Has anyone ever removed ALL of interior and inner skin to spray foam inuslation?

[crazeevw]

This seems to be a HUGE task, one I'm 'toying' with, especially since retirement plans now include Alaska.

If you've done this work, did it make enough difference in interior temps?

Realize it's a TON of work, but in the end, was it worth it?

Thanks, Derek

[Del Gurney]

You don't want to go there, trust me. (I'm not talking about AK, or maybe
I am).
Lot cheaper to buy flannel P-J's and run an electric heater or stay S. of the
49th parallel.
Del

[Jim & Susan]

There's a couple threads about this very subject. They are, uh, quite lively discussions.

Jim

[Isuzusweet]

I'm thinking you're crazee to do it, and the benefits will not out way the effort or costs incurred do it. It still won't rectify the lack of insulation in the floor and air infiltration from weeping holes and gaps in the windows, which by the way are single glaze.
Also be aware, some foam insulation actually absorbs moisture and trying to regulate the spray thickness not to exceed the thickness of the wall, and yet fill the wall cavity would also be nigh impossible.

Throw out the old furnace, buy a couple of Platinum Cats which use almost no electricity and propane and a couple of Dyson air movers/heaters to augment the Cats.

If it gets really stinking cold.....rent a room cause your grey and black water tanks will probably be frozen.

Just MHO
Cheers
Tony

[crazeevw]

Del Gurney, too late on Alaska. Purchased land a few months ago. Area is remote, and don't know if I'll have electricity for electric heater. Truthfully, I'm looking forward to remote. Been in FL for almost 30 years. Too many folks here for my taste. Ready for me and nature!


Jim, should've clarified. Wondering about Airstream Classic Motorhome having interior removed, inner skin removed, spray foamed, and then re-installing it all. Yes, trailers are similar, but thinking there may be a few differences.

Thanks Derek

[Jim & Susan]

Where's that unsubscribe button for threads........there it is.

Just kidding! Can't be a lot different. Go look at those other threads. I can't remember if anybody here on the forums actually carried thru with spray foams.

Jim

[Isuzusweet]

Derek

Now you have my curiosity up.

Are you planning on moving to Alaska to build a house and live in the coach while you build?

Are there services near to where your land is?
Cheers
Tony

[Isuzusweet]

Buy a few of these....

45 FT High Cube Shipping Container | eBay


Load them up with materials and furnishings for your house. Use containers to build house or your garage (bear and wolverine proof). Five or six will give you an impressive house.....better still if you bury them into the permafrost and use geo thermal heat pumps.


https://www.google.ca/search?q=shipp...w=1199&bih=917


PS you could make some money filling the containers with items needed in Alaska which would probably pay for the container and the shipping it to Alaska.
Cheers
Tony

[dadstoy]

This is the shipping container home I want to build. I've been wanting to do this for a few years now.

I'll go to Alaska with you Derek...summer time only!


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[Wolfe]

My 1988 argosey squarstream has factory eurothane sprayed in and it seems to work well.(do not try to do it yourself with spray cans, it will not work well FUBAB.)

[jdalrymple]

In my opinion, the problem with keeping an Airstream warm is not the type of insulation in the walls, but those issues already mentioned...

4" holes in the floor for 1/2" pipes, vented windows, as well as the direct conduction of the exterior sheets through the framing to the interior sheets.

My bet is that one would gain more from removing the interior sheets and applying some kind of thermal break to the frame than simply changing the type of insulation.


Regards,


JD

[Isuzusweet]

What's with us Airstreamers and metal walls????

[Del Gurney]

Exactly Isuzusweet:
On my '65 i sent the inner walls to recycler and am going to use 1/8 form plywood
instead. Use the pink foam insulation and that'll do me just fine here a few miles from
the Canadian border. In Alaska, in winter at -50 it just is not possible unless your AS is IN a wind proof barn with a wood stove. Then there is septic to consider.

[AnnArborBob]

With 2 inch thick walls, single pane windows, direct thermal contact to the outside world via the exterior and interior aluminum skins joined by aluminum rivets and tied together with aluminum ribs, numerous penetrations for plumbing and the like, Airstreams are basically three season campers. I can't imagine trying to spend a sub-freezing winter living in one on a full time basis. That would sure take all the fun out of it for me!

[lletteney]

Noticing the lack of insulating properties in my 1964 Globetrotter, I purchased 24 cans of spray insulation. I drilled holes through the inner skin inside the cabinets and removed light fixtures and recepticle plates to get additional access to the space between the inner and outer walls. I sprayed the insulation until the can was empty and then sealed the hole with a plastic plug. The plugs pop in place. They are available from hardware stores in the automotive specialty hardware trays. After spraying, you can determine from the temperature drop of the skin how far the foam has gone. Mark it with a pencil and you know where the next can should go.
The insulation has made quite a difference in the roof especially on sunny days. I used the "large gap" variety of the foam.
To do the whole Airstream Globetrotter would probably take 50 cans or a professional application kit. Good luck.
Larry

[Gregsch]

Have you ever removed you interior skin? When you get it off you will find the cavity is so full of wire that there is little room for insulation.

[tjdonahoe]

I really don't like the cold,but I do know it would be impossible to live a normal life in a montana winter in an airstream the water and the sewer would be froze solid,