At Vanlife Conversions we believe that the ceiling is paramount to the aesthetic and function of your home on wheels. A well insulated ceiling acts like putting a lid on a cooler box. 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 •Sandpaper •Stanley / Crafts Knife •1m Steel Rule •Tape measure •Veneer / panel pins •Centre Punch •Hammer
MATERIALS REQUIRED
•5 x 4.2m Roof Battens (25mm x 50mm)
•2 x 50mm, Thick Insulation boards (Celotex, Kingspan…)
•Soft Wool insulation (for voids)
•19 x lengths of 3.9m T&G cladding
•1 x roll of foil tape
•40mm Self-Tapping Screws
•Sikaflex 221 adhesive
•0.25Ltr Woodstain
•Rooflights / 12V Roof fan
1. FIT ROOF LIGHTS AND VENTS
Use a drill and jigsaw to install any roof lights and vents planned for your conversion. (Two is advisable for airflow).
2. ATTACH ROOF BATTENS
Glue and screw Roof Battens to the ribs of the ceiling. Semi-cut the battens to allow them to bend to the shape of the van.
3. FRICTION FIT THE INSULATION
Friction fit 50mm PIR boards between the horizontal battens. Use a Stanley blade and steel rule to make the cuts.
4. IT’S VAPOUR BARRIER TIME
Foil tape the seams to create a vapour barrier to stop condensation forming on the cold metal. Ensure all gaps are sealed!
5. PANEL PIN THE CLADDING
Cut the strips of T&G Cladding to required length. Hammer into the roof battens with veneer pins and centre punch.
6. STAIN THE WOOD
Use a lint-free cloth to apply woodstain to the ceiling and wipe off to give the desired finish.
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