A lot of our orders are for brand new vans straight off the forecourt, but plenty of people are lining a van that's already done a few years' work. If that's you, it's worth spending an hour going over the inside of the van properly before your kit turns up, because fitting ply over a problem doesn't fix it - it just hides it until it's worse.
Look for rust before you look for anything else: Check the floor, the wheel arches, and the bottom edges of the side panels for rust, especially if the van's had a life doing site work or has sat outside a lot. Surface rust on clean steel can usually be treated - rub it back, treat it, and it's fine to line over once it's dry and sound. Rust that's gone through the metal, or that flakes away when you press it, needs proper repair first. Vans with rot in the floor or arches shouldn't be lined until that's sorted, because trapping moisture behind ply lining will only make the problem worse.
Get rid of old adhesive and leftover fixings: If the van's had a previous lining, carpet, or rubber matting fitted, take it all the way out and clean up what's left behind - old contact adhesive, foam backing, and stray screws all stop a new panel sitting flat. A flat, clean surface is the difference between a kit that fits like it should and one that rocks or gaps at the edges no matter how well it was cut.
Check for damp: Vans that have sat unused for a while, or that have had a leaking seal around a window or roof vent, can hold damp in the floor even when it looks dry. If you're not sure, leave the doors open for a day or two before fitting and see if there's any smell or visible condensation. Lining over a damp van traps moisture against bare steel, which is exactly the environment rust needs.
Check what's already fixed to the van: Racking, load restraints, and bulkheads that are already fitted will affect where your panels need fixing points, and occasionally where they need small cutouts. If you're keeping existing racking in place, take rough measurements and let us know when you order so the kit accounts for it.
Don't assume the last owner's ply was fitted well: If you're removing an old kit, take a look at how it was originally fixed. It's common to find lining that was screwed straight into panels with no fixing points, or with too few screws to hold properly. It's not a big job to fix, but it's worth knowing what you're dealing with before your new panels go in over the top of the same fixing points.
None of this is complicated, but a quick check now saves a much bigger job in a year or two. If you're ever not sure whether a van's in a fit state to line, send us a couple of photos and we'll give you an honest opinion.