MY VAN CONVERSION: VAN COSTINGS
If you are following me on Instagram you will know that not only have I finished the van build, but I am now living in it full time! In fact, I am typing this blog post out from a campsite in Cornwall overlooking the ocean with the sun beaming through the skylight. This is what all those long hours working in the snow were all worth it for!
I must admit I got a little lazy with the filming for YouTube - apologies for that. It was a real struggle at the end to get everything finished as I was dealing with quite a lot of difficult circumstances going on at home. The conversion was actually my therapy over the last few months, and a great distraction, but I apologise for the lack of video in building the furniture and doing the last few bits to the build. But - I have something better! A van tour and final costings! Click the video below to watch me take you through the van in all her glory:
I tried to keep an updated spreadsheet of all my costings, and I will itemise them below. Some are rounded up, I’m sure I have missed some costings here and there, plus some labour costs I have likely missed off. Taking all of this into consideration I would say that £10,000 is a good overall final figure for my van build. See the break down below:
Stripping van
Sikaflex: £8
Wonder wipes: £15
Installing Windows and skylight
Windows: £240
Window with opening: £150
Window Bond Kit: £19
Rubber Trim: £2
Dometic Mini Heki: £110
Insulation
Battens and Plywood: £100
Insulation Foam Boards: £100
Gripfill: £10
Expanding Foam: £40
Aluminium Bubble Vapour Barrier [I have loads left over]: £70
Insulation Knife: £7
Insulation Fleece: £100
Aluminim foil tape: £20
Cladding and vinyl floor
8mm Soft Wood t&g, from Wickes: I can’t remember how many packets I got, but they came in packs of 5. I estimate about 20! They are approx £10 per pack: £200
25mm Screws: £5 per 100, and I used about 3 boxes: £15
Poly Filer: £4
Vinyl Floor: £110
Self Adhesive Spray: £6
Contour Gauge: £19.99
New Jigsaw: £50
Painting & Varnishing
Dulux Egg shell white cotton paint - ended up using about 5 tins: £100
White primer, ended up using about 3 tins: £60
Paintbrushes and rollers: £30
Danish Oil varnish in the natural: £10
Chalkboard paint: £11
Building furniture
Paid carpenter - overhead cabinets and kitchen £200
Ply wood: £200
Timber: £100
Hinges: £30
Knobs: £80
Drawer Runners: £44
Drawer hinges: £30
Push to open catches: £13
Pocket hole tool: £25
Electrics
Renogy Solar Panels 2x 160W: £230
Batteries 2x 110ah AGM: £319.98
Inverter 500w: £168.99
Fuse Box and Bus Bar 12 way: £13.79
Split Charge Relay: £37.49
Solar Cable 5m: £14.97
Solar Gland Entry: £6.5
Auto Cable 50m - 1.5mm: £44.97
Solar Panel Mounting Kit x2: £9.99
Mains Hook Up: £19
Solar Charge Controller: £81.99
Fuses, switches, sockets, etc: £100
Dimmer lights switches: £11
Consumer Unit: £22.25
Circuit Breakers: £24
Battery Charger: £128
Usb sockets: £20
12v lights: £61
Labour to install: £500
Bulkhead Wall
Plywood: £60
Wall Mural: £120
Interiors
Fabric for cushions: £119
Labour: £150
Fabric for blinds: £50
Labour: £145
Linen curtains: £30
Dowel and leather hooks for curtain rail: £20
Black out blinds - reused from old van, just magnets: £10
Beige carpet and spray: £23
Grey carpet and spray: £23
Water system
Hose pipe: £11
Tap: £70
Sink: £150
Expansion tank: £28
Outdoor Shower: £27
Tail end connector: £20
Fresh water tank 30 litres: £26.99
Gray water tank - 9.5 litres: £10
Gas Thetford Ignition Topline 922 Caravan Boat 2 Burner Hob: £205
Gas: £35
Drop vent: £6
Gas engineer check and certificate: £168
Gas bottle strap: £7.5
Carbon monoxide detector: £13
Regulator: £12
Total cost: approx £5500
Extras
New van trims: £70
New bluetooth system: £500
New cab carpet: £16
Surfboard rack: £159
Netgear wifi mobile router and antenna: £350
Porta potty: £85
Reversing camera: £100
Heater: £119
Dometic CRX50 Coolmatic Fridge: £565
Splash back from The Plastic People: £11 plus £30 shipping [minimum order]
Total cost with extras: approx £7500
I hope that helps anyone who is interested in converting a van. If you have any questions feel free to message me via the contact form or on my instagram @freelance_amy , and maybe see you on the road! 😁