Insulating a campervan properly is not simply about covering every surface with the thickest insulation available. Different areas of a van are exposed to different types of noise, vibration, heat loss and condensation, so the best results come from using the right combination of materials in the right order.

A good campervan insulation system normally needs to deal with three separate problems: metal-panel vibration and road noise, heat transfer and condensation, and airborne noise inside cavities.

At Campervan Insulation UK, products such as PeaceMAT XR, GlassMAT XR, SOShield, ABSOFT and PeaceMAT XXX can be combined to create a complete insulation and soundproofing system. Campervan Insulation UK

Campervan Floor – Best Layering System

The floor is one of the main routes for road noise, tyre noise, vibration and cold to enter a campervan. Unlike the walls and roof, the floor also has to support flooring and furniture, so excessively soft insulation should be avoided.

Recommended floor layers

Van metal floor

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Layer 1 – PeaceMAT XR 2mm Sound Deadening

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Layer 2 – PeaceMAT XXX Floor Barrier

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Layer 3 – 6mm Closed Cell Foam / VLiner

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Plywood floor

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Vinyl, laminate, carpet or other finished flooring

Layer 1: PeaceMAT XR 2mm

PeaceMAT XR 2mm Sound Deadening should be applied directly to the metal floor.

Its primary job is not thermal insulation. It adds mass and damping to the sheet metal, helping control vibration, resonance, road noise and the drumming effect produced by large metal panels.

For a premium floor installation, we recommend close to 100% coverage of the main floor pan, particularly where reducing road noise is important. Campervan Insulation UK

Layer 2: PeaceMAT XXX

The next layer can be PeaceMAT XXX, creating a heavier barrier between the road and the campervan interior.

This is particularly useful on the floor because low-frequency road and tyre noise requires considerably more than lightweight thermal insulation to control effectively. Campervan Insulation UK's current installation guidance recommends PeaceMAT XXX across the floor where improved road-noise isolation is required. Campervan Insulation UK

Layer 3: Closed Cell Foam / VLiner

A thin closed-cell foam layer can then be installed before the plywood.

Around 6mm is a practical thickness for many conversions because it provides additional thermal separation without unnecessarily increasing the finished floor height. Campervan Insulation UK

Best premium floor combination:

PeaceMAT XR → PeaceMAT XXX → 6mm Closed Cell Foam → Ply → Finished Floor

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Campervan Walls – Best Layering System

Campervan walls contain large, relatively thin metal panels. These can resonate while driving and also transfer exterior temperatures rapidly into the living area.

The walls therefore benefit from combining sound deadening, closed-cell thermal insulation and cavity insulation.

Recommended wall layers

Van metal

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Layer 1 – PeaceMAT XR 2mm

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Layer 2 – GlassMAT XR or SOShield

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Layer 3 – ABSOFT Thermo Fleece in deeper cavities

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Interior wall panels

Layer 1: PeaceMAT XR

Apply PeaceMAT XR directly to the large metal panels before installing the thermal insulation.

Unlike the floor and wheel arches, complete coverage isn't always necessary on walls. The objective is primarily to control the large areas of metal that resonate.

Depending on the build and desired performance, approximately 40–60% coverage can provide substantial damping, although higher coverage can be used in premium installations. Campervan Insulation UK

Layer 2: GlassMAT XR or SOShield

Install GlassMAT XR or SOShield over the metal and sound-deadening layer.

This creates the main closed-cell thermal layer and helps isolate the interior from cold metal.

Campervan Insulation UK specifically recommends GlassMAT XR or SOShield as the second layer over PeaceMAT XR for thermal insulation and condensation control. Campervan Insulation UK

Where space permits, a thicker 10mm SOShield or similar closed-cell layer provides greater thermal performance than very thin foam.

Layer 3: ABSOFT Thermo Fleece

Use ABSOFT Thermo Fleece inside deeper cavities, ribs and voids where a flat foam product cannot easily reach.

This adds further thermal and acoustic absorption without requiring another dense layer across the entire wall.

Recommended wall combination:

PeaceMAT XR → GlassMAT XR / SOShield → ABSOFT in cavities → Wall lining

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Campervan Roof - Best Layering System

The roof deserves particular attention.

It is directly exposed to sunlight during summer and can become one of the coldest internal surfaces during winter. This temperature difference also makes condensation management especially important.

Recommended roof layers

Metal roof

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Layer 1 – PeaceMAT XR

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Layer 2 – SOShield or GlassMAT XR

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Layer 3 – ABSOFT Thermo Fleece in roof cavities

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Headlining / ceiling

PeaceMAT XR first reduces vibration and rain/drumming noise from the large metal roof panels.

The next layer should provide the thermal break. SOShield or GlassMAT XR can be applied over the deadening material, while ABSOFT can be used within deeper roof cavities and structural ribs. This is also the sequence currently recommended in Campervan Insulation UK's van-insulation guidance. Campervan Insulation UK

For conversions used throughout winter, it is worth prioritising insulation thickness on the roof rather than using the thinnest material simply to save a small amount of interior height.

Recommended roof combination:

PeaceMAT XR → SOShield / GlassMAT XR → ABSOFT in cavities → Ceiling

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Campervan Wheel Arches - Best Soundproofing Layers

Wheel arches should be treated differently from ordinary wall panels.

They sit immediately above the tyres and transmit a considerable amount of tyre roar, water spray, stone impact and road vibration into the vehicle.

For this reason, they are one of the areas where heavier treatment is worthwhile.

Recommended wheel-arch layers

Metal wheel arch

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Layer 1 – PeaceMAT XR 2mm

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Layer 2 – Flexible Closed Cell Foam / SOShield

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Optional additional acoustic insulation where space allows

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Interior trim

PeaceMAT XR should be applied directly to the metal wheel arch and carefully moulded around its shape. Camperva Insulation UK recommends 100% coverage on wheel arches where maximum noise reduction is required. Campervan Insulation UK

A flexible closed-cell foam can then be wrapped over the deadening material. The foam provides additional acoustic decoupling while also creating a thermal barrier over the exposed metal.

The company's vehicle-specific installation guidance similarly recommends applying PeaceMAT XR directly over the wheel arches first, followed by flexible closed-cell foam. Campervan Insulation UK

Recommended wheel-arch combination:

PeaceMAT XR → Closed Cell Foam / SOShield → Trim

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Which Campervan Insulation Goes Where?

The important point is that sound deadening and thermal insulation perform different jobs. A thermal foam alone does not control metal-panel vibration as effectively as a dedicated butyl deadener, while a butyl mat is not a substitute for a proper thermal insulation layer. Campervan Insulation UK

Why Layering Works Better Than One Thick Product

A properly designed campervan uses several materials because each layer addresses a different problem.

PeaceMAT XR controls vibration and resonance in the metal body. GlassMAT XR and SOShield provide thermal separation and help with condensation control. ABSOFT fills irregular cavities and adds thermal and acoustic absorption. PeaceMAT XXX provides a heavier barrier where road noise is particularly important, especially across the floor. Campervan Insulation UK

This means you don't necessarily need the thickest product everywhere. The aim is to put mass where vibration and road noise are greatest, closed-cell insulation where a thermal break is required, and fleece in the deeper cavities where there is space to use it.

Final Recommendation

For a high-performance campervan conversion, we'd recommend treating the van as four separate areas rather than installing the same material everywhere.

Use PeaceMAT XR as the foundation sound-deadening layer, concentrate the heaviest noise treatment on the floor and wheel arches, use GlassMAT XR or SOShield across the walls and roof, and use ABSOFT Thermo Fleece to fill suitable cavities and ribs.

This creates a campervan that is not only warmer in winter and cooler in summer, but also considerably quieter and more comfortable on the road.

You can view the products and plan the quantities for your vehicle at Campervan Insulation UK Calculator