Carpet (on the floor) ... insulation and more holes.

Remember this …. “This weeks plan is: holes get cut for LPG gas inlet, 240v socket and fridge vents, carpet to be laid, improve brackets for leisure batterymake a bracket for the heater”


Well we got the holes cut for fridge vents, 240v & gaslow and fittings installed.
Waste outlet appears to be right under the porta-potty DOH! So had to drill another hole in the floor no big deal just slowing things up.
Carpet … cut but not laid.
Leisure battery now properly safe and secure.
Heater bracket – components made ready for swift assembly once furniture arrives. I don’t want to install just yet – would rather just do it once!



Went through to see Michael from Jasmine on Saturday to discuss final tweaks and changes for the furniture. Fingers crossed should have it next weekend.



Also found that I had put too much insulation in the sliding door and it was bowing out and touching the van side so that had to come off and be replaced.

Off side insulation has been installed behind the furniture. Of note is the insulation behind the fridge. Some say don’t do it but ….. this is my reasoning:
Warm moist air condenses on cold surfaces.
The air behind the fridge will be warm …. and moist as its open to the elements and sucking in the cold night air, mist and dew.
An uninsulated van side will also be cold and condensate on the inside of van side is an obvious (to me) consequence.


So it’s well insulated with a double skin of recycled rigid 25mm kingspan - Thanks Steve - with a thin layer of recycled plastic insulation behind it. I used rigid stuff here because I don’t want it to block the air flow.


We also acquired some Fiamma drip stop for over the sliding door but that’s yet to be installed ….. it says do it between 18 and 35 degrees ! Some hope at this time of year !!!!



Plans for this week, just get the carpet down and build up strength for next week. I booked some time off work so it’s going to be fun …..

Gas vents, Carpet Panels, Window Frames & Blinds

What a busy weekend !

It started with drilling gas drop out vent holes and the waste water outlet. I spent more time diving in and under the van confirming hole location than actually drilling! Holes were drilled with a SCARY hole borer with vicious teeth. The teeth are so big I was really quite worried that they would snag and lock up the drill. However running the drill fast and with a high torque setting applied as if using the drill as screwdriver things went just fine. When it did snag no damage was done and I just eased off. Then clean up with metal file, apply red oxide paint and Waxoil – job done. Just need to fit the drop out vents in place and waste water pipe but that will come after the carpet.

Next job required assistance and was very much a partnership, carpeting the door and other panels, and the window frames made earlier. The frames needed trimming with about an extra 4mm being taken off all round as no where near enough lee way had been allowed for the carpet thickness. Thank heavens I have a band saw ! And of course - special mention to Mega Van Mats for the carpet, glue and magic trim clips that hold the panels in place.

Once again – working in the snow – 3” of snow fell in the early hours of Sunday morning – the BBC forecast said FOG. Well that’s the lumpiest fog I have ever seen!

Then the blinds went in – well three anyway. We still need the furniture to fine tune the off side windows.

Things are a bit tight now, insurance deadline looming and I really need the furniture – it was due last week but the guy that programmes the CNC cutting machine is in hospital after a motor bike accident.

This weeks plan is :
holes get cut for LPG gas inlet, 240v socket and fridge vents,
carpet to be laid,
improve brackets for leisure battery
make a bracket for the heater

Carpets - part 1

Carpets ….

So, on to the carpet, but why bother ? Its not just for appearance. First primarily its to avoid condensation, moisture will condense on cold surfaces such as metal and covering it with carpet stops that. Also its an insulator of heat and sound.

I needed to do the carpet now as the furniture part one order has been placed and the carpet has to go in so we can position the window surrounds that go behind the units ….. ok ?

Anyway we got ours from Mark at From Mega Van Mats in Pudsey West Yorkshire. If you can visit I recommend it … loads more tips in a face to face with Mark than I could write here. He showed me how to remove various bits of trim and how to use the funky trim clips for the lining cards. Its much better to cover them separately so that you can remove them later for any unforeseen maintenance. But they are to be done later …..

Something that no one mentioned on forums or bulletin boards is exactly how much masking tape & newspaper you need. Seven rolls of wide tape used so far and 3 households supply of newspapers from the recycling bins ! Also don’t expect to get away without loads of spare blades for your Stanley knife.

Best tools ? …. As temp was 2-5 degrees C fingerless gloves were essential and the wooden handle from a sink plunger and a wooden spoon were invaluable for getting it into those tight corners.

And it took 2 of us 5 days to do this but I am well pleased with the results.