WOW! That is simply one of the best, if not THE best instructional/information videos EVER on YT. Perhaps as an electro-mechanical engineer some of this data and certainly the maths of the explanation is something very close to what I am used to, but actually I think that most people will be able to follow this due to the marvellous delivery from the presenter. You have excelled (no pun intended) yourself again Greg. Really well done - especially for a potentially difficult subject. Regards Mark in the UK
Hello Mark, I’m honoured by your high praise. Thank you very much. It’s a great feeling when my videos are received so well. It makes all the effort so worth while. Many thanks.
Agreed with thecorbies. I have both a science background and a construction background. It was nice to see the supporting numbers behind what I see, instinctively thru experience, to be proper choices in materials and applications. Thanks!
Very good video and yes, one of the best. I'm thinking about building my own van and what I´w been thinking a lot about is the insulation and ventilation. I want to get a good insulation so the van can handle both cold and warm climate, like Scandinavia and Spain / Portugal. I´m going the learn a lot.
Hello Paul, thank you for great feedback. Insulation works the same in both hot or cold environments. In the summer shade your windows as much as possible to prevent solar gain. Good luck with your build
Hello, Thank you for those kind words. I have just watched your intro video and your channel looks very interesting. Similar jobs to tackle living a nomadic life. I've subbed and will look forward to watching them. Best wishes
Hello. Thanks for that and the sub. Agreed there are many similarities - indeed, I tweeted a link to your power audit video to my followers recently. I'm about to embark on a small-scale van conversion myself over winter so your updates are superbly well-timed. By the way, do you have an opinion on "aerogel" type materials? Cheers
Hi, as you will see from my chart at 0:16 Aerogel is the best insulator by far. I thought this space age material was only available to the likes of NASA? I would imagine it would be extremely expensive if you can get hold of it in large enough quantities to do a van conversion? Thank you for the recent tweets, really appreciate the support. Look forward to watching you van build series too.
Thanks. Sorry, must have missed that, watching on the ipad screen. It's available in the UK under the brand "Spacetherm" from phstore.co.uk and you're right - it's not cheap. But for a compact camper (Toyota Proace low height version) and just doing the floor and ceiling with it in a thin sheet due to lack of headroom, it might be my only option! Cheers
Hello, I looked at the website, wow, it is expensive. Here are some figures for comparison. 50mm PIR board (Celotex/Kingspan) 0.022W/mK an R-Value of 2.3, cost of 8' x 4' sheet £43 To achieve the same R-value you would need 2.3x0.014=0.032m of Aerogel or 32mm thick A 30mm thick 8x4 sheet of Aerogel cost £437.00! 10 times as much for a saving of 20mm. For me personally, I think that's a deal breaker, the benefits don't seem to outway the cost?
It's safe to say that Greg has made by far the best video tutorials on UA-cam on how to do these things correctly and with knowledge. Watching these videos is like being in the University of how to make a touring car.
I really like watching van conversion videos where the guy is playing his guitar over looking a mountain and he expresses how cool life can be but it is so refreshing to get a more academic look at the conversion process so I can start to understand the physics behind everything. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this.
Having now read quite a number of the other comments on this video, it occurs to me that this series of videos will become THE definitive series to watch for anybody when converting their van. Totally excellent. Regards Mark in the UK
Hello Mark, It was always my aim to try and do a professional conversion but from a home DIY standpoint. Of course, it's great to do a budget build as a weekend van and many of my friends have these. My plan is to go longer distances and live in the van for weeks at a time so we wanted it to be comfortable. I'm really aiming for a very high-end finish inside, high gloss furniture, top spec appliances and loads of gadgets. It will still be a fraction of the cost of a commercial motorhome but with the same or better features. Great to have you along this journey with us.
As a fellow engineer I appreciate your analytical and precise approach. Your comment, "its not just that I've seen somebody else do it on another UA-cam video and I'm just going to copy what they're doing," is very much appreciated and respected. I suspect there will be many who will copy you!
Hi John, my aim is to hopefully give clear advice with good foundations to help other doing their own builds. I see lots of guys using the materials in the wrong application because they seen someone else do it. Thank you for your support and great feedback.
As a retired Chemical Engineer who worked for a number of years doing heat transfer design and problem solving on chemical plants I was blown away by your explanation and especially your delivery of what is quite a complicated subject. It certainly brings the 'science' of how best to approach van insulation to the layman. Cracking job.
From a retired teacher, may I just say that was the best educational and informative video I’ve seen as I’ve gone down the journey to van conversion. Some of it was out of my area of expertise, but the different modalities you employed to get all the points across were spot on. I understood everything, and I am not an engineer or a maths person. Again, thank you for sharing your knowledge.
I realised with this fast-growing community that there are a lot of people just copying others with no reason or theory. So if I can pass on some knowledge to help others make informed decisions that makes me happy.
Greg as you know there are hundreds of videos of people insulating their vans, but this is the first I've seen one without even showing a van. It would seem we all now know why your video will been seen as the benchmark, SCIENCE! Great video and very educational, in particular your screen framing and text and graphic placement looked great. Thanks again.
I was wondering how well this type of theory video would be received. Judging by the comments so far it's definitely been worth the effort. Really appreciate your continued support Karl, cheers
Greg your videos seem to have the correct balance of down to earth reality and the engineering science to do it right. As you know it's always a please to watch people work when they are excelling in their craft. I'm not even a Sprinter owner and probably will never be but your videos have and will be relevant to the many aspects for me rebuilding my 1970's VW Kombi. This might come in handy for your 'moderate exercise' / heat calculation [101 kCal or 4.2 kCal/min in men and 69.1 kCal or 3.1 kCal/min in women] :P
I'm restoring it to an imaginary period of history when there was a sports version of the VW Kombi. It's a challenge to get 300% more go, handling and stopping power into it without looking like a wanker and getting fround apon by the VW purests. The other challenge is to have this beast tame enough to drive it daily and get my camp kitchen, fridge and Misses in it for fun and travel.
Wonderful! Finally someone actually understands insulation! Watched tons of other videos ,but non of the methods they used made sense to me as an engineering student. This is the only video on youtube explains insulation very well. Well Done!
Very rare to find someone who knows how to insulate an RV. I'm excited to watch the the next episode, Greg. Keep up the great work and thank you for putting effort into documenting your build project.
You sir are a star . I've watched countless "experts" on here giving advice (prior to building my l4 h3 transit camper/race van this winter) In a few minutes you've made an (apparently) complicated headache an extremely easy to understand , well explained route to most people's van insulation issues . Sound deaden , insulate , vapour barrier and clad . Warm , dry , cosy and affordable. Thanks mate , add 1 sub
Thank you for posting the best series of video that i have ever seen. I and my husband has planning to visit more than seventeen thousand islands in Indonesia with a van after retiring. I really love sprinter's videos you are making. Thank you so much.
The tone of your voice and rhythm of your speech will make it far easier to understand for those who are not familiar with Thermodynamics (not my case). Good job. Cheers
Brilliant explanation of thermal conductivity and insulation, simply explained, asking the viewer to only take a couple of things on trust (Watts and Kelvin) without being condescending or dumbing down, your technical background really shows. Excellent video.
stevehood10 thank you for the great feedback. I really wanted to back up my choice with the science so there was reason for doing it this way. Thanks for watching.
Hi Greg, Thanks for cutting through the "same-as" and free-spirit......stuff. As a Canadian mechanical engineer I was getting tired of seemingly unreasoned builds. We're building a 2014 Sprinter 2500 170 WB for a trip north in the summer of 2019. Keeep up the good work. Off to view the next video!
Thank you Chris, I wanted to put some factual information out there to help everyone as there is a lot of miss information too. The insulation workshop video is also very good to watch.
I have close to 0 knowledge on physics and I was left in awe by how much I understood through this video. Thank you very much Mr. Virgoe for the amazing informative video.
I can't watch this too many times. It's simply brilliant. I'm just beginning my campervan conversion, though I began watching/sharing your videos months ago.😊
Fierce Facts if you like that one I’m sure you might find my insulation workshop video interesting too. ua-cam.com/video/_6eWGp14TL4/v-deo.html Thank you for sharing my videos, much appreciated
Excellent ! I’m a mathematician who is making a camper van. I not only enjoyed your video however it also opened my eyes for a perfect insulation with a perfect calculation.
Greg, your videos are nothing other than exceptional. You deserve every single subscriber and your sub count will grow significantly, I have no doubts. Brilliant.
Greg, you are absolute gentleman, and top class delivery on each broadcast. Each technical subject broken down and discussed in just the right pitch for the viewer... and in my case... the 'enthuastic' amateur. I look forward to going through the rest of the series. Steven.
Thank you very much Steven, really pleased you are finding them to be interesting and hope you continue to enjoy the rest of the videos. Thanks for your support.
Hey alright!!! Someone actually qualified to talk about insulation. Thank you for making this. There is a lot of misinformation by other amateur videos out there.
I've been looking for instructional videos concerning insulation, heating, and plumbing because I've started my conversion, and stumbled across this video. This is the most helpful thing I've heard all week. Brilliant, this is going to referenced back to many times over. Thank you kindly for the help.
This is the best by far of any vid I've ever seen, & I've watched thou's, usually from USA but this one is English, as am I, very well done Greg!Thanku, Alan, Norwich. My Sprinter will be the new FWD.
I'm still shocked at how well this video is being received and can't thank you enough for such great feedback. New 4WD sprinter, wow that will look very smart indeed. What are your travel plans Alan?
I am so, SO grateful for this video! I am planning a van conversion, but as a high school student who will be converting out of graduation (with money I earned, dont worry, not paying out of parent's pockets) I have NO idea about any of this stuff. This is the best video about van insulation ive ever seen, and you probably just saved my entire van from melting or freezing or rotting. I didnt even think about condensation! Eternally grateful! Subscribed!
I saw many people using the wrong material in the wrong application and needed to help guys like yourself make informed decisions. Best wishes with your future build
Awesome finally no lame music and someone who is an actual authority! I have asked several HVAC techs and they could only tell me to call the office to figure it out. Thank you so much for the calcs, and a thermal bridging explanation that makes actual sense and that graph says it all!!! Thanks again!!!
5 star delivery once again Greg. Worth every minute to watch not just for anyone doing a van build but also anyone who wishes to be well informed and correctly insulate just about anything else. Thank you Greg for your outstanding thought and work. P.S. you may want to repost as an insulation values explained (keeping original)
A valid point, it does apply to any insulation application and not just vans. I may edit the title slightly and add few more tags. Thank you for your help.
Greg,it's a pleasure ! Could you please review this eco-friendly insulation materials - I would like to build my eco-van with much eco material as possible www.thermo-natur.de Thanks in Advance !
Hi, I did take a look at the website. I'm not sure the hemp leaf symbol is a great way of advertising insulation? Their advert is incorrect when comparing their insulation to glasswool or fibreglass. Their image shows two roof structures and gives the impression that you only need half as much of their insulation. However, their published figure for thermal conductivity is 0.037 W/mK and glassfibre is 0.04 W/mK and exactly the same as the Earthwool batts that I am using. So it is not better, it's about the same. Earthwool can also be 100% upcycled. On the plus side it's made of natural materials and will offer the same level of insulation as similar alternatives. Not sure what it's fire resistance is or moisture resistance?
Greg, thanks for such nice explanation! Respect Man. Look I have a few more question about insulation. Could you help me please to make a right choice )) On US market people who do Van conversion use those materials: Lizard Skin www.amazon.com/LizardSkin-50125-Super-Pro-Spray/dp/B00CQ53Y2I/ref=pd_bxgy_263_img_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00CQ53Y2I&pd_rd_r=ZR4EB3FVAGCEQ5WWE33Q&pd_rd_w=GaCXO&pd_rd_wg=tHWKT&psc=1&refRID=ZR4EB3FVAGCEQ5WWE33Q 3 M Thinsulate (TM) SM600L www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/3M-Thinsulate-Acoustic-Insulation-SM600L?N=5002385+3292659035&rt=rud 3М Thinsulate Climate Control 75 www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/3M-Thinsulate-Window-Film-Climate-Control-Series-for-Commercial?N=5002385+3292123815&rt=rud Dynamat 21206 DynaDeck 54" x 6' x 3/8" www.amazon.com/FLIR-ONE-Thermal-Imager-iOS/dp/B00VILVV62/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 would you recommend to use them?
Hello, This is a soundproofing material, it will have a small insulation value as its a closed cell material, but I could not find any information for its thermal properties. Its also not Class O rated for fire but Class A so it will burn and give off harmful gases. I would not use it in my van.
Greg, I have watched numerous amounts of video footage regarding the insulation process for a van...some of these are claimed by people with experience.... I have not been convinced right up until I have just watched this demonstration by you.... I take my cap off to you sir and its about time there was a video such as this to finally set the record straight... I'm absolutely thrilled to see this and have a lot more confidence in what was actually a potential stumbling block for my up an coming van build.You videos are thee only demonstrations I will use as a reference from now after searching through many others that just didn't get the great details in.....Thank you so much mate.
Thank you very much for the vote of confidence Adam. There are many ways to skin a cat and many different products out there. There are some very good van build channels out there and some terrific builders. Knowing how to best use what you can afford is the key I think. Pleased you find the videos useful to you.
Thanks Greg, absolute gold! This has taken so much guess work out. Having a basic engineering background myself this really speaks to me, too. There are so many little points in this video that clarify quite significant aspects. I'll be watching this video again and again for sure. Thanks so much for sharing! Much appreciated. Ryan.
Having watched many, many UA-cam videos on van insulation yours is the only one I've seen that explains, in layman's terms, exactly how to calculate the properties of any insulation product you may choose to insulate a van. You have a definite talent to explain expert knowledge to the uneducated in a way that is not only interesting, but more importantly, understandable. I salute you Greg!
Thank you very much for detailed explanations. I am really enjoying to watch your videos. You have a extraordinary ability for teaching. I am curious to watch your next video.
Thank you Jane, very nice comment. I'm intrigued to know the relevance of insulation to you 40yrs ago or are you just referring to the teaching method 😊
Ha, that’s when I was at school! Watching your videos has inspired us to do our own conversion, rather than paying a fortune to someone else to do it. I may be asking a few questions though.....
This is SO awesome! I've been searching for quite a while for someone who would actually explain in detail the rationale behind their insulating method - this is GREAT. So helpful, and I love the rigor. Thanks Greg!!
Greg, this is FANTASTIC!! I'm so glad I discovered you! I am about to start my own van conversion and this is exactly what I want to see - clear, concise, informative information! Quick question, when calculating the total heat loss, how come can you apply the U values to both areas and volumes, despite it being calculated Watts per square metre Kelvin? Also, could you give me an idea of what 434W of heat loss looks like, i.e. at what rate would you need to heat your van in order to keep the temperature constant? Thank you again for this great video!
Let's Try Something New the I value for volume deals with infiltration ventilation allowance. The I valise for the walls etc is by Sq m as it’s just surface area. To give you some perspective a human gives off 140Watts of heat. So 3 people is approx 400watts of heat 😊 my calculation was just for the body. You can add the same again for the cab so in real terms about 1kw if heating would be plenty to keep the van nice and warm. 👍🏼
I work with automotive engineers on a daily basis so this type of video perfect for me. Thank you for taking the time to add the visual aids and explain the reasoning behind your decisions. Good luck!
Thank you for this amazing video, you have taken away any doubt I had beforehand except for one thing. Over here in Canada we use a clear thin plastic vapour barrier called poly (6mm I think) for homes, yet you suggest reflectix. How much of a positive difference does reflectix have over poly?
I've been considering converting a sprinter myself and I've spent the last hour or two watching your videos. Absolutely the best on UA-cam regarding this topic... By a long way.
Thank you for making this video and explaining the various dynamics at play in a project such as this. You did an outstanding job making a complicated subject digestible for someone with no background in this whatsoever.
Greg these video's are great! As an enviro engineer I'm loving your methodological approach. You've turned a surf camper build into a fun engineering project! Keep them coming!
Great video, and so great to see some actual engineering and expertise involved in insulating vans for once. The 434W figure at the end, how does that apply over time? for example, is it 434W/hour needed to keep the van at the same temperature level assuming the outside temp as specified? Or how would that be calculated?
It's simply a measure of the energy you would need to maintain it at that temperature. So a 500w heater running in the van would offset the losses and maintain the 21 deg inside.
The interesting thing to consider also is that a human gives off 100W so I guess Greg only needs to keep 4.34 humans in the van to keep its temperature stable.
Excellent! What's more interesting is that with a little light exercise two people could easy generate enough wattage on their own lol Great comment Karl, made me laugh. Cheers
Yes! Proper use of radiant barrier! There is so much misinformation about how to use these materials. Thank you very much for the video. I shared it with my cousin who is a retired professor at the state technical college, and he said it was a great presentation!
Your knowledge and detailing is awesome. I need your help with my project. Just received my 2018 Ram promaster today with it will be use for extended weekend-vacations only. I’m not going to put a permanent bathroom-kitchen other than a small portable ones. My question: can I get away with wool insulation for floor and walls and a sound barrier material? For subfloor, I heard I’m ok with 1/8, 1/4 of an inch play wood? Can you recommend a more flexible material for the main floor like maybe cork or rubber? Don’t like vinyls wood looking materials. Thanks and Can’t wait and can’t wait to hear from you
Hello, thank you for watching. I would not use wool for the floor and you need something more substantial to stand on. Lowes do a range of foil faced PIR insulating board in 8x4 sheets 1" thick which is ideal for floors The minimum thickness of plywood for your floor would be 1/2" or 12mm. Anything less than that and it will bend and sag. You can use wool for the walls, just apply a vapour barrier over everything before you line the van with your finish cladding. Hope that helps
Thank you Greg for THE most informative video on van installation I've seen. I'm a complete novice to van building. I had planned out my instillation from an amateur point of view before finding this video. I'll make a few changes, but it's good to know I got good SWAG (Stupid Wild Ass Guess). I will put in a vapor barrier now. Thank you for explaining the need for one. I have two questions if you have time. #1- The ribs of the van, roof and sides, they transfer heat and cold even if you insulate around and inside them, correct? #2- What are you concerns about mold growing in or on the insulation? Thanks in advance, Dave
What I liked most about your vid. was that it positively agreed with another vid. on insolation. You are an educated Instructor and he has been living in a van for 15 yrs. both have come to the same conclusion. Thank you very much.
I’m guessing you are referring to cheapRVliving video on insulation. We share the same opinions on reflectix and it should not be sold as insulation at all. I would still insulate my floor even in warm climate as it will prevent heat gain too. Thank you
@@GregVirgoe why use reflectix at all if it is such a bad insulator, isnt it really expensive to just use as a vapor barrier? Why not just use polyethylene sheeting or the like at that point, its much cheaper($130 vs $20 for rolls of the same size). The aluminum cant reflect any radiant heat without an air gap right? Thanks for the video! Very informative
fred c you can use polythenes as long as they are a good quality builders polythene. Otherwise some are very slightly permeable. Foil is 100% impervious to water or moisture so it is the better barrier. It’s not that expensive. I wrapped my entire van for £90 and it easy to work with 👍🏼😊
Very, very helpful. You have a natural skill for teaching. I have tried for so long, to understand how to best insulate my camper van. Your instuction finally helped. Thank you!
Hi Ros, really kind of you to say that and I'm glad that I can give you some clear direction. I too have watched many videos and there did seem to be a lack of knowledge on what is best for this application. Best wishes
I was wondering what your reasoning was for still using Reflectix as a vapor barrier rather than something else? I would think there would be substantially cheaper materials that would perform as well if not better? This is a total side step but I am also curious to see if you have an opinion on installing adhesive backed sound deadening/damping material such as Rattletrap on the bare painted metal interior of a van before adding insulation/walls/floors/etc. I constantly see videos where people spend a full day installing sound damping materials on the floors, walls and ceiling of their van and then they install rigid foam, spray foam or even just pink fiberglass insulation covered with 1/2" thick tongue and groove boards for their walls. Perhaps I am wrong but if the van is insulated well those sheet metal panels won't be able to vibrate and create much noise inside the van because the insulation does the same job as the sound damping material. Wouldn't the RattleTrap type sound damping material be pointless then?
Hello Al, aluminium foil is totally impervious to moisture, the reflectix just makes it more substantial to apply without tearing. Some plastics are very slightly permeable. With regards to sound deadening please watch my sound video ua-cam.com/video/fmvxtaZjFww/v-deo.html that should answer your questions. Thanks for watching.
As somebody whose mind goes blank at anything scientific, this was a brilliant, gentle introduction to something I have had difficulty getting my head around. Thank you.
Nothing wrong with using thick plastic as a vapour barrier. Best to get one that designed to be a vapour barrier. Some are very slightly permeable to moisture. The PIR board comes foil faced so it makes sense to continue with that
Greg Virgoe thank you for the reply. Here is a link my video calling for more experts to get involved in the discussion if you’d like to be part of the conversation: Help Me Solve The Vapor Barrier Debate ua-cam.com/video/Fz59D9ai7CY/v-deo.html
Yes, I have watched the video, nice route for a bike ride too, just been out on my triumph earlier today. I have written a post which bullet points the main reasons for insulating using my method. Thank you for the interest you have shown in my videos and for the mention.
A very clear and concise explanation with the actual calculations. This video was much more interesting than I could have anticipated. When I built my house and caravan (in Australia) I probably went overboard with insulation in both projects for our climate, however you've backed up my gut feelings with your real knowledge. Thanks.
I was worried about the technical aspects of this video initially but it has been very well received so thank you for taking the time to watch and comment.
Wow, so much detail just to keep the warmth in...nice one Greg....just one question if I may, why not use foam spray behind all the wood?? This would fill all the gaps as well as bends and tight spaces.....is it more cost??
Perfectly acceptable solution Marc, it's basically the same product as the kingspan but in a can. It's a very good insulator and like you say good at filling all the small voids. I personally just didn't want all the mess and clear up that comes with spray foam. Thank you for watching.
Thank you Marc, you bet, I can't wait to road test this one myself, we have major plans to tour Europe next year and will be posting regular vlogs of our #vanlife. Watch this space :D
Marc’s Fx -- condensation causing moisture then mold. The sprayons like greatstuff adhere to the surface on the inside surface. With no space between the insulate and the panel subjected to outside conditions the inside of the panel cannot "breathe" so moisture is trapped.
It's refreshing to watch a video on van insulation made by someone who actually knows what they are talking about! I wish I had watched this series before the countless others I have sat through. I would probably have finished my van build long ago.
Oh yes. This is the one video I have been looking for for ages. I plan on building and using my van in the north of Scandinavia and Lapland for as much of the year as posible. Temperatures here drop to -30 or even -40 C in the winter so it's not enough to have good heating. Thanks a lot for making this info easy to understand by someone with no experience in insulation!
Greg this was excellent! I enjoyed the in depth discussion, and learned a great deal about your line of work and how to calculate heat loss. Superb! We need more. A few thoughts to add to your points. Van insulation is more than just R value of materials. These are the other factors to consider which should be weighed when making a decision on materials. Total points are: Weight - materials light as possible. Sound damping - turn the clang to a thud on doors, and keep outside noise out of van. Thermal resistance - R Value is high. This also keeps van cooler on hot days. Moisture resistance - Materials should repel water not absorb, should be breathable to allow water to dry off, should be effective even if damp or wet and not get destroyed. Insect resistance - no bugs nesting in there over time Fire resistance - slow to burn Hypoallergenic - no fumes, or irritating particles in lungs/ eyes/ nose. Reflectivity - heat shield to reflect heat away from inside using mylar foil. This is also a water vapor shield. Price - does not break the bank Environmentally responsible. There are 3 elements in a van that you want to tackle: heat loss/ keep cool, dampen sound, keep water from reaching your insulation and metal structures. In your selection, I am surprised you did not consider Sheep's wool as an alternative to Earthwool (aka Rock wool, Mineral wool). Sheep's wool is treated with Borax for mold and bugs, is naturally fire and water resistant, hypoallergenic where Earthwool is not, is effective when wet, allows water to escape and dry off, good sound damping, highly thermal resistant, and very light weight. Not as costly as Thinsulate and a bit more than Earthwool. It is very flexible so can be stuffed into small holes, but does not need to be as aerated as Earthwool. A lot of this is going to waste in the US, as 90% of shorn wool is not used. Comes in batting or stuffing. Also surprised you did not consider a butyl type noise damper like Noico. Small patches on doors and insets turns clang into thud and prevents road noise. This is pricey so small sections. I used a closed cell Neoprene foam coated with Mylar foil called Silent Silver or Silent Blue, as an underlayment for RV wood floors. It is only 1/8" thick. Also works as a reflective shield and vapor barrier. So... patches of Noico on thin metal parts, sheep Wool batting and stuffing, and cover it with Silent Silver, then surface materials. like plywood. On floor I would do what Dave Orton did - Polyiso thick foam boards (has Mylar), rubber gym mat, outdoor carpeting. Mineral wool may be cheaper, but it irritates the lungs, so needs to be sealed up well. It is not as flexible as sheep wool for stuffing crevices. I wonder what your thoughts are on Sheep Wool.
Hi Greg, I have just started watching your videos and am already your fan. I haven't seen such an elaborate and masterful work on Van conversion on You tube. It's really incredible. The way you explain every smallest thing with reason and science behind is really appreciable. I am learning a lot of things not only about the vehicle, but about the scientific terms their application, wood working, handling electric circuitry, etc. which may be of great help even in the day-to-day life. Will keep posting for any doubts. Thanks a lot...🙏🙏🙏
Thank you for the logic of insulation. We see so many videos that show the same sequence of barriers that you advise and wonder do they really know what they are talking about. Thanks for your scientific clarity!
I know when we were watching other peoples videos at the very start there are a lot that are just copying others but for no apparent reason, so hopefully this goes a long way to give some clearer guidance, Thank you for the nice comment.
Im about to start my 4th self build just after xmas. I have learnt more about insulation properties with this video than any other video I have watched on youtube. Big THUMBS UP
Thank you,I am glad to see someone that is an expert on this subject.I have watched many videos on the subject. Never one with your level of expertise. Excellent video.
I have watched a multitude of videos about van conversion, and this is the only one I've seen that explains insulation. Not only is it the only one, but you did a fantastic job! You have really cleared up some things (like the story on reflectix) and explained others very well. Such useful information! Thank you!
Great information. It is wonderful to hear a person who professionally works with insulation calculations talk about the subject. So much bad info out there. Really liked the straight talk about moisture build up in a small space like a van and what needs to be done. Thanks for the info, Greg!
Denis Foley I’m glad you liked it. I saw quite a few videos where guys didn’t know what they were doing and thought I could really add some value here and hopefully point people in the right direction 👍🏼😃
Great presentation, I did my C&G part III Advanced Craft Studies final project in this H&V subject 40years ago!!! You've brought back many happy memories of reading through the hvac guide to understand and apply it to my project. Your explanation of a very difficult subject is excellent and the way you've broken it down into bite sized chunks makes for easy understanding. Well done, I'll be following your UA-cam page with interest! Keep up the good work and perfect presentation format 👍👏👏👏🏅
Thank you! I’ve been down the van build rabbit hole for weeks now, I’m even already subscribed to your channel, but only now finding this video with *exactly* the expertise and high-level information about van insulation I’ve been craving. So satisfying! Again, thank you.
So here i am, Greg, coming back to your tutorials to brush up on my insulation knowledge. A lot of things have changed since i first watched your excellent tutorial, but I'm glad to see your tutorials haven't. Also, enjoying the new build videos aswell.
Greg, you have the best Van conversion videos on youtube BY FAR. You are a wealth of information and have taught me so much. keep up the brilliant work!
excellent , i forgoten all this but you refreshed my memory. i use to do this and more in calculating heat gain, lose in an air conditioning system in buildongs , hotels, hospotals, houses, in the seventies all in BTUs. thumbs up. good refresher.👍
Refreshing to watch a video where someone explaining something actually knows what they are on about, great videos, after watching about 10 so far I think my van will end up looking similar to yours 😂 cheers for taking the time to make these, you have made my life so much easier
I've watched almost all your van videos now and enjoyed every single one. I love that you're bringing maths to a subject where previously I've seen what appears to be mostly subjective guesswork from others. This video and how to calculate your electricity usage have really helped me understand what will be required when I come to kitting out my own sprinter van next year! Please keep up with the videos, I'm looking forward to seeing you working on the van itself and I hope you manage to keep atleast a few steps ahead of myself so that I can always return to watch these when I get to doing each part myself.
Thank you so much for such great feedback. Really pleased that you are enjoying this series and hope you continue to do so. We have loads of plans for the van and will be great to have you along. Best wishes with your own build. I'll look forward to following your progress when you get started.
Hi Greg, I must admit, your deep analysis of all aspects of Van build is amazing. Easy to understand, deep analysis, great recommendations. Everyone who ever think about building van home should watch your video first. There are maybe one or two videos similar to yours ...the other are only "I did it because I saw it somewhere else". Most people dont think to drive or be in freezing weather..so they underestimate moisture...in addition they underestimate floor insulation which is keen in winter.
Thank you for a great comment. It is a very important part of living in a metal box which is why I have spent so much time to put the correct information out there :D
Thank you! I see so many variations with people installing all these components and I think everyone I've seen has done it completely wrong based off your expertise. I think I'm all set for insulating my van build now, thanks again! Cheers
I watched all of your videos as they were being released, now I’ve just bought a mwb sprinter I’m going to watch them all again to help with my conversion. Thanks for all the effort you put in to the videos and I hope your tour is going well
Your videos are so substantial, and you are a natural teacher. Everything from the science and metrics behind the calcs, to the organized and methodical delivery, to the soft voice that is so easy to listen to, makes this a must see for anyone building out a van. Thanks also for no music. Truly Greg, your series is the best one on van building on UA-cam today, many thanks! fyi - Celotex is what we call PolyIso foam in the US. Thinsulate is a great material too, thin and efficient but costly. Heavy Mass Vinyl is what Humble Road uses as both insulator and sound deadener. One important thing to note is that Reflectix (bubble wrap sandwiched in foil) only works within an air gap. So typically, you waste an inch or more of space. George from Humble Rd solved this problem by using Thinsulate with the white fluffy side facing inside the van, touching the Reflectix. According to the Thinsulate makers, this qualifies as the air gap, so now you lose no space. Ken from Ourkaravan also uses Thinsulate. I think on the walls, you save space by using Thinsulate, Reflectix, and Heavy Mass Vinyl then the plywood. Celotex/ Polyiso is optimal for floor and ceiling.
Lass-in Angeles thanks for your kind words. If you compare the calculations for two options 1. Air space & radiant barrier 2. Same space full of woollen type insulation The second would have vastly greater thermal conductivity properties. Insulation works due to its conductivity and the thickness of the product. All these very thin products that claim high values are easily beaten hands down by 2-4 inches of recycled loft insulation. There’s really no debate the science and calculations speak for themselves. Stick to a decent thickness of insulation and a vapour barrier over everything. That is all you need. Forget air gaps, radiant barriers or expensive thin materials. It really is that simple 😊👍🏼
Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us, Greg! I absolutely love how you take the time to explain things in a way so everyone can understand. This is probably the most questioned part of a van conversion to which you have given THE one and only answer to by using calculations, this is exactly what I was looking for (and more). I can't wait to apply al my new gained knowledge I learned from my teacher Greg, in my own van conversion. Looking forward to watching your build progressing.
I wanted to explain with the facts and in the process hopefully help others make educated choices. There does seem to be a lack of clarity on this subject so I'm really glad I can help clear things up. Thanks for such great feedback and hope you enjoy all the rest of this series. Best wishes
This was great. So many, if not all, insulating videos seem to be about personal opinions or hearsay. I like your approach and the mathematics. Thank you!
Thank you Tamara, I have watched many of those kind of videos myself. Where people are just copying what they have seen others do but with no technical backup. I was hoping these videos could help everyone make more informed decisions not waste time and money. Thanks for great feedback
I've come across yr channel today. I've watched loads of others. Wish id found yours first. Could have saved me a lot of mistakes that I've already done. Great work. Thank you very much.
An excellent tutorial video on insulation properties. I'm an IT guy and all this is new to me but you have managed to teach me in you short video what I need to know to insulate my van successfully. Thanks for posting the video. You really should think of teaching this in Technical Colleges as students would benefit from you knowledge.
This was Avery informative. A lot of the other UA-cam’s on van conversations are telling us to stay away from the earth wool, but your explanation of putting up the silver bubble to prevent the moister gathering has changed my mind about how I am going to go about my conversion thanks.
talk about taking the mystery out of something !! A HUGE thankyou ... Im only starting my Van build and i want to do it myself so i understand WHY im doing / using / wanting something .... your videos are a godsend !!!!!!
WOW! That is simply one of the best, if not THE best instructional/information videos EVER on YT. Perhaps as an electro-mechanical engineer some of this data and certainly the maths of the explanation is something very close to what I am used to, but actually I think that most people will be able to follow this due to the marvellous delivery from the presenter.
You have excelled (no pun intended) yourself again Greg. Really well done - especially for a potentially difficult subject.
Regards Mark in the UK
Hello Mark, I’m honoured by your high praise. Thank you very much. It’s a great feeling when my videos are received so well. It makes all the effort so worth while. Many thanks.
Agreed with thecorbies. I have both a science background and a construction background. It was nice to see the supporting numbers behind what I see, instinctively thru experience, to be proper choices in materials and applications. Thanks!
Thank you Marvin, really appreciate your feedback.
Very good video and yes, one of the best. I'm thinking about building my own van and what I´w been thinking a lot about is the insulation and ventilation. I want to get a good insulation so the van can handle both cold and warm climate, like Scandinavia and Spain / Portugal. I´m going the learn a lot.
Hello Paul, thank you for great feedback. Insulation works the same in both hot or cold environments. In the summer shade your windows as much as possible to prevent solar gain. Good luck with your build
Brilliant. Quite possibly the only actually useful video about van insulation on UA-cam. Thank you.
Hello, Thank you for those kind words.
I have just watched your intro video and your channel looks very interesting.
Similar jobs to tackle living a nomadic life.
I've subbed and will look forward to watching them.
Best wishes
Hello. Thanks for that and the sub. Agreed there are many similarities - indeed, I tweeted a link to your power audit video to my followers recently. I'm about to embark on a small-scale van conversion myself over winter so your updates are superbly well-timed. By the way, do you have an opinion on "aerogel" type materials? Cheers
Hi, as you will see from my chart at 0:16 Aerogel is the best insulator by far. I thought this space age material was only available to the likes of NASA? I would imagine it would be extremely expensive if you can get hold of it in large enough quantities to do a van conversion? Thank you for the recent tweets, really appreciate the support. Look forward to watching you van build series too.
Thanks. Sorry, must have missed that, watching on the ipad screen. It's available in the UK under the brand "Spacetherm" from phstore.co.uk and you're right - it's not cheap. But for a compact camper (Toyota Proace low height version) and just doing the floor and ceiling with it in a thin sheet due to lack of headroom, it might be my only option! Cheers
Hello, I looked at the website, wow, it is expensive. Here are some figures for comparison.
50mm PIR board (Celotex/Kingspan) 0.022W/mK an R-Value of 2.3, cost of 8' x 4' sheet £43
To achieve the same R-value you would need 2.3x0.014=0.032m of Aerogel or 32mm thick
A 30mm thick 8x4 sheet of Aerogel cost £437.00! 10 times as much for a saving of 20mm.
For me personally, I think that's a deal breaker, the benefits don't seem to outway the cost?
It's safe to say that Greg has made by far the best video tutorials on UA-cam on how to do these things correctly and with knowledge.
Watching these videos is like being in the University of how to make a touring car.
I really like watching van conversion videos where the guy is playing his guitar over looking a mountain and he expresses how cool life can be but it is so refreshing to get a more academic look at the conversion process so I can start to understand the physics behind everything. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this.
Really appreciate your comment, thank you
Having now read quite a number of the other comments on this video, it occurs to me that this series of videos will become THE definitive series to watch for anybody when converting their van. Totally excellent.
Regards Mark in the UK
Hello Mark,
It was always my aim to try and do a professional conversion but from a home DIY standpoint.
Of course, it's great to do a budget build as a weekend van and many of my friends have these.
My plan is to go longer distances and live in the van for weeks at a time so we wanted it to be comfortable.
I'm really aiming for a very high-end finish inside, high gloss furniture, top spec appliances and loads of gadgets.
It will still be a fraction of the cost of a commercial motorhome but with the same or better features.
Great to have you along this journey with us.
Couldn't agree more. This bloke is THE best. I should known cos I've been watching diy comper conversions for yrs!!!
As a fellow engineer I appreciate your analytical and precise approach. Your comment, "its not just that I've seen somebody else do it on another UA-cam video and I'm just going to copy what they're doing," is very much appreciated and respected. I suspect there will be many who will copy you!
Hi John, my aim is to hopefully give clear advice with good foundations to help other doing their own builds.
I see lots of guys using the materials in the wrong application because they seen someone else do it.
Thank you for your support and great feedback.
It is good engendering practice to copy, but with improvements!!!
I agree John.. too many monkey see monkey do on UA-cam.
As a retired Chemical Engineer who worked for a number of years doing heat transfer design and problem solving on chemical plants I was blown away by your explanation and especially your delivery of what is quite a complicated subject. It certainly brings the 'science' of how best to approach van insulation to the layman. Cracking job.
Makes my day to have the backing of fellow engineer, many thanks for such great feedback..
From a retired teacher, may I just say that was the best educational and informative video I’ve seen as I’ve gone down the journey to van conversion. Some of it was out of my area of expertise, but the different modalities you employed to get all the points across were spot on. I understood everything, and I am not an engineer or a maths person. Again, thank you for sharing your knowledge.
I realised with this fast-growing community that there are a lot of people just copying others with no reason or theory.
So if I can pass on some knowledge to help others make informed decisions that makes me happy.
Greg as you know there are hundreds of videos of people insulating their vans, but this is the first I've seen one without even showing a van. It would seem we all now know why your video will been seen as the benchmark, SCIENCE! Great video and very educational, in particular your screen framing and text and graphic placement looked great. Thanks again.
I was wondering how well this type of theory video would be received.
Judging by the comments so far it's definitely been worth the effort.
Really appreciate your continued support Karl, cheers
Greg your videos seem to have the correct balance of down to earth reality and the engineering science to do it right. As you know it's always a please to watch people work when they are excelling in their craft. I'm not even a Sprinter owner and probably will never be but your videos have and will be relevant to the many aspects for me rebuilding my 1970's VW Kombi. This might come in handy for your 'moderate exercise' / heat calculation [101 kCal or 4.2 kCal/min in men and 69.1 kCal or 3.1 kCal/min in women] :P
Nice bus mate, they really do hold their money. Are you doing a full period restoration? I’d be interested to see any photos you have.
I'm restoring it to an imaginary period of history when there was a sports version of the VW Kombi. It's a challenge to get 300% more go, handling and stopping power into it without looking like a wanker and getting fround apon by the VW purests. The other challenge is to have this beast tame enough to drive it daily and get my camp kitchen, fridge and Misses in it for fun and travel.
Had this seen the 4 years ago. And looked it up since I'm getting serious on my build in the next month's. Still the best info on insulating!
Wonderful! Finally someone actually understands insulation! Watched tons of other videos ,but non of the methods they used made sense to me as an engineering student. This is the only video on youtube explains insulation very well. Well Done!
Many thanks and good luck with your studies.
Very rare to find someone who knows how to insulate an RV. I'm excited to watch the the next episode, Greg. Keep up the great work and thank you for putting effort into documenting your build project.
Thank you very much, pleased you liked it and hope you continue to enjoy the rest of this build.
You sir are a star .
I've watched countless "experts" on here giving advice (prior to building my l4 h3 transit camper/race van this winter)
In a few minutes you've made an (apparently) complicated headache an extremely easy to understand , well explained route to most people's van insulation issues .
Sound deaden , insulate , vapour barrier and clad .
Warm , dry , cosy and affordable.
Thanks mate , add 1 sub
Hello Peter, i'm really pleased that was useful to you. Thanks very much for the great feedback and for your support. :D
Thank you for posting the best series of video that i have ever seen. I and my husband has planning to visit more than seventeen thousand islands in Indonesia with a van after retiring. I really love sprinter's videos you are making. Thank you so much.
The tone of your voice and rhythm of your speech will make it far easier to understand for those who are not familiar with Thermodynamics (not my case). Good job. Cheers
What a wonderful comment Luís. Many thanks. What field of engineering are you in?
I love your systematic approach to resolving the problem and the clear and concise manner you communicated the solution.
Thank you Mark, very much appreciated 👍🏼
I can't believe this series exists, thank you so much
No problem at all. Glad you are finding it useful. 👍🏼😁
Brilliant explanation of thermal conductivity and insulation, simply explained, asking the viewer to only take a couple of things on trust (Watts and Kelvin) without being condescending or dumbing down, your technical background really shows. Excellent video.
stevehood10 thank you for the great feedback. I really wanted to back up my choice with the science so there was reason for doing it this way. Thanks for watching.
Hi Greg,
Thanks for cutting through the "same-as" and free-spirit......stuff. As a Canadian mechanical engineer I was getting tired of seemingly unreasoned builds. We're building a 2014 Sprinter 2500 170 WB for a trip north in the summer of 2019. Keeep up the good work. Off to view the next video!
Thank you Chris, I wanted to put some factual information out there to help everyone as there is a lot of miss information too. The insulation workshop video is also very good to watch.
I have close to 0 knowledge on physics and I was left in awe by how much I understood through this video. Thank you very much Mr. Virgoe for the amazing informative video.
I can't watch this too many times. It's simply brilliant. I'm just beginning my campervan conversion, though I began watching/sharing your videos months ago.😊
Fierce Facts if you like that one I’m sure you might find my insulation workshop video interesting too. ua-cam.com/video/_6eWGp14TL4/v-deo.html
Thank you for sharing my videos, much appreciated
Kudos! This is what UA-cam should be about; informative, to the point and presented by someone who actually knows what they’re talking about
Charlie Jamieson thank you very much 👍🏼
I love this! Finally someone who actually knows what their doing :) Thank you for your videos!
Really appreciate the great feedback, thank you
Excellent ! I’m a mathematician who is making a camper van. I not only enjoyed your video however it also opened my eyes for a perfect insulation with a perfect calculation.
Greg, your videos are nothing other than exceptional. You deserve every single subscriber and your sub count will grow significantly, I have no doubts. Brilliant.
+Alt Ventures, what a wonderful thing to say, thank you very much.
Greg, you are absolute gentleman, and top class delivery on each broadcast. Each technical subject broken down and discussed in just the right pitch for the viewer... and in my case... the 'enthuastic' amateur.
I look forward to going through the rest of the series.
Steven.
Thank you very much Steven, really pleased you are finding them to be interesting and hope you continue to enjoy the rest of the videos. Thanks for your support.
I love the sprinter videos you're making, really well done. I'm glad you include so much technical detail.
Thank you so much for such great comment, really appreciated.
Again you are a natural educator. You start with the basics and explain it so well. Many thanks Greg
Glad you liked it 😃
Hey alright!!! Someone actually qualified to talk about insulation. Thank you for making this. There is a lot of misinformation by other amateur videos out there.
I thought exactly the same when I was doing my own research and wanted to give out some factual information to help others
I've been looking for instructional videos concerning insulation, heating, and plumbing because I've started my conversion, and stumbled across this video.
This is the most helpful thing I've heard all week. Brilliant, this is going to referenced back to many times over. Thank you kindly for the help.
Please have a look at my insulation workshop video that has lots of extra useful information in it 😀
This is the best by far of any vid I've ever seen, & I've watched thou's, usually from USA but this one is English, as am I, very well done Greg!Thanku, Alan, Norwich. My Sprinter will be the new FWD.
I'm still shocked at how well this video is being received and can't thank you enough for such great feedback.
New 4WD sprinter, wow that will look very smart indeed. What are your travel plans Alan?
I am so, SO grateful for this video! I am planning a van conversion, but as a high school student who will be converting out of graduation (with money I earned, dont worry, not paying out of parent's pockets) I have NO idea about any of this stuff.
This is the best video about van insulation ive ever seen, and you probably just saved my entire van from melting or freezing or rotting. I didnt even think about condensation!
Eternally grateful! Subscribed!
I saw many people using the wrong material in the wrong application and needed to help guys like yourself make informed decisions. Best wishes with your future build
After your a.c./d.c Masterclass, you've topped it with another on insulation. -Brilliant.
ed
Thank you Ed, that's made my day.
Awesome finally no lame music and someone who is an actual authority! I have asked several HVAC techs and they could only tell me to call the office to figure it out.
Thank you so much for the calcs, and a thermal bridging explanation that makes actual sense and that graph says it all!!!
Thanks again!!!
Thank you for your exlpanations. I never really understood the r-value and now I not only finally get it, I can actually calculate.
That’s brilliant, I’m really glad you found it to be useful. Thank you for great feedback 👍🏼
5 star delivery once again Greg. Worth every minute to watch not just for anyone doing a van build but also anyone who wishes to be well informed and correctly insulate just about anything else. Thank you Greg for your outstanding thought and work.
P.S. you may want to repost as an insulation values explained (keeping original)
A valid point, it does apply to any insulation application and not just vans. I may edit the title slightly and add few more tags. Thank you for your help.
! WOW ! Deep Respect, Greg ! Absolutely the best video I've seen EVER ! Extremely informative & without any "black-bla" Thanks!
Thank you so much for such a nice comment. I was nervous about doing this technical video but really pleased you like it so much. 👍🏼
Greg,it's a pleasure
! Could you please review this eco-friendly insulation materials - I would like to build my eco-van with much eco material as possible www.thermo-natur.de Thanks in Advance !
Hi, I did take a look at the website. I'm not sure the hemp leaf symbol is a great way of advertising insulation? Their advert is incorrect when comparing their insulation to glasswool or fibreglass. Their image shows two roof structures and gives the impression that you only need half as much of their insulation. However, their published figure for thermal conductivity is 0.037 W/mK and glassfibre is 0.04 W/mK and exactly the same as the Earthwool batts that I am using. So it is not better, it's about the same. Earthwool can also be 100% upcycled. On the plus side it's made of natural materials and will offer the same level of insulation as similar alternatives. Not sure what it's fire resistance is or moisture resistance?
Greg, thanks for such nice explanation! Respect Man. Look I have a few more question about insulation. Could you help me please to make a right choice )) On US market people who do Van conversion use those materials:
Lizard Skin
www.amazon.com/LizardSkin-50125-Super-Pro-Spray/dp/B00CQ53Y2I/ref=pd_bxgy_263_img_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00CQ53Y2I&pd_rd_r=ZR4EB3FVAGCEQ5WWE33Q&pd_rd_w=GaCXO&pd_rd_wg=tHWKT&psc=1&refRID=ZR4EB3FVAGCEQ5WWE33Q
3 M Thinsulate (TM) SM600L
www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/3M-Thinsulate-Acoustic-Insulation-SM600L?N=5002385+3292659035&rt=rud
3М Thinsulate Climate Control 75
www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/3M-Thinsulate-Window-Film-Climate-Control-Series-for-Commercial?N=5002385+3292123815&rt=rud
Dynamat 21206 DynaDeck 54" x 6' x 3/8"
www.amazon.com/FLIR-ONE-Thermal-Imager-iOS/dp/B00VILVV62/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
would you recommend to use them?
Hello, This is a soundproofing material, it will have a small insulation value as its a closed cell material, but I could not find any information for its thermal properties. Its also not Class O rated for fire but Class A so it will burn and give off harmful gases. I would not use it in my van.
Greg, I have watched numerous amounts of video footage regarding the insulation process for a van...some of these are claimed by people with experience.... I have not been convinced right up until I have just watched this demonstration by you.... I take my cap off to you sir and its about time there was a video such as this to finally set the record straight... I'm absolutely thrilled to see this and have a lot more confidence in what was actually a potential stumbling block for my up an coming van build.You videos are thee only demonstrations I will use as a reference from now after searching through many others that just didn't get the great details in.....Thank you so much mate.
Thank you very much for the vote of confidence Adam. There are many ways to skin a cat and many different products out there. There are some very good van build channels out there and some terrific builders. Knowing how to best use what you can afford is the key I think. Pleased you find the videos useful to you.
Thanks Greg, absolute gold! This has taken so much guess work out. Having a basic engineering background myself this really speaks to me, too. There are so many little points in this video that clarify quite significant aspects. I'll be watching this video again and again for sure. Thanks so much for sharing! Much appreciated. Ryan.
Hello Ryan, insulation workshop video covers a lot more ground and explains about condensation. ua-cam.com/video/_6eWGp14TL4/v-deo.html
Having watched many, many UA-cam videos on van insulation yours is the only one I've seen that explains, in layman's terms, exactly how to calculate the properties of any insulation product you may choose to insulate a van.
You have a definite talent to explain expert knowledge to the uneducated in a way that is not only interesting, but more importantly, understandable.
I salute you Greg!
Thank you very much for taking the time to write such great feedback.
It makes my day to know the videos are appreciated so much, best wishes.
Thank you very much for detailed explanations. I am really enjoying to watch your videos. You have a extraordinary ability for teaching. I am curious to watch your next video.
It makes me happy to receive such wonderful feedback.
I'm really pleased that you are enjoying this build series.
Thank you for your support.
You are a born teacher. I wish this had been explained like this to me 40 years ago.
Thank you Jane, very nice comment. I'm intrigued to know the relevance of insulation to you 40yrs ago or are you just referring to the teaching method 😊
Ha, that’s when I was at school! Watching your videos has inspired us to do our own conversion, rather than paying a fortune to someone else to do it. I may be asking a few questions though.....
Dzięki Greg za polskie napisy .Super film .Pozdrawiam
Arja dziękuję, mam nadzieję, że podoba Ci się nowe napisy.
@@GregVirgoe super
This is SO awesome! I've been searching for quite a while for someone who would actually explain in detail the rationale behind their insulating method - this is GREAT. So helpful, and I love the rigor. Thanks Greg!!
Greg, this is FANTASTIC!! I'm so glad I discovered you! I am about to start my own van conversion and this is exactly what I want to see - clear, concise, informative information!
Quick question, when calculating the total heat loss, how come can you apply the U values to both areas and volumes, despite it being calculated Watts per square metre Kelvin?
Also, could you give me an idea of what 434W of heat loss looks like, i.e. at what rate would you need to heat your van in order to keep the temperature constant?
Thank you again for this great video!
Let's Try Something New the I value for volume deals with infiltration ventilation allowance. The I valise for the walls etc is by Sq m as it’s just surface area.
To give you some perspective a human gives off 140Watts of heat. So 3 people is approx 400watts of heat 😊 my calculation was just for the body. You can add the same again for the cab so in real terms about 1kw if heating would be plenty to keep the van nice and warm. 👍🏼
I work with automotive engineers on a daily basis so this type of video perfect for me. Thank you for taking the time to add the visual aids and explain the reasoning behind your decisions. Good luck!
Thank you very much and I'm pleased you liked it. Hope you enjoy the rest of my channel.
Thank you for this amazing video, you have taken away any doubt I had beforehand except for one thing. Over here in Canada we use a clear thin plastic vapour barrier called poly (6mm I think) for homes, yet you suggest reflectix. How much of a positive difference does reflectix have over poly?
I've been considering converting a sprinter myself and I've spent the last hour or two watching your videos. Absolutely the best on UA-cam regarding this topic... By a long way.
Bardzo przydatne informacje . Good job.Regards from Poland :)
SmakoVanie thank you very much did you see the new Polish subtitles? 😀
@@GregVirgoe Yes of course it's translated very well :)
@@smakovanie7635 You must know Max :D lol
@@GregVirgoe :) Camper team
Thank you for making this video and explaining the various dynamics at play in a project such as this. You did an outstanding job making a complicated subject digestible for someone with no background in this whatsoever.
I really appreciate your feedback and thank you for watching 👍🏼😁
Super film, teraz all clear 🙂
Jan Moto dziękuję, mam nadzieję, że podoba Ci się nowe napisy.
Greg these video's are great! As an enviro engineer I'm loving your methodological approach. You've turned a surf camper build into a fun engineering project! Keep them coming!
Hi James, really pleased you are enjoying them. Thanks for a great comment 👍🏼
Great video, and so great to see some actual engineering and expertise involved in insulating vans for once. The 434W figure at the end, how does that apply over time? for example, is it 434W/hour needed to keep the van at the same temperature level assuming the outside temp as specified? Or how would that be calculated?
It's simply a measure of the energy you would need to maintain it at that temperature.
So a 500w heater running in the van would offset the losses and maintain the 21 deg inside.
The interesting thing to consider also is that a human gives off 100W so I guess Greg only needs to keep 4.34 humans in the van to keep its temperature stable.
Excellent! What's more interesting is that with a little light exercise two people could easy generate enough wattage on their own lol
Great comment Karl, made me laugh. Cheers
Greg Virgoe that’s why the double bed will be installed …!!… LOL
Marc’s Fx, I don't think I've got room for two yoga mats lol
Yes! Proper use of radiant barrier! There is so much misinformation about how to use these materials. Thank you very much for the video. I shared it with my cousin who is a retired professor at the state technical college, and he said it was a great presentation!
Rickie Odem, thank you very much, I'm releasing a video of a live workshop I did this Friday you may find that interesting also
Your knowledge and detailing is awesome. I need your help with my project. Just received my 2018 Ram promaster today with it will be use for extended weekend-vacations only. I’m not going to put a permanent bathroom-kitchen other than a small portable ones. My question:
can I get away with wool insulation for floor and walls and a sound barrier material?
For subfloor, I heard I’m ok with 1/8, 1/4 of an inch play wood?
Can you recommend a more flexible material for the main floor like maybe cork or rubber?
Don’t like vinyls wood looking materials. Thanks and Can’t wait and can’t wait to hear from you
Hello, thank you for watching.
I would not use wool for the floor and you need something more substantial to stand on.
Lowes do a range of foil faced PIR insulating board in 8x4 sheets 1" thick which is ideal for floors
The minimum thickness of plywood for your floor would be 1/2" or 12mm.
Anything less than that and it will bend and sag.
You can use wool for the walls, just apply a vapour barrier over everything before you line the van with your finish cladding.
Hope that helps
My new go to guy for any information regarding van conversions. Only facts and no waffle. Top man. Top channel 👏
Cheers Jon 👍🏼 are you building your own campervan? 🚐😃
Thank you Greg for THE most informative video on van installation I've seen. I'm a complete novice to van building. I had planned out my instillation from an amateur point of view before finding this video. I'll make a few changes, but it's good to know I got good SWAG (Stupid Wild Ass Guess). I will put in a vapor barrier now. Thank you for explaining the need for one.
I have two questions if you have time.
#1- The ribs of the van, roof and sides, they transfer heat and cold even if you insulate around and inside them, correct?
#2- What are you concerns about mold growing in or on the insulation?
Thanks in advance,
Dave
What I liked most about your vid. was that it positively agreed with another vid. on insolation. You are an educated Instructor and he has been living in a van for 15 yrs. both have come to the same conclusion. Thank you very much.
I’m guessing you are referring to cheapRVliving video on insulation. We share the same opinions on reflectix and it should not be sold as insulation at all. I would still insulate my floor even in warm climate as it will prevent heat gain too. Thank you
Very helpful. Thank you. I always watch people insulating w reflective and think there's no way that's effective.
I just want to help others not make the same mistakes.
@@GregVirgoe why use reflectix at all if it is such a bad insulator, isnt it really expensive to just use as a vapor barrier? Why not just use polyethylene sheeting or the like at that point, its much cheaper($130 vs $20 for rolls of the same size). The aluminum cant reflect any radiant heat without an air gap right? Thanks for the video! Very informative
fred c you can use polythenes as long as they are a good quality builders polythene. Otherwise some are very slightly permeable.
Foil is 100% impervious to water or moisture so it is the better barrier. It’s not that expensive. I wrapped my entire van for £90 and it easy to work with 👍🏼😊
Very, very helpful. You have a natural skill for teaching. I have tried for so long, to understand how to best insulate my camper van. Your instuction finally helped. Thank you!
Hi Ros, really kind of you to say that and I'm glad that I can give you some clear direction.
I too have watched many videos and there did seem to be a lack of knowledge on what is best for this application.
Best wishes
I was wondering what your reasoning was for still using Reflectix as a vapor barrier rather than something else? I would think there would be substantially cheaper materials that would perform as well if not better?
This is a total side step but I am also curious to see if you have an opinion on installing adhesive backed sound deadening/damping material such as Rattletrap on the bare painted metal interior of a van before adding insulation/walls/floors/etc. I constantly see videos where people spend a full day installing sound damping materials on the floors, walls and ceiling of their van and then they install rigid foam, spray foam or even just pink fiberglass insulation covered with 1/2" thick tongue and groove boards for their walls. Perhaps I am wrong but if the van is insulated well those sheet metal panels won't be able to vibrate and create much noise inside the van because the insulation does the same job as the sound damping material. Wouldn't the RattleTrap type sound damping material be pointless then?
Hello Al, aluminium foil is totally impervious to moisture, the reflectix just makes it more substantial to apply without tearing. Some plastics are very slightly permeable. With regards to sound deadening please watch my sound video ua-cam.com/video/fmvxtaZjFww/v-deo.html that should answer your questions. Thanks for watching.
As somebody whose mind goes blank at anything scientific, this was a brilliant, gentle introduction to something I have had difficulty getting my head around. Thank you.
Why reflection rather than some kind of thick plastic? I definitely be sharing this with my viewers
Nothing wrong with using thick plastic as a vapour barrier.
Best to get one that designed to be a vapour barrier.
Some are very slightly permeable to moisture.
The PIR board comes foil faced so it makes sense to continue with that
Greg Virgoe thank you for the reply. Here is a link my video calling for more experts to get involved in the discussion if you’d like to be part of the conversation: Help Me Solve The Vapor Barrier Debate ua-cam.com/video/Fz59D9ai7CY/v-deo.html
Yes, I have watched the video, nice route for a bike ride too, just been out on my triumph earlier today.
I have written a post which bullet points the main reasons for insulating using my method.
Thank you for the interest you have shown in my videos and for the mention.
A very clear and concise explanation with the actual calculations. This video was much more interesting than I could have anticipated. When I built my house and caravan (in Australia) I probably went overboard with insulation in both projects for our climate, however you've backed up my gut feelings with your real knowledge. Thanks.
I was worried about the technical aspects of this video initially but it has been very well received so thank you for taking the time to watch and comment.
Wow, so much detail just to keep the warmth in...nice one Greg....just one question if I may, why not use foam spray behind all the wood?? This would fill all the gaps as well as bends and tight spaces.....is it more cost??
Perfectly acceptable solution Marc, it's basically the same product as the kingspan but in a can. It's a very good insulator and like you say good at filling all the small voids. I personally just didn't want all the mess and clear up that comes with spray foam. Thank you for watching.
Greg Virgoe yeah, it can be a bit messy!!
Keep up the great work my friend, can’t wait for the road trips 👍🏼😊
Thank you Marc, you bet, I can't wait to road test this one myself, we have major plans to tour Europe next year and will be posting regular vlogs of our #vanlife. Watch this space :D
Greg Virgoe well I’ll be tuning in that’s for sure 😉👍🏼
Marc’s Fx -- condensation causing moisture then mold. The sprayons like greatstuff adhere to the surface on the inside surface. With no space between the insulate and the panel subjected to outside conditions the inside of the panel cannot "breathe" so moisture is trapped.
It's refreshing to watch a video on van insulation made by someone who actually knows what they are talking about! I wish I had watched this series before the countless others I have sat through. I would probably have finished my van build long ago.
I wonder about using Spray foam instead of mineral wool.
Hello Fred, In my next video I talk about using spray foam.
Thanks for watching.
Oh yes. This is the one video I have been looking for for ages. I plan on building and using my van in the north of Scandinavia and Lapland for as much of the year as posible. Temperatures here drop to -30 or even -40 C in the winter so it's not enough to have good heating.
Thanks a lot for making this info easy to understand by someone with no experience in insulation!
Wow, those temperatures will tets the very best of insulation.
Best wishes and good luck with your adventures.
Greg this was excellent! I enjoyed the in depth discussion, and learned a great deal about your line of work and how to calculate heat loss. Superb! We need more. A few thoughts to add to your points.
Van insulation is more than just R value of materials. These are the other factors to consider which should be weighed when making a decision on materials. Total points are:
Weight - materials light as possible.
Sound damping - turn the clang to a thud on doors, and keep outside noise out of van.
Thermal resistance - R Value is high. This also keeps van cooler on hot days.
Moisture resistance - Materials should repel water not absorb, should be breathable to allow water to dry off, should be effective even if damp or wet and not get destroyed.
Insect resistance - no bugs nesting in there over time
Fire resistance - slow to burn
Hypoallergenic - no fumes, or irritating particles in lungs/ eyes/ nose.
Reflectivity - heat shield to reflect heat away from inside using mylar foil. This is also a water vapor shield.
Price - does not break the bank
Environmentally responsible.
There are 3 elements in a van that you want to tackle: heat loss/ keep cool, dampen sound, keep water from reaching your insulation and metal structures. In your selection, I am surprised you did not consider Sheep's wool as an alternative to Earthwool (aka Rock wool, Mineral wool). Sheep's wool is treated with Borax for mold and bugs, is naturally fire and water resistant, hypoallergenic where Earthwool is not, is effective when wet, allows water to escape and dry off, good sound damping, highly thermal resistant, and very light weight. Not as costly as Thinsulate and a bit more than Earthwool. It is very flexible so can be stuffed into small holes, but does not need to be as aerated as Earthwool. A lot of this is going to waste in the US, as 90% of shorn wool is not used. Comes in batting or stuffing.
Also surprised you did not consider a butyl type noise damper like Noico. Small patches on doors and insets turns clang into thud and prevents road noise. This is pricey so small sections. I used a closed cell Neoprene foam coated with Mylar foil called Silent Silver or Silent Blue, as an underlayment for RV wood floors. It is only 1/8" thick. Also works as a reflective shield and vapor barrier. So... patches of Noico on thin metal parts, sheep Wool batting and stuffing, and cover it with Silent Silver, then surface materials. like plywood. On floor I would do what Dave Orton did - Polyiso thick foam boards (has Mylar), rubber gym mat, outdoor carpeting.
Mineral wool may be cheaper, but it irritates the lungs, so needs to be sealed up well. It is not as flexible as sheep wool for stuffing crevices. I wonder what your thoughts are on Sheep Wool.
Hi Greg, I have just started watching your videos and am already your fan. I haven't seen such an elaborate and masterful work on Van conversion on You tube. It's really incredible. The way you explain every smallest thing with reason and science behind is really appreciable. I am learning a lot of things not only about the vehicle, but about the scientific terms their application, wood working, handling electric circuitry, etc. which may be of great help even in the day-to-day life. Will keep posting for any doubts. Thanks a lot...🙏🙏🙏
I'm really glad you find these videos useful to you. Thank you for watching and please do subscribe for more videos
While I'm not a math geek, I did find this useful. I appreciated the reasoning behind your choices. Thanks for putting this together.
You are most welcome Carrie, pleased you found it useful.
Thank you for the logic of insulation. We see so many videos that show the same sequence of barriers that you advise and wonder do they really know what they are talking about. Thanks for your scientific clarity!
I know when we were watching other peoples videos at the very start there are a lot that are just copying others but for no apparent reason, so hopefully this goes a long way to give some clearer guidance, Thank you for the nice comment.
I would say this is easily the best van insulation video on UA-cam, thanks very much for your time and explanation.
Thank you very much that is very nice of you to say so.
Im about to start my 4th self build just after xmas. I have learnt more about insulation properties with this video than any other video I have watched on youtube. Big THUMBS UP
Thank you,I am glad to see someone that is an expert on this subject.I have watched many videos on the subject. Never one with your level of expertise. Excellent video.
I have watched a multitude of videos about van conversion, and this is the only one I've seen that explains insulation. Not only is it the only one, but you did a fantastic job! You have really cleared up some things (like the story on reflectix) and explained others very well. Such useful information! Thank you!
Well put. I hope those who have never done these calculations have a better understanding.
Great information. It is wonderful to hear a person who professionally works with insulation calculations talk about the subject. So much bad info out there. Really liked the straight talk about moisture build up in a small space like a van and what needs to be done. Thanks for the info, Greg!
Denis Foley I’m glad you liked it. I saw quite a few videos where guys didn’t know what they were doing and thought I could really add some value here and hopefully point people in the right direction 👍🏼😃
Knowledgable, factual and clear. Explemary video that takes me right back to studying building physics at university.
Hi Nick, glad you enjoyed it. Are you in the building industry now?
Yes I have a firm of architects and a property development company. Don't often get the chance to do a U-value calc anymore though!
Great presentation, I did my C&G part III Advanced Craft Studies final project in this H&V subject 40years ago!!! You've brought back many happy memories of reading through the hvac guide to understand and apply it to my project. Your explanation of a very difficult subject is excellent and the way you've broken it down into bite sized chunks makes for easy understanding. Well done, I'll be following your UA-cam page with interest! Keep up the good work and perfect presentation format 👍👏👏👏🏅
Denis Harvey many thanks for such wonderful feedback. Makes all the work so worth while to hear this. Cheers 🍻
Thanks for your thoroughness of explanation. Shows a lot of respect for your audience.
Thank you John, for your great feedback, much appreciated.
Thank you! I’ve been down the van build rabbit hole for weeks now, I’m even already subscribed to your channel, but only now finding this video with *exactly* the expertise and high-level information about van insulation I’ve been craving. So satisfying! Again, thank you.
So here i am, Greg, coming back to your tutorials to brush up on my insulation knowledge. A lot of things have changed since i first watched your excellent tutorial, but I'm glad to see your tutorials haven't. Also, enjoying the new build videos aswell.
As a retired senior automotive quality engineer this is spot on & good use of analysis tools.👍
Thanks very much John, great feedback. Cheers 👍🏼
Greg, you have the best Van conversion videos on youtube BY FAR. You are a wealth of information and have taught me so much. keep up the brilliant work!
excellent , i forgoten all this but you refreshed my memory. i use to do this and more in calculating heat gain, lose in an air conditioning system in buildongs , hotels, hospotals, houses, in the seventies all in BTUs. thumbs up. good refresher.👍
Yes I’m old enough to remember doing them by hand in BTUs
Refreshing to watch a video where someone explaining something actually knows what they are on about, great videos, after watching about 10 so far I think my van will end up looking similar to yours 😂 cheers for taking the time to make these, you have made my life so much easier
I've watched almost all your van videos now and enjoyed every single one. I love that you're bringing maths to a subject where previously I've seen what appears to be mostly subjective guesswork from others. This video and how to calculate your electricity usage have really helped me understand what will be required when I come to kitting out my own sprinter van next year! Please keep up with the videos, I'm looking forward to seeing you working on the van itself and I hope you manage to keep atleast a few steps ahead of myself so that I can always return to watch these when I get to doing each part myself.
Thank you so much for such great feedback. Really pleased that you are enjoying this series and hope you continue to do so. We have loads of plans for the van and will be great to have you along. Best wishes with your own build. I'll look forward to following your progress when you get started.
Hi Greg, I must admit, your deep analysis of all aspects of Van build is amazing. Easy to understand, deep analysis, great recommendations. Everyone who ever think about building van home should watch your video first. There are maybe one or two videos similar to yours ...the other are only "I did it because I saw it somewhere else". Most people dont think to drive or be in freezing weather..so they underestimate moisture...in addition they underestimate floor insulation which is keen in winter.
Thank you for a great comment. It is a very important part of living in a metal box which is why I have spent so much time to put the correct information out there :D
Thank you! I see so many variations with people installing all these components and I think everyone I've seen has done it completely wrong based off your expertise. I think I'm all set for insulating my van build now, thanks again! Cheers
I watched all of your videos as they were being released, now I’ve just bought a mwb sprinter I’m going to watch them all again to help with my conversion. Thanks for all the effort you put in to the videos and I hope your tour is going well
Your videos are so substantial, and you are a natural teacher. Everything from the science and metrics behind the calcs, to the organized and methodical delivery, to the soft voice that is so easy to listen to, makes this a must see for anyone building out a van. Thanks also for no music.
Truly Greg, your series is the best one on van building on UA-cam today, many thanks!
fyi - Celotex is what we call PolyIso foam in the US.
Thinsulate is a great material too, thin and efficient but costly.
Heavy Mass Vinyl is what Humble Road uses as both insulator and sound deadener.
One important thing to note is that Reflectix (bubble wrap sandwiched in foil) only works within an air gap. So typically, you waste an inch or more of space. George from Humble Rd solved this problem by using Thinsulate with the white fluffy side facing inside the van, touching the Reflectix. According to the Thinsulate makers, this qualifies as the air gap, so now you lose no space.
Ken from Ourkaravan also uses Thinsulate. I think on the walls, you save space by using Thinsulate, Reflectix, and Heavy Mass Vinyl then the plywood. Celotex/ Polyiso is optimal for floor and ceiling.
Lass-in Angeles thanks for your kind words.
If you compare the calculations for two options
1. Air space & radiant barrier
2. Same space full of woollen type insulation
The second would have vastly greater thermal conductivity properties.
Insulation works due to its conductivity and the thickness of the product.
All these very thin products that claim high values are easily beaten hands down by 2-4 inches of recycled loft insulation.
There’s really no debate the science and calculations speak for themselves.
Stick to a decent thickness of insulation and a vapour barrier over everything. That is all you need. Forget air gaps, radiant barriers or expensive thin materials.
It really is that simple 😊👍🏼
Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us, Greg! I absolutely love how you take the time to explain things in a way so everyone can understand. This is probably the most questioned part of a van conversion to which you have given THE one and only answer to by using calculations, this is exactly what I was looking for (and more). I can't wait to apply al my new gained knowledge I learned from my teacher Greg, in my own van conversion. Looking forward to watching your build progressing.
I wanted to explain with the facts and in the process hopefully help others make educated choices.
There does seem to be a lack of clarity on this subject so I'm really glad I can help clear things up.
Thanks for such great feedback and hope you enjoy all the rest of this series. Best wishes
By far the best video I've seen explaining van insulation, simple and straight to the point. Thanks
This was great. So many, if not all, insulating videos seem to be about personal opinions or hearsay. I like your approach and the mathematics. Thank you!
Thank you Tamara, I have watched many of those kind of videos myself. Where people are just copying what they have seen others do but with no technical backup. I was hoping these videos could help everyone make more informed decisions not waste time and money. Thanks for great feedback
I've come across yr channel today. I've watched loads of others. Wish id found yours first. Could have saved me a lot of mistakes that I've already done. Great work. Thank you very much.
Glad you found it now and pleased you liked the videos
An excellent tutorial video on insulation properties. I'm an IT guy and all this is new to me but you have managed to teach me in you short video what I need to know to insulate my van successfully. Thanks for posting the video. You really should think of teaching this in Technical Colleges as students would benefit from you knowledge.
Thanks for amazing feedback George, I’m kind of teaching it to a much wider audience 😊
Glad it helped you out.
This was Avery informative. A lot of the other UA-cam’s on van conversations are telling us to stay away from the earth wool, but your explanation of putting up the silver bubble to prevent the moister gathering has changed my mind about how I am going to go about my conversion thanks.
Marion Green it’s all about prevention. For more info watch my insulation workshop video 👍🏼😀
Greg, thanks for an enjoyable, informative and worthwhile two videos on insulation. Well done!
Thank you for great feedback.
talk about taking the mystery out of something !! A HUGE thankyou ... Im only starting my Van build and i want to do it myself so i understand WHY im doing / using / wanting something .... your videos are a godsend !!!!!!