Foam insulation vs redo conversion

[ChevyRade]

Skoolie newbie here.

I just bought a converted bus and will be parked for the winter. Thing is, it wasn't insulated except for the floor. Winter is fast approaching and a friend of mine had the idea to do foam insulation so that I wouldn't have to pull out all the previous work or freeze this winter.

Thoughts? Has anyone heard of using foam insulation as the primary insulation?

Any other ideas (cheap and fairly easy) for ways to insulate without pulling everything out even if it's just to get me through this winter?

I will be installing a mini wood stove and do have access to electricity for a space heater.

Appreciate it!

[Ronnie]

It would be odd if the bus had no insulation. Normally there is 2" of fiberglass in the walls and ceiling. Yes foam has a higher "R" value but the difference is still very small.



Putting rigid foam in any windows that are not needed will help a lot, and curtains in windows you want to be able to still use. Curtains floor to ceiling to block off the drivers area, even with that blocked off some form of insulation on the windshield, maybe heavy blanket hung up to it. Since you are not moving it hay bales/ boards etc to create a skirt around it to keep air from getting under the bus.

[Danjo]

With how little time before winter arrives, Ronnie’s suggestions to stop infiltration are your best bet.

For windows that you won’t operate, you can use the window insulation kits like this

https://www.acehardware.com/departme...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

If you want to know how much of the cold is from drafts, just get yourself some thin painters plastic and some masking tape. Cover all the windows and see how it goes. I know from experience in my drafty apartment that the majority of heat loss is from infiltration.

[Native]

Bear in mind that the mini wood stove will need a source of air. In a bus, that air is usually supplied by the lack of window sealing, the doors, and even the fresh air vents (if they were not blocked by the conversion). If you do not have a pre-determined vent, then it will either find its own vent, or the fire will burn what air it can and eventually burn the oxygen out. So plan accordingly.

[Danjo]

Originally Posted by Native

Bear in mind that the mini wood stove will need a source of air. In a bus, that air is usually supplied by the lack of window sealing, the doors, and even the fresh air vents (if they were not blocked by the conversion). If you do not have a pre-determined vent, then it will either find its own vent, or the fire will burn what air it can and eventually burn the oxygen out. So plan accordingly.

Good point!