Radiant Floor Heat

[KenP]

Originally Posted by HummerHippy

So will need to run the pex under the 1st floor subfloor (access from below - basement ceiling). Then, from what I am learning, you insullate the floor joist space to direct the heat back up into the first floor structure, and that should heat the first floor. Same thing with 2nd floor, although as heat raises, probably wont need to use 2nd floor heat much.

I'm diving in head first!!! Thanks all! I'll let ya know when the house warming party is

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Radiant heat tubes go in the concrete so they can heat the thermal mass of the concrete. In the floor joists doesn't work without help and labor.

Since the concrete is down, you can use a thin layer of concrete above the wood framed floor and embed the hydronic tubes in it. It's not as efficient as a thicker, full width floor of concrete, but it does work.

As for heating the water (or glycol), if you don't want to use a boiler you can use solar energy.

You can use electric mats under your finished floor, but I wouldn't.

Since your floor is down your choices are limited. You could go with Warmboard, but it's not as efficient as heating the concrete mass.

Then there's GCS Radiant that uses grids made with a concrete mix.

However, this is the stuff I'd use, Crete-Heat, or something similar. The mats are insulated and you just lay the concrete, or thin-set on top, then the finished floor. Plus it's a one person install.