To insulate the floor... or not?

[One Awesome Inch]

I need to go over this one last time. I am close to doing my floor and now is my "last chance" to get the floor thing figured out. My debate is whether to add 1/2 inch of rigid foamboard to my floor. Currently I have a 1/2 inch of rubber-ish flooring that came with the van and I added another 1/2 inch of plywood on top. Now its not too late to pull out the 1/2 inch on the floor use it for the partrition etc. I *could* do 1/4 inch on the floor then use 1/2 inch of foamboard on the floor therefore only losing a 1/4 inch of interior height. I am putting in 2 inches of foamboard insulation on the ceiling.

Anyway, I know that prevailing wisdom is that the floor cannot be kept warm, but still... I guess I am one of those guys who wants to be absolutely sure before I go ahead with something.

So insulate the floor or not?

What say you?

 

[David]

Yes.. I was amazed how much cold came through the floor when it got really freaking cold while I was still in Denver.

 

[Almost There]

If you do decide to insulate, I'd suggest framing out the bare floor, insulate inside the framing and then 1/2" plywood over that.

Any foam insulation under where you walk is going to crunch up if you're not supporting the plywood with framing. Once it's had a chance to settle, the wood would go with it, things attached to the floor might not fair so well. Also, I wouldn't be bothered with just 1/2" of insulation, IMO, either insulate well or don't bother!

I just finished reading a blog where the vehicle owner used a heating pad on the floor under their feet on really cold evenings to keep their feet warm. The other alternative is to buy down booties for indoor wear.

IIRC you're in Vancouver, it doesn't get *That* cold there. I watch the weather all the time, my son lives in PoCo.

 

[highdesertranger]

most say don't bother. I am going to try to do mine if I can figure out how. if you decide to, do like Almost There described. highdesertranger

 

[HarmonicaBruce]

I haven't done a whole lot with my van other than talk about what I want to do. My van has a 1/2 inch floor that's some kind of composite. I've got a rug with padding, so it feels warm to walk on. But, if I wanted to make the floor warmer, I would look into insulating UNDER the floor. The problem with insulating above the floor is that you walk on it, it has to support weight, and it takes up head room. I would think you could attach some 1 or 2 inch foam board under the floor, especially in areas where you walk. I've never heard of this being done, I'm curious about it.

 

[minimotos95]

I look foward to reading more posts in this thread.

I've been sleeping on my van's stock carpet since last spring here in CO. I don't use a sleeping bag just a comforter and down to 10f it's not really an issue, but once it starts dipping into single digits I can tell that the floor is cold.

I'm still undediced on what I'm going to do when I do the actual build.

 

[jimindenver]

Most definitely. The floor to our trailer is already insulated and we use rugs to help even then. A bare metal floor will just radiate the cold and is hard to warm since heat rises. The better you insulate, the easier and cheaper it is to stay warm.

---

I'm old, I like warm.

 

[cdiggy]

I have aluminum diamond plate for a floor so I pretty much have to insulate it somehow. When I am running the truck during the hot months the motor and exhaust really heat it up and man it gets cold on the winter. Looking for good ideas to insulate as well. Tagging along

 

[Stargazer]

I installed a floor covering called BedRug. I LOVE it!!

I have little to no building skills nor tools. I also hate carpet and the carpet that was in my E-150 was pretty yuck. Ripped it out from just behind the front seats back to the rear doors and installed the BedRug in about 30 minutes. It comes cut to fit your vehicle (truck or van).

It provides insulation (don't know how much), is easy on the knees, doesn't absorb spills so is easily wiped clean, stuff doesn't slide around on it. When I cleared out my house, I had a few throw rugs that I laid on top of it, too.

Google it. You can order online or their website lists local dealers who carry it. I've had mine for over three years and it still looks (and smells) brand new.

Best wishes.

 

[LeeRevell]

This the place? Looks interesting. Can you tell us the cost for a typical van?

http://www.bedrug.com/

Checked the Dealers list, and there are five in my local area. One is a truck accessories place I have dealt with before.

 

[ccbreder]

BedRug is closed foam, so will provide some insulation, the same as a backpacking sleep-mat.
My original floor was carpet over a wool felt. Good insulation until it gets wet. It gets wet. It doesn't dry easily. Mold and smells. I ripped it out.
In my past builds the cold floor was painful. Dodge Window Van is my latest. I ran two 3/4 popular strips down the channels right over the frame rail (uni-body type construction). Construction adhesive and a couple of through bolts to hold fast. Between these I fitted 1/2 inch foil faced foam sheet, R3.5. This came even with the top of the strips. This was covered with a 3/4 plywood floor. Thinner ply could be used just to protect the foam. I wanted a easy and firm way to fasten the "furniture" built for the interior. I have not decided on the finished flooring at this time. The little bit from the head room doesn't matter all that much.

 

[Stargazer]

LeeRevell and Everybody Else,

Yes, that is the place. I purchased it through a local dealer (custom truck accessories type of place) because I wanted to see/feel/smell the product before buying it. It comes in two thicknesses -- 1/2" and 3/4", if memory serves. I opted for the thicker one and it was around $125. I laid it on the bare metal floor, using the Velcro tape that came with it, and installed furnishings on top (drilled through it, which was a little tricky but not difficult). It fitted perfectly. Where it ended behind the front eats, I used a floor transition board, like they use for hard floors, to cover the seam where it met the carpet I didn't remove under the seats. It has never required tweaking, no buckling or wrinkles, has stayed absolutely put

Friends, I rarely get excited about much but this floor covering is probably the best thing I did to my van. It is really a quality product (and I am very picky). I have boondocked in deserts, forests, mudholes, spilled everything you can imagine on it (including Goo Gone), leaky ice chest and water jugs, leaky windows in heavy rain, and it is indestructible. Wipe with a wet cloth and it dries fast! No mold or mildew. It is "warm" in cold weather (warmer than any hard floor surface). My dog likes it, too. When it needs it, I just stop at a coin operated car wash and use their vacuum. It fitted perfectly, too.

Did I say I love this product? (BedRug.com) There is nothing about it that I don't like.

---

Also, my van is regular height so I am always on my knees. As I said before, I added a throw rug from my house on top of it, which added cushioning and insulating properties, too, to that small area. I wasn't about to sell that expensive rug for next to nothing and it was a little too long so I just folded it over on one end against the wall.

Btw, if no vacuum is available, I just brush it out with a "shop" brush I found in my late husband's workshop. Works fine for surface dirt.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

, I would look into insulating UNDER the floor. The problem with insulating above the floor is that you walk on it, it has to support weight, and it takes up head room. I would think you could attach some 1 or 2 inch foam board under the floor, especially in areas where you walk. I've never heard of this being done, I'm curious about it.

I insulated under my floor with 1 1/2 inch or 2 inch blue foam, the inside floor has that clip together fake wood flooring with a small bit of foam under it, I have a couple of throw rugs. I am not sure there is a lot to gain from insulating under the floor, because the floor is attached to the outside walls with no thermal break it is difficult to stop the cold from being conducted inside. I reckon the best way would be to insulate inside, no matter how little you put on, over doing the outside. It does help for noise but I am not sure about the holding heat in, it might help to stop drive train and exhaust heat in summer but would likely do the same in winter when you would want it to heat up.

 

[jimindenver]

The only thing about insulating under the floor is moisture getting in between the insulation and floor and staying there.

 

[Almost There]

The only thing about insulating under the floor is moisture getting in between the insulation and floor and staying there.

That and the difficulty of covering over the insulation if it's below the van floor.

A CT would be much easier to do that with, no drive train, no fluid lines etc, etc.

I don't even know if it would be possible to do under a van let alone practical!

 

[jimindenver]

You could get a spray foam kit a definitely make a difference temp wise, sealing it would be a pain.

 

[Almost There]

You could get a spray foam kit a definitely make a difference temp wise, sealing it would be a pain.

Does closed cell foam even come in a spray?

And would it stick to the outside surface of a van that has been street driven before even if you power washed all the crud off?

And yes, sealing it would be nigh unto impossible IMO.

 

[jimindenver]

It does, I've done it for customers. Nasty stuff that requires a mask. It will stick as long as the surface is clean and dry. I sprayed into the uninsulated walls of a condo building that was 30 years old. I know that brick wasn't clean and it stuck.

Road rash would effect it if it were not protected.

Just searching spray foam kits will get you some shocking results, the bigger kits cost the bucks. This is a smaller kit for 15 FTx 1 FT x 1 inch, so a few per van floor. A larger kit could do the floor, walls, ceiling, inside the doors, etc. Some expands more than others so pay attention to that if spraying it into a enclosed space.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Touch-N-Sea...091?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5b03473873

 

[LeeRevell]

LeeRevell and Everybody Else,

Yes, that is the place. I purchased it through a local dealer (custom truck accessories type of place) because I wanted to see/feel/smell the product before buying it. It comes in two thicknesses -- 1/2" and 3/4", if memory serves. I opted for the thicker one and it was around $125. I laid it on the bare metal floor, using the Velcro tape that came with it, and installed furnishings on top (drilled through it, which was a little tricky but not difficult). It fitted perfectly. Where it ended behind the front eats, I used a floor transition board, like they use for hard floors, to cover the seam where it met the carpet I didn't remove under the seats. It has never required tweaking, no buckling or wrinkles, has stayed absolutely put

Friends, I rarely get excited about much but this floor covering is probably the best thing I did to my van. It is really a quality product (and I am very picky). I have boondocked in deserts, forests, mudholes, spilled everything you can imagine on it (including Goo Gone), leaky ice chest and water jugs, leaky windows in heavy rain, and it is indestructible. Wipe with a wet cloth and it dries fast! No mold or mildew. It is "warm" in cold weather (warmer than any hard floor surface). My dog likes it, too. When it needs it, I just stop at a coin operated car wash and use their vacuum. It fitted perfectly, too.

Did I say I love this product? (BedRug.com) There is nothing about it that I don't like.

---

Also, my van is regular height so I am always on my knees. As I said before, I added a throw rug from my house on top of it, which added cushioning and insulating properties, too, to that small area. I wasn't about to sell that expensive rug for next to nothing and it was a little too long so I just folded it over on one end against the wall.

Btw, if no vacuum is available, I just brush it out with a "shop" brush I found in my late husband's workshop. Works fine for surface dirt.

---

I think I have found the flooring for my van conversion! Thanks! I saved the addy.......

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

nevermind...didnt see page two lol did you get the tred or the carpet?