out of your campervan, depending on the temperature, a material with a low K-value is optimal.
• R-values: A material’s R-value refers to its thermal resistance – this is how slowly heat passes through it. Materials with a high R-value are best for insulating campervans, especially if there’s not enough space to install thick insulation.

How to insulate a campervan

Now you know which materials you need to insulate your campervan; we can look at the process.

Installing campervan floor insulation

1. Create a frame using wooden furring strips and then run further strips across the floor both horizontally and vertically. These create a foundation for your flooring, provide space for insulation, and can be used to give your van added structure.
2. Cut your chosen foam board into the sizes required to cover your campervan floor so that it fits into the spaces created by your wooden furring strips. If gaps are left, you can fill these with expanding foam or wool.
3. Finally, install a plywood subfloor which can be screwed into the wooden furring to complete your floor insulation. Your chosen campervan flooring will then go on top of this.
4. If you want to ensure your campervan has ultimate soundproofing, add sound-deadening mats to the van’s floor before insulating it. This will help block out road noise, which can be very loud while driving.

Installing campervan wall insulation

1. Use timber to create a support frame around the walls of your campervan. Typically, you’ll need three pieces of timber for each section of the frame due to the van’s curved shape.
2. Next, you can attach your foam board to the walls. To guarantee the best possible insulation, aim to cover as much of the walls as possible. Foam boards can be attached in various ways, including using double-sided tape, insulation stick pins, and spray adhesive.
3. Fill any large gaps with wool insulation. Smaller gaps can be filled with spray foam.

Installing campervan roof insulation

1. Once again, you’ll start this insulation installation process by building a wooden frame on the ceiling of your campervan. Do this by bolting wooden furring strips to the metal support beams in your van. To ensure your furring is flush, you may need to use a wood plane as you go.
2. Use double-sided tape, spray adhesive, or insulation stick pins to attach foam board panels to the roof. Fill any large air gaps with wool insulation and fill smaller gaps with spray foam. Any gaps in your insulation can be patched up using foil tape.

Insulating campervan doors

1. Remove any ply or plastic lining so you can access the interior of your campervan doors.
2. Inspect the lining of the door to ensure there are no gaps. If you find gaps, these can be covered using tape.
3. Fill the door cavity using wool insulation and foam board.
   
   
   

What’s the most important part of my campervan to insulate?

As heat rises, you should prioritise insulating your campervan roof to prevent heat from escaping. The walls are the second most important part for the same reason, and the floor is perhaps the least important. However, a solid, insulated floor can make for a more comfortable experience. You may choose to make your roof insulation thicker than the floor insulation so you don’t lose too much interior height but create a well-insulated space.

Do I need to use PPE when insulating a campervan?

Depending on which materials you decide to use, you may need to wear PPE when insulating your campervan. If you opt for mineral or fibreglass wool, you will need to wear a mask and ensure your skin is covered, as these can irritate the skin and produce airborne particles. You might also want to wear a mask when cutting your foam board.

Specialist campervan insurance through Ripe

Making sure your campervan is fully insulated is important to be able to keep you warm and your campervan functioning all year round. Campervan insurance can provide additional peace of mind when you hit the road.

Specialist motorhome and campervan insurance through Ripe allows you to build your policy so you can tailor your cover to suit you and protect your motorhome against things like theft, fire, flood, and accidental damage.

Campervan insurance through Ripe also offers optional add-ons, including enhanced windscreen cover, personal accident cover, continental Europe cover, legal expenses cover, and key cover.

Find out more about specialist motorhome and campervan insurance through Ripe and get a free online quote today.