Step-by-Step DIY Van Conversion
DIY Van Conversion - Subfloor
In September (more than three months after our purchase) and we were ready for the first truly Y part of our DIY build. We were ready to insulate. Since materials were on a four-week delay due to the pandemic, we did windows first. Or, more accurately, we got the windows done.
I (Mel) had previously thought that I would hop on over to the local home improvement store and buy insulation when it was time. Not a big deal, right? Purchase material the day of and get on my merry way. Well, I didn't know what I didn't know.
I didn't know that I would research every insulation product available on the face of the earth and decide upon the one that has to be custom ordered online. Yeah, in a way that's my fault for being complicated or particular, but nevertheless brings me to another nugget of wisdom I have gathered thus far: Have a back-up plan, meaning have an idea of what else you can be working on when you have to wait on the thing you thought you were going to do.
Well, I guess it is actually two additional nuggets because the other one is Plan for Delays. Even without a virus, businesses fall behind in manufacturing and delays at the warehouse happen. Moving forward, I will make an effort to purchase product in advance of the task, rather than assume it will be immediately available and at my disposal.
Our wool arrived within the specified time, but we had already changed plans: the subfloor. We measured then spent a good long while at Lowe's, selecting wood and having them nicely cut it to size (for free).
We had heard about SikaFlex and decided it would be our adhesive for the polyiso insulation on the floor as well as for the subfloor. We also grabbed some Reflectix tape for good measure.
We created a template of the floor for the plywood. (Truth be told, we originally forgot this step, but thank the Lord, remembered before applying the adhesive!)
Once we had all of our materials, we matched our marked pieces of wood with the pre-measured spaces indicated on the van floor. We put the polyiso on top just to see if it looked nice and level. (It did!)
We then used the Siko adhesive to secure the wood boards to the metal. We set bricks on top for an intended 24 hours (which actually ended up being several days because... life). We weren't even sure if the bricks were actually necessary. We just saw everyone else doing it in their build videos. Blindly following the pack is probably not a good life philosophy in general, but for van building, it seemed quite okay. (Plus, we were working outside my office and I happen to have all of the supplies necessary for the "bricks in a backpack" therapeutic intervention, so...)
Turns out the bricks WERE necessary, since the gooey Siko wasn't quashing itself firmly on to the van floor and quick-drying in place.
Sooner or later- ok, later, we got our plywood cut to size, the plywood on top of the wood and polyiso.
Notes to self for next step:
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In September (more than three months after our purchase) and we were ready for the first truly Y part of our DIY build. We were ready to insulate. Since materials were on a four-week delay due to the pandemic, we did windows first. Or, more accurately, we got the windows done.
I (Mel) had previously thought that I would hop on over to the local home improvement store and buy insulation when it was time. Not a big deal, right? Purchase material the day of and get on my merry way. Well, I didn't know what I didn't know.
I didn't know that I would research every insulation product available on the face of the earth and decide upon the one that has to be custom ordered online. Yeah, in a way that's my fault for being complicated or particular, but nevertheless brings me to another nugget of wisdom I have gathered thus far: Have a back-up plan, meaning have an idea of what else you can be working on when you have to wait on the thing you thought you were going to do.
Well, I guess it is actually two additional nuggets because the other one is Plan for Delays. Even without a virus, businesses fall behind in manufacturing and delays at the warehouse happen. Moving forward, I will make an effort to purchase product in advance of the task, rather than assume it will be immediately available and at my disposal.
Our wool arrived within the specified time, but we had already changed plans: the subfloor. We measured then spent a good long while at Lowe's, selecting wood and having them nicely cut it to size (for free).
We had heard about SikaFlex and decided it would be our adhesive for the polyiso insulation on the floor as well as for the subfloor. We also grabbed some Reflectix tape for good measure.
We created a template of the floor for the plywood. (Truth be told, we originally forgot this step, but thank the Lord, remembered before applying the adhesive!)
Once we had all of our materials, we matched our marked pieces of wood with the pre-measured spaces indicated on the van floor. We put the polyiso on top just to see if it looked nice and level. (It did!)
We then used the Siko adhesive to secure the wood boards to the metal. We set bricks on top for an intended 24 hours (which actually ended up being several days because... life). We weren't even sure if the bricks were actually necessary. We just saw everyone else doing it in their build videos. Blindly following the pack is probably not a good life philosophy in general, but for van building, it seemed quite okay. (Plus, we were working outside my office and I happen to have all of the supplies necessary for the "bricks in a backpack" therapeutic intervention, so...)
Turns out the bricks WERE necessary, since the gooey Siko wasn't quashing itself firmly on to the van floor and quick-drying in place.
Sooner or later- ok, later, we got our plywood cut to size, the plywood on top of the wood and polyiso.
Notes to self for next step:
- FLOOR
4) laminate underlay https://www.homedepot.com/p/Roberts-AirGuard-100-sq-ft-40-in-x-30-ft-x-2-mm-5-in-1-Underlayment-with-Microban-for-Laminate-and-Engineered-Wood-Floors-70-105/202299502?mtc=Shopping-VF-F_D23-G-D23-23_11_LAMINATE_FLOORING-Multi-NA-Feed-PLA-NA-NA-NA&cm_mmc=Shopping-VF-F_D23-G-D23-23_11_LAMINATE_FLOORING-Multi-NA-Feed-PLA-NA-NA-NA-71700000033435156-58700003894707756-92700036903806919&gclid=CjwKCAjw88v3BRBFEiwApwLevWf-03ZnkZyXCi1t4baG_00ZV4eV5xBqNNbHuIPksU9B0JNQsTXJ5hoCRfUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds - subfloor – 3/4 inch plywood cut to fit using template- use epoxy to seal plywood
6) beautiful flooring which should be locking plank floating floor- waterproof laminate wood look - How to install plank flooring https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfoG04-2glc
- Floor insulation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6Se_UIQb5
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