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  • Writer's pictureOli

How-to: VANLIFE WALLS

Updated: Nov 2, 2019


At Vanlife Conversions we take great pride in our method of building insulated walls. Although it sits beneath the surface, the insulation plays a key role in transforming your van into a home on wheels. The PIR boards offer unrivalled insulating properties and when combined with foil tape, forms an essential vapour barrier. This how-to guide will take you through our 6 step method so you can do it too.


EQUIPMENT NEEDED

•Drill

/ impact driver •Jigsaw •Circular Saw (not essential) •Stanley / Crafts Knife •1m Steel Rule •Trim Router •“V-groove” Router Bit •Straight Edge / Fence •G-Clamps


MATERIALS REQUIRED

•5 x 4.2m Roof Battens (25mm x 50mm)

•3 x 25mm, 3 x 50mm thick Insulation boards (Celotex, Kingspan…)

•Soft Wool insulation (for voids)

•5 x sheets of 9mm plywood

•2 x rolls of foil tape

•40mm Self-Tapping Screws

•Sikaflex 221 adhesive

•10 Ltr white emulsion paint

•5 Ltr egg white acrylic paint



1. ATTACH THE BATTENS


Glue and screw the roof battens to the horizontal ribs of the van at floor, waist and shoulder height.







2. TIME TO SHAPE


Use a Stanley knife to shape 50mm insulation boards to fill in panel voids (base layer).







3. MEASURE TO THE MM


Friction fit 25mm insulation boards over the top of the base layer. Wedging it in place between the horizontal battens.






4. IT’S VAPOUR BARRIER TIME


Foil tape the seams to create a vapour barrier to stop condensation. Ensure all gaps are sealed!








5. CREATE A PANELLED LOOK


Use a “V groove” router bit to create vertical grooves in the ply. Half-groove the edge of each board to hide the join.





6. SHAPE THE WOOD & PAINT


Cut-out boxes in the plywood using a drill and jigsaw. Apply white emulsion and finish with eggshell acrylic paint.




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If you have found this method guide useful, then show it off! Save the pin below and share your creations with us @vanlifeconversionsuk #ONELIFEVANIT




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