Low-e insulation

[Poppy]

Does anyone know the product low-e reflective products | Low-E.co.uk

I know it's not the cheapest on the market, however, I wonna get it done right the 1st time around

 

[hextal]

Does anyone know the product low-e reflective products | Low-E.co.uk

I know it's not the cheapest on the market, however, I wonna get it done right the 1st time around

Don't know the product. I suppose the question is "if it's more expensive, what additional benefits does it give over the more usual types?"

Don't get me wrong, it might be really good stuff, I just don't always equate more expensive to better.

Edit:- it only appears to be comparing the product to other reflective materials (I suppose the clue was in the name), so will it handle thermal conduction as well as or better than kingspan/cellotex/camping-mat/spray-foam etc etc?

 

[Poppy]

Don't know the product. I suppose the question is "if it's more expensive, what additional benefits does it give over the more usual types?"

Don't get me wrong, it might be really good stuff, I just don't always equate more expensive to better.

Edit:- it only appears to be comparing the product to other reflective materials (I suppose the clue was in the name), so will it handle thermal conduction as well as or better than kingspan/cellotex/camping-mat/spray-foam etc etc?

Totally agree, hence the reason for the question.....so many of this kind of thing out there, so I wonna get the 'right' one!!

 

[groyne]

Have you thought about sheep's wool, light, easy to use, good insulation properties, environmentally friendly and it doesn't squeak (it doesn't go Baaa either).

 

[hextal]

It appears to be a kind of bubbly polyethelyne sandwiched between foil facings. For the reflective element to work I think you need an air gap. If you place the foil in direct contact with the van sides then it will presumably just conduct the heat really well (foil/metal being very good at conducting heat). So it will just be the foam core acting to insulate. If you do leave an air gap - you may get issues with interstitial condensation on the inner side of the van panels due to the air circulation within the gap.

I've not had any experience of soft materials such as sheeps wool but I understand that they can slump over time (when placed in vertical areas) due to self weight and vibration, so you may need to repack the insulation from time to time.

Just to caveat though - i'm still only building my first, so a chunk of the above is based on research rather than first hand experience.

May be of use when comparing materials. Rigid insulation such as celotex/kingspan is urethene foam I think. Also note that Salmon has been included for reasons that i'm struggling to understand for now...
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/thermal-conductivity-d_429.html

 

[coolasluck]

Poppy i have put low-e in my coach.
I did not have much in the way of options in adding insulation but opted for this product because space was a premium and if i was going to add then i was going to add the best thin product i could find.I did not want to go for the shiny bubble crap as it is a waste of my time but went for this as it reflects the heat back into your interior as it has a great r value.It also keeps the heat out in very hot climates.I doubled up on the bedroom walls and on the lounge area wall.Hopefully i have got enough to do the bathroom and anywhere else.The product remember has pure aluminium metal facings on both sides hope this helps.I did post on this site a couple of times about the product ,maybe you saw it:yeahthat:

 

[NigelT]

Cheapskate comment

This is a window insulation answer, really. If you go to Poundland at the right time they have amazingly cheapo 'standard' size silver insulated windscreen blinds, rubbber sticker type. These are easy to cut up, hold together happily with staples and you can do all sorts with them. My Cheyenne inner cab blinds are made of these, I used art card (pretty cheap and fairly tough) to create the two pieces, used thixofix type glue to sandwich two layers of said blind pieces on either side, stapled etc. Copydexed on groovy fabric and hung the panels with chunks of Velcro. Easy and really effective and toView attachment 11772tal cost (mostly fabric) about £40. See pic. Hope this isn't stating the obvious, but it worked for me, light, easy and can disapear under a bed in the summer.

 

[Poppy]

Have you thought about sheep's wool, light, easy to use, good insulation properties, environmentally friendly and it doesn't squeak (it doesn't go Baaa either).

Arrrrr man, I'm thinking of everthing! I know I need to keep it as warm as poss', as I intend using the van in ALL our wonderful seasons!! I'm very concerned about getting all the metal covered, with the least squeak as poss', also keeping the condensation to a min'.....it's giving me more headache than the the electrics!!

 

[Poppy]

It appears to be a kind of bubbly polyethelyne sandwiched between foil facings. For the reflective element to work I think you need an air gap. If you place the foil in direct contact with the van sides then it will presumably just conduct the heat really well (foil/metal being very good at conducting heat). So it will just be the foam core acting to insulate. If you do leave an air gap - you may get issues with interstitial condensation on the inner side of the van panels due to the air circulation within the gap.

I've not had any experience of soft materials such as sheeps wool but I understand that they can slump over time (when placed in vertical areas) due to self weight and vibration, so you may need to repack the insulation from time to time.

Just to caveat though - i'm still only building my first, so a chunk of the above is based on research rather than first hand experience.

May be of use when comparing materials. Rigid insulation such as celotex/kingspan is urethene foam I think. Also note that Salmon has been included for reasons that i'm struggling to understand for now...
Thermal Conductivity of some common Materials and Gases

Thanks for the link, will have a read.

 

[Poppy]

Poppy i have put low-e in my coach.
I did not have much in the way of options in adding insulation but opted for this product because space was a premium and if i was going to add then i was going to add the best thin product i could find.I did not want to go for the shiny bubble crap as it is a waste of my time but went for this as it reflects the heat back into your interior as it has a great r value.It also keeps the heat out in very hot climates.I doubled up on the bedroom walls and on the lounge area wall.Hopefully i have got enough to do the bathroom and anywhere else.The product remember has pure aluminium metal facings on both sides hope this helps.I did post on this site a couple of times about the product ,maybe you saw it:yeahthat:

I've read quite a lot on different stuff & like you, I don't wonna waste time or money on the cheap, cheap stuff, as I really don't think it's up to the job on it's own! So, I think a bit of a econ',...it's all a bit of a minefield out there!

 

[Poppy]

This is a window insulation answer, really. If you go to Poundland at the right time they have amazingly cheapo 'standard' size silver insulated windscreen blinds, rubbber sticker type. These are easy to cut up, hold together happily with staples and you can do all sorts with them. My Cheyenne inner cab blinds are made of these, I used art card (pretty cheap and fairly tough) to create the two pieces, used thixofix type glue to sandwich two layers of said blind pieces on either side, stapled etc. Copydexed on groovy fabric and hung the panels with chunks of Velcro. Easy and really effective and toView attachment 11772tal cost (mostly fabric) about £40. See pic. Hope this isn't stating the obvious, but it worked for me, light, easy and can disapear under a bed in the summer.

Excellent idea.....cheers mate

 

[coolasluck]

It is a bit of a minefield out there,but we are doing our conversion for fulltiming so i have to do things right if i can and not be a cheapskate.
Its also a bloody lot more difficult when you have a fulltime job as well.
Never mind my philosophy is to do a good job as much as you can but dont worry if its not turned out like a pro conversion as long as you are happy that is all that matters.I think it will be a half decent job which is all i care about:dance:

 

[Poppy]

It is a bit of a minefield out there,but we are doing our conversion for fulltiming so i have to do things right if i can and not be a cheapskate.
Its also a bloody lot more difficult when you have a fulltime job as well.
Never mind my philosophy is to do a good job as much as you can but dont worry if its not turned out like a pro conversion as long as you are happy that is all that matters.I think it will be a half decent job which is all i care about:dance:

Have to agree with you on that one, although I'm not gonna be do it fulltime, I will be using it ALL year round....winter time in Scotland def' need good insulation!
I've just emailed a couple of places that spray insulate, but buildings, so hoping they do vans too! Think I might check a few places outside London, see if the prices differ much!

 

[AeroNautiCal]

It appears to be a kind of bubbly polyethelyne sandwiched between foil facings. For the reflective element to work I think you need an air gap. If you place the foil in direct contact with the van sides then it will presumably just conduct the heat really well (foil/metal being very good at conducting heat). So it will just be the foam core acting to insulate.

I will be using Reflectix as part of an insulation package in a small travel van, and from reading their information and installation pages, an air gap is an absolute requirement to ensure the insulation properties of the product.

Reflectix is extremely popular in the US, (probably due to the huge cost difference from the UK) and I've been impressed with the feedback from people that fitted it in their vans, boats, cabins, etc.

Not being familiar with Low-e insulation, I can't say if it needs an air gap, but being that the principle, materials and fitting purposes are the same as Reflectix, I'm guessing that it may do.

EDIT: I've now looked into Low-e Insulation, and as there are no air bubbles in the aluminium coating, it would (to my mind) not need an air gap. It looks like very good stuff too!

Thanks for bringing it to my attention.