INSULATION & MOISTURE?

[Millie Master]

The age old question about insulation keeps on going around and around!!

My question is, if the insulation material being used is not adhered 100% to the body panel behind it there will be small or even quite large gaps/voids behind or adjacent to it which in low to very low temperatures can surely result in quite significant amounts of moisture being formed/found in these gaps............ Right or wrong?

On other and generally very questionable groups on FaceBook and similar I so often read about converters just covering over their totally inadequate insulation and then later bitching about signs of damp or excessive levels of cold which is why I always bang on about the vital importance of dedicating as much time as possible in ensuring their insulation levels need to be as high as possible using the best and highest levels of insulation material.

So my question is, do areas that are not insulated properly if indeed at all, will these voids result in condensation?

This matter doesn't affect me as my van has been 100% closed cell spray foam lined where there are little or no voids.

Phil

 

[Duckato]

Yes, if any warm moist air can get to the void then they can suffer from massive amounts of condensation,

I work on many ex Ambulances and people are often told by sales persons they are well insulated which for the vast majority they are absolutely not, most PVC conversion have voids everywhere especially above the ceiling. The most common issue as soon as temp drops is condensation dripping from the metal skin onto ceilings and then tracking to the light fitting and then it can escape by dripping onto the occupiers.

I had one lady visit and spend a couple of nights in her newly acquired ex A&E ducato and she was convinced she had a water leak in the roof because it rained so hard inside over night, then I had to point out she was parked under my carport!

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Well you know my go to will always be Spray foam nothing better IMHO.

 

[trevskoda]

I insulated everything, first with silver bubble wrap and the a fiberglass type rockwool on top before fitting any panels, hard work but well worth it.

 

[SquirrellCook]

Remember you still get cold bridging across the metal structure Trevor.
This is a puzzle I'm still trying to solve with Betty's roof.
Plastic fasteners are a help, but the original wood based panels rotted where they touched the steel.
I'm thinking about thin dense foam to reduce the thermal conductivity and dampproof.
As for glass/rockwool I'd never use in a space where I couldn't guarantee a 100% seal.
It will soon be banned in the construction of buildings due to it being carcinogenic.
Yes spray foam seems to be the answer for a panel van, but not just a single coat 10mm thick.
It's a lot of work to do it well, and can be as much work to do it poorly.
One thing to remember is that the movement of air to and from cold and warm surfaces must be stopped.

Mark

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Spray foam is quick and easy Mark, it's the prep which is hard work though, you really do have to plan well ahead to get anything done that will be covered, trunking makes it accessible later, mask anything important, and you need a minimum of 25mm, and you will get more than that behind any structural parts of a van but that's a good thing, I didn't seem to get any cold bridges over 8 years with mine.

MPI in Bolton did mine, about £250 floor walls and roof.

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

 

[trevskoda]

Spray foam is quick and easy Mark, it's the prep which is hard work though, you really do have to plan well ahead to get anything done that will be covered, trunking makes it accessible later, mask anything important, and you need a minimum of 25mm, and you will get more than that behind any structural parts of a van but that's a good thing, I didn't seem to get any cold bridges over 8 years with mine.

MPI in Bolton did mine, about £250 floor walls and roof.

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

I ask a co doing foam here to do my large w shop roof, they said no as they only want big jobs like shops/factories etc, so no mission of getting a van done here.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Shove money their faces and people respond, they have the gear, good money for an hours work

 

[trevskoda]

Shove money their faces and people respond, they have the gear, good money for an hours work

No mission here, been there had the ticket.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

WTF does "No Mission" mean?

 

[trevskoda]

WTF does "No Mission" mean?

Just wont do it here, job to small, they want things like a tesco roof to do etc.
Bit like builders here, £1000 up front nomater how small the job is, rememeber this place is a back water.