Van Soundproofing: Noise Reduction in 5 Simple Steps
A friend had asked me a couple of years ago if I could help her insulate her van from noise.
As informed as I am when it comes to sound insulation, many ideas came to my mind immediately.
However, I wasn’t exactly sure how to help her, because I’d never insulated a van before - until then.
Of course, I did a lot of research and found an abundance of information.
I determined what is the best way to do this and the results of this little project that we did in her van were amazing.
Now I want to share what I’ve learned with you since I believe there are many of you who might have a noise problem with their vehicle.
Whether you own a regular van or a camper van, there are many materials that you have to use for insulation and there is a lot of work to do, but you can easily do it all by yourself, as you’ll see.
The easiest way to do this is to apply a sound deadening panel and then use some insulation over the top.
Let me walk you through the steps:
Van Soundproofing in 5 Simple Steps
Step 1. Clean the Van
Of course, the first thing you need to do is clean your van. Get your gloves on, get some chemicals and rub off all the dirt and grease.
Remove everything from the van and make sure that it’s dry before you start working.
Step 2. Install Sound Deadener
Secondly, you will need to insulate the sides of the van, the roof, and the doors.
Luckily, all you need for this is a sound deadening mat, which can be easily purchased in any store with insulation equipment or on Amazon or eBay.
According to customer reviews, Noico Sound deadening mat is by far your best choice.
It costs under $65, which might sound like a lot to you, but if you invest your money in a quality mat, you’ll certainly have no more trouble with the noise.
Once you’ve bought the mat, you have to apply it on the metal panels of your van which are usually on the sides, roof and the doors.
You will get the best results if you cover the outer panels as well.
You can also use it on the floor if you wish so.
- For a typical short wheel based van, you will need approximately 4 to 8 sq.m of sound deadening
- For a typical long wheel based van, you will need approximately 8 to 12 sq.m of sound deadening
We have compared some of the best automotive sound deadening mats here:
Step 3. Install Closed Cell Foam
The next thing you’ll need is closed cell foam liner.
It does a great job of providing both sound and thermal insulation, so it’s ideal for your situation.
It’s waterproof, so it can also serve as a moisture barrier.
So, once you’ve found a good closed cell foam product (like this), all you have to do is apply it to the metal panels, which will be quite easy, since they are self-adhesive and practical to work with.
Of course, before applying the product, it’s very important to measure the surface that you want to cover in order to determine how much foam you’ll need.
- For a short wheelbase van you will need approximately 10 sq.m of insulation
- For a long wheelbase van you will need approximately 15 to 20 sq.m of insulation
Step 4. Thermal Insulation
This step is particularly important for those of you who own a big camper van because such vans require high-quality insulation since you’ll want to have your silence while traveling.
You’ll need to get yourself some thermal fleece and insert it into the foam liner for better insulation.
This will help immensely to prevent the noise and to prevent the cold from coming into the van, which will enable you to go to places such as Alaska in the middle of winter if you wish so and not worry about being cold and bothered by the noise.
Step 5. Insulating the Floor
The next thing you’ll have to do if you really want to do this project successfully is to insulate the floor.
You have an advantage here since all you’ll need for this insulation is closed cell foam which you’ll have purchased already for step two.
Just apply a layer of foam to the floor and voila – the job is done.
However, if you really want to go all the way, there is one more option. You can add an additional dense sound barrier.
This will significantly help in reducing the noise from the road, tires and similar noises.
Of course, make sure to measure the floor first in order to determine precisely just how much material you’ll need for this.
- For a typical short wheeled base van, you will need approximately 4 sq.m of flooring
- For a typical long wheelbase van you will need approximately 6 sq.m of flooring
If you’re trying to figure out how much material you need, check out this van soundproofing kit from Second Skin Audio.
They measured the floor, cab, and cargo areas of your typical commercial vans and have several different packages that would cover everything you need.
What to Avoid
While researching, I’ve come across some quite wrong information about van noise reduction all over the Internet.
Luckily, you’ve come to the right place – you know I wouldn’t offer you any advice for something I would never do myself.
Now I want to give you some advice on what not do to.
If you read this and act according to what you’ve read, I guarantee you that you will have no problems with your sound insulation project.
Final Verdict: On Van Noise Reduction
All in all, soundproofing your van is no easy task, but if you’re well informed and know exactly what to do, you’ll have no trouble doing it, even if you’ve had no previous experience with soundproofing anything on your own.
Of course, if you feel like this is a bit too much for you, you can always call a professional.
By following the steps I provided you with, not only will you be impressed with the results, but you’ll also have fun while doing it.
Also, make sure to remember what to avoid when soundproofing the van.
There is too much of the wrong information all over the Internet and I don’t want you to fall for it.
I am very hopeful that my advice will help you, as it has helped my friend and many people after her. Good luck!
You might also like:
- Car Undercoating Soundproofing: Does It Reduce Noise?
- Soundproof Jeep Wrangler: 8 Noise Reduction Tactics
- Acoustic Windshield: The Technology, Benefits and Does it Really Work?
- How To Quiet A Car Exhaust Without Losing Performance
- Sound Deadening Car Doors – Simple Step-by-Step Guide
Van Soundproofing: Noise Reduction in 5 Simple Steps
Would you like to reduce noise coming into your van? It can be done easily by following our simple 5-step van soundproofing guide.
Instructions
- Clean the Van
- Install Sound Deadeners
- Install Closed Cell Foam
- Use Thermal Insulation
- Insulate the Floor