Are you searching for campervan ceiling ideas? Fitting this component is an essential factor of every campervan conversion. A van with well-fitted and modern-looking ceilings looks far more professional than bare surfaces, making your conversion more appealing to hirers as well. Here’s a guide to campervan ceiling ideas to help you get started on this step of your DIY campervan conversion.
How Do You Choose a Ceiling for a Campervan?
The first step in putting a van ceiling in your Sprinter, ProMaster, or Transit is to choose the type of ceiling you want. If you’re new to living in a van, you might think that any piece of wood that covers the top of the van will do. In reality, you should think carefully about which model will fit best in your car. Pay close attention to these things in particular:
- How it looks
- How much does it cost
- Weight
First, you need to decide how you want the ceiling to look. Your campervan ceiling must look better and go with the rest of the interior. It’s essential to think about how something works as well as how it looks. Adding a ceiling to your van will make it heavier, and you don’t want to destroy it by going over its recommended weight. Before selecting a ceiling type, ensure that you understand how much weight your van can hold.
The last thing to think about is how much it will cost. A high-quality ceiling that looks good and lasts a long time will cost more than a cheaper ceiling that looks less nice. Before you look at ceiling models, you should find out how much you can spend.
Best 7 Campervan Ceiling Ideas You May Install
Once you know your budget, how much your van can hold, and what style you want, you can choose a van ceiling type. Here are some of the best campervan ceiling ideas, along with their pros and cons.
Shiplap Campervan Ceiling
Shiplap is formed of long, horizontal wood pieces that meet flush at the edges. Its name comes from the fact that it is used to waterproof the hulls of wooden ships and boats. A shiplap van ceiling can look different depending on which way the wood goes. When the shiplap boards are horizontal, they fit together to make tiny openings that give your ceiling a distinctive, lined look. On the other hand, if you put them vertically, they make your ceiling look longer and make the room look bigger.
Advantages of a Shiplap Replacement of a Campervan Ceiling
- Affordable
- You can decorate it in any way you want.
- Lightweight
- Quick installation process
Disadvantages of Shiplap Replacement of a Campervan Ceiling
- If it isn’t put together thoroughly, it can bend or break.
- Difficult to fix
- Dirt can get into the cracks and grooves.
Tongue and Groove Campervan Ceiling
A tongue-and-groove campervan ceiling is made of flat wooden boards with one side that sticks out and the other that fits into a groove. The side of one board with the tongue goes into the side of the following board with the groove. The joint is then held together with nails or glue. The finished product is a wooden longboard with thin, parallel lines. Tongue and groove planks are simple to assemble since the boards fit together neatly. Once assembled, you may keep them as is or colour them to construct a specific pattern.
Advantages of a Tongue and Groove Replacement of a Campervan Ceiling
- Affordable
- Light, thin, and able to bend
- Long-lasting
- Simple to put in place
- Strong tongue-and-groove joints (planks won’t come apart once they’re glued together)
Disadvantages of Tongue and Groove Replacement of a Campervan Ceiling
- Hard to put back together or fix
- If there are significant gaps between any two boards next to each other, it will fit better.
- Installation takes a lengthy time and a large number of parts.
- Liable to crack if not set up correctly
Simple Plywood Campervan Ceiling
Simple plywood ceilings are comprised of a thin wooden board that have at least two pieces of veneered wood joined at a 90° angle. During the glueing process, the direction of the wood grains changes. It is less likely that common construction problems will happen (such as wood shrinkage or swelling).
How thick a plywood board depends on how many veneers are used. The panels usually come in three sizes: multi-ply, three-ply, and five-ply. The result is a long, flat board that is one piece. It can be kept unadorned or customised to fit the vehicle.
Advantages of a Simple Plywood Replacement of a Campervan Ceiling
- Affordable
- Attractive to look at
- Cross-graining helps make sure that the boards don’t crack at the edges
- Easy to move and not too heavy
- Simple to handle and set up
Disadvantages of Simple Plywood Replacement of a Campervan Ceiling
- Possible unpleasant odour during the glue-making process.
- The surface can wear off over time
- They don’t last as long as shiplap or tongue-and-groove ceilings.
Vinyl or PVC Campervan Ceiling Tiles
Modern manufacturing technology has helped vinyl and PVC to come back significantly. You can now buy it in both tiles and sheets. The greatest thing is that it is usually waterproof and simple to install.
Advantages of a Vinyl Or PVC Replacement of a Campervan Ceiling
If you want to replace the ceiling inside your campervan, using vinyl or PVC tiles is a good choice.
- Durability
- Flame Retardant
- Not affected by moisture
- Simple To Clean
Disadvantages of a Vinyl Or PVC Replacement of a Campervan Ceiling
Before you decide to replace your campervan’s ceiling with vinyl or PVC tiles, you should consider a few things that could go wrong.
- Conceal Water Leaks
- Expensive
Metal Tiles Campervan Ceilings
Metal tiles appear to be from the turn of the twentieth century. Many have fancy patterns and unique colours to match the decor inside your campervan. Most metal tiles are made to overlap so that the screws at the seams are hidden.
Advantages of a Metal Tile Replacement of a Campervan Ceiling
You can use metal tiles if you want to replace the ceiling in your campervan.
- Aesthetics
- Easy to put in and take out
- Extra lighting
- Fireproof
- Lightweight
Advantages of a Metal Tile Replacement of a Campervan Ceiling
Metal tiles are only the best choice for some campervans or every budget for fixing up a campervan. You should think about some things that could go wrong if you use metal tiles to fix up the ceiling of your campervan.
- Cost
- Glare
- Needs for Structure
Fabric Campervan Ceiling Tiles
In the past few years, fabric tiles have come a long way. They are easy to put up, don’t weigh much, and come in many colours and patterns. People who put fabric ceiling tiles in their campervans often use them to cover up an old ceiling after fixing a water leak outside.
Advantages of a Fabric Tile Replacement of a Campervan Ceiling
Some things make fabric tiles a good choice for replacing or just covering up your old campervan ceiling.
- Lightweight
- Simple to set up
- Stylish
Disadvantages of a Fabric Tile Replacement of a Campervan Ceiling
If you need to replace the ceiling panels in a campervan, there may be better choices than fabric tiles. Before buying fabric ceiling panels, you should consider some of the problems that come with them.
- Easy to get mouldy
- Hard To Get Rid Of
- Not for kitchens and bathrooms
- Short span of life
Styrofoam Campervan Ceiling Tiles
Even though Styrofoam might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a camper ceiling material, it is an excellent choice because it is so light. There are a lot of companies that make ceiling tiles out of Styrofoam that look like heavier and more expensive materials. Foam tiles look great but can break easily, so they are best for campervan ceiling ideas higher than the campers’ heads.
Advantages of a Styrofoam Tile Replacement of a Campervan Ceiling
One of the best things about using styrofoam ceiling tiles in a campervan is that:
- Simple to find and set up
- Quality insulation
Disadvantages of a Styrofoam Tile Replacement of a Campervan Ceiling
Here are some issues with putting styrofoam tiles on the ceiling of your campervan:
- Hard to keep up with
- Not fireproof
Will a New Ceiling Change How Much Your Campervan Weighs?
Wood is the sole material that may affect your campervan’s payload. A 250-square-foot area covered with tongue-and-groove wood can add up to 450 pounds. At the same time, a 4′ by 8′ piece of plywood with a half-inch thick veneer coating weighs between 60 and 65 pounds.
Conclusion
When choosing the best materials for replacing campervan ceiling panels, remember a few essential things. It includes the weight, the ease of assembly, and the lifespan. Not to mention the prices and how they might alter the interior of your campervan. If you want a rustic look and your campervan has a lot of payload capacity, the best material for replacing your campervan’s ceiling might be veneered plywood or tongue-and-groove lumber.
If you want your campervan to look old and you want it to be as light as possible, metal tile campervan ceiling ideas might be the best choice. It is fancy and comes in many different colours and finishes.