Sound deaden and insulation... Why this and not that?!

[CooseVW]

Hi All,

Genuine question... tell me why I should pick dodomat or similar reputable company for sound deadening and insulation over the cheaper Chinese stuff?

I've found these on TEMU, and I need someone to reassure me why the dodomat is worth the extra cash before I part with it.

From what I understand, the sound deadening is just self adhesive butyl sheets with a foil covered side and the insulation is closed cell foam with a self adhesive side and an aluminium foil side?

 

[bobnudd]

Similar to what I have used in mine. I thought the results were great, but I haven’t tried dodomat etc in a van yet so have no comparison.
Significantly reduced panel drumming, it’s fitted in the doors and around wheel arches load bed floor, roof. Well every panel really and has really helped heat ingress/egress. Someone will come on here and scoff at it because it’s not a branded item so can’t possibly work as well as the one that has stuff printed on it. It’s probably the same.

 

[Alster]

Haven’t used any on my van so this isn’t from experience but my main worry would be how good the adhesive is- I wouldn’t want it to fall off the first time the van gets really hot.

 

[CooseVW]

Haven’t used any on my van so this isn’t from experience but my main worry would be how good the adhesive is- I wouldn’t want it to fall off the first time the van gets really hot.

That is a fair point!

 

[Turboponzy]

I’m usually one for buying the cheapest I can find and don’t care about brands but ended up buying the full kit from Harrison Trim. Not much money in the scheme of things, more than enough materials and tried and tested.
Especially with something you can’t go back and change at a later date.

 

[CooseVW]

I hate to admit it but you are all convincing me to spend the extra

I think they are valid points around the adhesive being an unknown. And going into a black van, I'd rather not put it to the test.

Plus, having thought about it... why pay a premium for a van, then try and improve it on the cheap. For the sake of £50 I think ill
Go down the tried and tested route.

 

[tomosllyr]

Anytime I've had to strip panels to do jobs on my converted van, I've found the sound deadening is a non-branded one. On putting everything back together, I've replaced it where I can with Silent Coat (simply because I have a massive box of it) and better insulation. The non-branded one has seemed to have stuck really well actually, but the big difference is in the thickness/weight of the pieces. Silent Coat ones much thicker and heavier.

Difficult to tell how much of a difference that makes as I'm only doing one panel at a time though.

 

[david173]

Dodo matt is also supporting a British business. I know the product is made in china but at least its a little bit British. Yes there probably isnt much difference with the cheaper stuff but as you say you know for sure the dodo matt is a premium product , most of the hassle is in the labour of the deadening process not the materials!

 

[Lubrown]

Anytime I've had to strip panels to do jobs on my converted van, I've found the sound deadening is a non-branded one. On putting everything back together, I've replaced it where I can with Silent Coat (simply because I have a massive box of it) and better insulation. The non-branded one has seemed to have stuck really well actually, but the big difference is in the thickness/weight of the pieces. Silent Coat ones much thicker and heavier.

Difficult to tell how much of a difference that makes as I'm only doing one panel at a time though.

I was going to say the thickness might not be as good. How much that affects the deadening I’m not sure?
I did once buy a cheap Chinese thing with self adhesive backing branded as 3M. It wasn’t. It had almost zero stick.
With their being quite a bit of work involved in getting this exactly where you want it I’d say go for the stuff with a proven record - you don’t want to be redoing this job.

 

[CooseVW]

So... curiosity got the best of me and as well as ordering the Dodo Mat, I also ordered a box of the cheap stuff (as it was really cheap) just to do a comparison....

My very non scientific experiment consisted of sticking a bit of each to the side of my tool chest... they look very similar, feel quite similar but after 3 days or so, the cheap on was pretty easy to peel off (in chunks) and the dodo mat one is stuck solid.

Bottom line, I'm buying more dodo mat and throwing the Chinese stuff in the bin.

I also bought a roll of the insulation... it is much thinner than advertised and seems very cheap. I might stick it on the roof of the shed but it's certainly not going in the van!

Figured I'd post my findings to save anyone else having to conduct the experiment in the future

 

[Grim Reaper]

Sound Deadening Shop (Dodo Mat supplier) have given A Bus And Beyond a 10% discount code
ABAB10
Still works in 2025.

Sound Deadening Shop - Car Van & 4x4 Automotive Sound Proofing

The Sound Deadening Shop offers the brands Silent Coat, Dynamat and Dodo Mat which provide sound deadening mats, sound absorbers, sound isolators and insulation

www.deadening.co.uk

 

[AntonGangsta]

I'm currently also investigating this question. Despite the glue quality there might be a different problem - the material might be more toxic or stinky. Or it might be stinky in the hot weather.. So I came to the conclusion that I will buy from some known brand.

But I'm living in Europe... And it seems there is no Dodo at all..

 

[Lubrown]

the material might be more toxic or stinky.

You’re right to be concerned. Campers are a relatively small space with little ventilation when all shut up.

I remember reviewing coshh sheets for various building materials and spray foam is just horrendous stuff. The people that have their loft filled with that as insulation (don’t think anyone would use it in a van - certainly hope not) ought to be warned. It can/will off-gas some real nasty stuff for years. Various plastics off-gas too… this is what causes that film found on the inside of windscreens after a while, particularly in newer vehicles.