Using A Sound-Deadening Product

Sound-deadening products like Kilmat can help to keep down noise coming in and going out of your van. While insulation materials can reduce sounds, some people choose additional products to further soundproof their vans.

How to install.
Several manufacturers make sound-deadening products, including many peel-and-stick options. You need to cover around 25-50% of the open metal spaces to be effective but check with the specific manufacturer to see the amount they suggest. 

After you clean the metal surfaces inside your van, you’ll need to measure and cut the spaces you plan to cover. These materials are usually installed directly on your van’s walls before your insulation. You’ll want to use a roller last to make sure the material is firmly applied.

You can add the sound deadener to walls, ceiling, wheel wells, doors, cab, underneath the hood, and any other metal areas in your van. We used around 50 square feet for our van. If you want to cover the entire van, you’ll need about 125 square feet.

Do you need it?
We used Kilmat, but we’re not sure that we would do it again for our van. If you are using an insulation product like Thinsulate, it should prevent or minimize the noise in your van since it is applied directly to the van’s metal surfaces. Thinsulate is a great insulator but also has its own rated sound-deadening properties. Choosing it can save you time, weight, and money on your van build. If you choose an alternative insulation, you might benefit from a sound-deadening product like Kilmat.

For my future van builds, I would adhere the Thinsulate insulation only to the bare metal. Using that product would provide more than adequate insulation and sound-deadening values without costing extra inches in interior space, taking time to install multiple layers, or purchasing an additional product.