Stretch Carpet

Clean the surface
Use methylated spirits or mineral turps to thoroughly clean the section of the van you're working on. Any dust, grease, or dirt will reduce the strength of your adhesive bond.
Prepare your section and position the carpet
Do a dry run first. Hold the piece of carpet in place and make sure it’s the right orientation and size for the area you’re lining. You don’t want to be figuring this out once the glue’s on and drying.
Spray adhesive on both surfaces
Apply a thin, even coat of contact adhesive to both the back (non-fluffy side) of the carpet and the van wall. Wait until the glue is tacky — usually 90 seconds to 3 minutes depending on temperature and thickness.
Start applying from the top down
Begin pressing the carpet into place at the top of your section. Let gravity help you as you move downwards, smoothing the carpet and gently stretching it into corners, curves, and recesses as you go.
Work in small sections
Once one section is bonded, move on to the next. Spray the next patch of wall and the corresponding carpet area, wait for the glue to tack, and repeat the process.
Finish your edges neatly
Ideally, tuck the carpet under van trim, cabinetry, or other finished surfaces for a seamless look. If that’s not possible, cut a clean edge using a sharp blade.
Cut clean joins where needed
When using multiple pieces of carpet, cut straight, sharp edges where they meet. If done properly, joins can be nearly invisible — and this also helps make better use of your material with less waste.

Tip: Mask off any areas you don’t want to get glue on before you start spraying. Overspray can ruin a clean finish faster than you think.

This is one of my favourite parts of the build! 4-Way-Stretch carpet is a fantastic product commonly used in campers and boats. It’s a flexible, forgiving material with short fibres, making it ideal for covering the awkward bumps and curves of a van’s metal interior. Applying this carpet with spray-on contact adhesive is straightforward and results in a soft, cosy, and professional finish, perfect for softening harsh metal edges and reducing the cold from bare surfaces. Stretch carpet moulds easily to complex shapes, making it a great way to elevate your van’s interior. In fact, it’s one of my top recommendations for achieving a polished look. I personally recommend using stretch carpet on any exposed metal surface that won’t be covered by your conversion to give your van a clean, professional aesthetic.

Materials & Tools

4-Way Stretch Carpet

A flexible, trim-friendly carpet that stretches in all directions to contour around curves and corners. Perfect for lining van interiors with a clean, professional finish. Comes in a few different colours.
Contact Spray Adhesive
A strong glue used to bond stretch carpet to walls and ceilings. Spray on both surfaces, let it go tacky, then press together for a secure hold that lasts.
Cutting Knife
A sharp Stanley Knife is absolutely crucial for this step. You will need to trim carpet in tricky positions once it’s already mounted on the wall and a stanley knife is the only way to do it. Make sure to have as space packet of blades ready to go as well. Nothing makes a knife blunt quicker than cutting carpet.
PPE
Gloves and eye protection are incredibly important while using spray adhesive because the aerosol shoots out of the can at high speeds and sometimes at right angles due to blockages. Always be extremely cautious with stanley knives or any cutting blade.