With staycations and with it, van conversions, booming in the last few years, the public has increased their DIY activities.

Due to staycations being more popular and the opportunity for road trips in the UK vast, people are taking vans, such as the Mercedes Sprinter, Vauxhall Vivaro and Ford Transit and converting them into a motorhome by themselves.

Converting a van takes a lot of time and investment, which encourages the owner to invest more in the materials they use. While many think about the woodwork involved in transforming a van into a comfortable living space, there are basic tasks to perform to ensure a van conversion will stand the test of time.

Market leader in epoxy resins, adhesives and other specialist products, J-B Weld, has been at the forefront of bonding technology for more than 50 years and has become a staple in professionals’ toolkits. With this, it has become a popular brand amongst van enthusiasts, due to its vast product range that is extremely useful when converting a van.

The J-B Weld Original Twin Tubes is a two-part epoxy system that provides strong, lasting repairs to metal and plastic. It has a tensile strength of 5020 PSI and sets to a hard bond overnight, it can withstand temperatures up to 290°C when fully cured, making it an ideal product for automotive applications. Many people doing van conversions are praising this product as a cost-effective and easy way to fill in holes in the metal bodywork of a van.

Another way for van converters to fill in holes in the van’s bodywork is by using JB-Weld’s SteelStik, which is a hand-mixable, steel-reinforced, non-rusting epoxy putty that quickly repairs or rebuilds anything made of metal. After mixing, it forms an industrial-strength polymer compound that can be moulded into shapes or used to build up, patch and repair steel components. It sets in between three to five minutes and after 60 minutes, it can be drilled, tapped, machined, ground, filed or painted. It is rated at a tensile strength of 4000 PSI and will withstand temperatures up to 150°C.

JB-Weld’s Threadlockers provide a reliable and superior lock and seal for threaded fasteners. For people converting vans, it’s ideal for all mechanical parts, body assemblies, and hundreds of other applications to prevent the loosening of fasteners from shock and vibration.

Another product that may be useful when converting a van is J-B Weld’s Clear Silicone Sealant Adhesive, which is a general-purpose sealant adhesive, RTV (Room Temperature Vulcanized) silicone. Upon curing, which occurs when the product is exposed to the moisture in air, the silicone forms a tough, waterproof, mildew and mould-resistant seal on most surfaces. It will not shrink or crack, resists weathering, is sensor-safe and is great for many household and automotive applications.

Finally, for wood being used, there’s KwikWood™, which is a hand-mixable epoxy putty, formulated to repair and rebuild wood. After mixing, it cures to the same density as wood and becomes an integral part of the repair. For use on exterior or interior applications, it contains no solvents, will not rot, shrink, crack or pull away. KwikWood™ has a 15-25 minute work life. After 60 minutes, it can be machined, drilled, tapped, sanded, filed and painted. Stronger than wood, KwikWood™ dries to a light tan colour.