Thread: Foil-backed foam

I'm intending on lining the floor inside the Defender with foil-backed foam to insulate against heat and noise. To assist with the air-con in summer, is it best to face the foil towards the heat source (i.e. downwards)?

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

According to the Nylex installation manual for sound attenuation and heat insulation products, you should be installing the material outside with the foil facing the source of heat or noise. The foil acts as a reflector. Best stuff is foil faced lead filled foam. This stuff has a thin sheet of lead in a foam sandwich with foil on one face. This performs the three means of insulation, reflection, barrier, and absorption. Expensive stuff, though.

sounds expensive, too!

For now, I've lined the floor with the foil facing down. I'll see how that goes for noise now, and wait until summer to see how effective it is against heat.

I'm putting off applying insulation to the outside of the vehicle, as it appears to be expensive and a PITA.