Sprayfoam Insulation

[HotSpringsCyclist]

Has anyone used Foam it Green, or any other type of spray-in insulation in their van?  I will be ordering two of these insanely expensive kits this spring.  They cover 200 sq. ft., and I have 300 sq. ft. of SheShed to insluate, so I would like to try this in my van with the remaining 100 sq. ft.  I am choosing this brand because it promises the lowest/no residual fumes, and is critter/mold-resistant.  Tell me your thoughts!

 

[B and C]

I don't know anything about that brand. I would check to make sure it is closed cell foam so it doesn't soak up condensation.

 

[maki2]

Before you make a decision get some bids from the pros who do spray foam insulation. They own their own equipment so if something goes wrong they are the ones who have to fix the equipment and fix any errors that might happen during the process. Also they do all the cleanup of the tools and get rid of all the foam waste that needs to be trimmed off as well as vacuum out all the small dust particles.

Remember when you hire out the work you also don't have to buy tyvek suits, respirators, full face mask, gloves, any chemicals for the clean up, garbage bags, shop vacuum filters, etc. You do need a decent sized shop vacuum for a DIY job.

 

[GaryGary]

Hi,
I used the similar 200 sqft spray foam kit that Home Depot sells.

It worked OK -- no residual odor or evidence of out-gassing after the initial cure, which was only a few hours.
Very well adhered to van skin.
This was back in 2014, and the foam has held up fine.
The 200 sqft at 1 inch turned out to be a little optimistic in my case -- I have more like 3/4 inch in some places and the total area I sprayed was a bit less than 200 sqft. So, having a bit more than you think you will need is good. Make sure the bottles and van are up to temperature if you want to get the best coverage.

All the details on my install here: https://www.buildagreenrv.com/our-conversion/our-conversion-insulation/

Honestly, if I had it do over again, I'd use rigid Polyiso sheet glued to the van skin with Great Stuff Pro foam in a can. Lots of people have done this, and it appears to work well. Its also cheaper and less stressful to do. Some pics of Polyiso install on this page: https://www.buildagreenrv.com/design-and-build-information-for-camper-vans/install-insulation/

Gary

 

[Varmint]

I should point out here that, where where raw, uncovered polyurethane foam is used, you should take note of the fact that this stuff will flake and rub off everywhere. In other words, it sheds. For this reason, a coating of some sort is a good idea. There were a series of home-built cars that used this stuff to form body panels years ago, and the designers covered these panels with fiberglass inside and out, then painted the outsides to finish. While I wouldn't bother glassing the insides, I could easily see using some cloth layer over the inside of the panel and painting or putting resin on it to hold it in place.

You should also not that I'm referring to raw, unfinished panels, such as used by plumbers and boilermakers to insulate vessels. This stuff, as I recall, is usually green, and it's also the same green foam you stick your flowers in. Perhaps this is a good place to use MonsterLiner and similar substances. If you use the aforementioned foil-backed stuff, you have no worries.

 

[GaryGary]

Hi,
The stuff we used does not have any tendency to shed or flake at all. Once the foam cured, it has a fairly hard surface that has no tendency to rub off or flake off. Its been 5 years with no problems or tendency to shed.

We covered the foam with with paneling, which I think most people would just for aesthetics, but I don't see any problem with just leaving the foam surface as is if it looks OK to you.



Gary