Insulation

[New2Skool]

Hello All,
I am quickly approaching the reskinning of my skoolie.
I have seen numerous skoolie owners use spray in insulation.
The home model two tank kits for about $600.
Are they worth it and does one kit cover the entire bus?
If so, how thick is the foam and is it easy to apply?
Pros & Cons

Thanks,
DLJIII

[New2Skool]

One more question.
What is the best type of rivet and rivet gun to apply new exterior skin to the ribs of my bus?

[T-Bolt]

As a contractor I can tell you that there are many more perks to spray foam other than R value. I plan on doing mine with it. It will give you a stronger, quieter and better insulated bus over other options.

Professional foam will be much better and it can be done cheaper than people think. If you do all the prep work and drive it to a job site that they are already at they will do it cheap. Then you do all the trimming and cleanup. Call around and you might get a deal.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[New2Skool]

Thank you, that is a great suggestion.

[EastCoastCB]

Hard to beat the harbor freight air/hydraulic riveter. Can go up to 1/4" with it and its only $70. Comparable riveters are much more money.

[superdave]

i got the foam kit off ebay, just ordered another. the foam company's around here promised me the world but once i got to the parking lot it was a hole new world. there all crooks. ive asked on this forum for prices and never heard from anyone. on the facebook page the cheapest ive seen is 2400.00. my 2 kits cost less than 1200 and its easy, workes great and the most fun i had in a while. i took my time and got every nook and cranny.
Touch 'N Seal 600BF Spray Foam Insulation Kit U2 600 Closed Cell Free SHIP | eBay

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by superdave

i got the foam kit off ebay, just ordered another. the foam company's around here promised me the world but once i got to the parking lot it was a hole new world. there all crooks. ive asked on this forum for prices and never heard from anyone. on the facebook page the cheapest ive seen is 2400.00. my 2 kits cost less than 1200 and its easy, workes great and the most fun i had in a while. i took my time and got every nook and cranny.
Touch 'N Seal 600BF Spray Foam Insulation Kit U2 600 Closed Cell Free SHIP | eBay

That's kinda the feeling I've gotten bout the spray foam too.

[05FrieghtlinerThomas]

are there 'right' and 'wrong' foam types?, I've read some foams detach from the metal roof skin over time, cause corrosion, etc.

[family wagon]

The single-part urethane foam won't cure without moisture (think closed environments like the spray can it ships in.. or the inside of a bus wall) and in its uncured state is corrosive. The spray can has a coating to protect it from corrosion, but the inside of the bus wall doesn't.

We've had reports that sprayed-on foam won't stick well to the black tar asphalteum coating so many of our buses have on the inside face of the outer sheet metal.

It's probably not so much about right vs wrong types of foam as it is about right vs wrong application methods for any particular foam.

[05FrieghtlinerThomas]

just read on another string that one should be looking at a "closed cell 2 part foam"??

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by 05FrieghtlinerThomas

just read on another string that one should be looking at a "closed cell 2 part foam"??

That is correct.

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by family wagon

We've had reports that sprayed-on foam won't stick well to the black tar asphalteum coating so many of our buses have on the inside face of the outer sheet metal.

I would like to see that

I had a bus sprayed with 2 part closed cell polyurethane some years ago. The idiots that I went to got foam on EVERYTHING. Even my brand new pro Imron paint job(yes, on the outside of the bus). I could not clean it off of ANY surface completely. Ten years later, after much polishing compound & wax I could still see the spots in the paint and the damage we did to the window trim rings that were damaged in attempts to remove it. It was a real horror story in a number of ways.

After almost seven years of living full time in that bus I am totally sold on the two part poly foam. Just be very careful with its application.

I have tried in vain to find a local (Western WA) foam installer to do my new bus and failed. None are interested in the work. I will probably be ordering the same kits that SuperDave used and DIY.

IMHO: The proper spray foam, properly installed, is absolutely the best practical insulation option we have. Just my $0.02...

Good luck with your project.

S.

[Gonce4]

are there any vids of people applying the foam...it would be great to see... thanks

[1olfart]

Gonce4.....I surfed around the web site that was on SuperDave's post and think I remember seeing a video of the install process. Don't remember exactly how deep I dug b4 finding it, but pretty sure it was in there. Maybe it was in the sight for the manufacturer. good luck

[05FrieghtlinerThomas]

there are many videos of people insulating with spray foam on YouTube.

and some nightmare foam stories that have ruined homes, made people sick, etc.

https://youtu.be/0Hh5MYv7lWc

[05FrieghtlinerThomas]

per a NASA engineer - if the 2 part mixture is improperly mixed the end product never stabilizes and that's the beginning of your nightmare.

[05FrieghtlinerThomas]

primary issue is apparently off-gasing of some pretty toxic chemicals, some of which are well known cancer causing chemicals. it sounds like a low percentage problem but that is little comfort to those who have experienced this nightmare.

[PNW_Steve]

I will have to agree that if not properly handled and applied this stuff can cause serious problems. I have lived the nightmare.

Properly applied it is THE BOMB.

[Gonce4]

Thanks you guys for all the feed back...decision made...I dont feel qualified to deal with the foam so am gonna use the other stuff...might not be the bomb but hey it will be good enough...my bus is gonna be the summer home so wont be a cold issue.

[05FrieghtlinerThomas]

I am still researching spray foam - and I think you should too - if done properly, and professionally (at perhaps I gather the same cost as a DIY project) I'm gathering you need to consider 3 things, at a min - a closed cell, 2 part spray foam provides an important vapor barrier, thermal bridging, and soundproofing; and the obvious consequence - the benefit of less utilities and smaller sized equipment, like AC & heat, otherwise necessary to compensate if your bus is a sieve to drafts and has no thermal bridging. You need to also think through the means you will otherwise address condensation as well, w/o a tight bus.