Has anyone installed a radiant floor heat mat called Carbonic Heat in their floor? Yesterday at a home and garden show, we saw a new (to us) brand of under floor radiant heat called Carbonic Heat and it's really *really* flat. Flatter than the other wire mats that we've seen that are (amazingly) too thick. This uses flat copper wire between a conductive flat mat material that you use spray adhesive to fasten. DH had dismissed underfloor heat because we're trying to keep very close to the old transition height which is very shallow. The old floor was just the concrete slab, thinset, and thin 4x4 tiles. Because the floor now has divots from tile removal in addition to the existing cracks, we're going to put in a layer of self-leveling cement. Then, we had intended to use a glue-down 2x2 end-cut wood floor (a friend owns a wood floor mfg company) but of course glue-down doesn't go so well with underfloor heat. So now we're thinking we need to figure out a tile floor which I hadn't wanted to do (Hate. Grout.). thanks!

On Wed, Aug 5, 2009 at 3:43 PM, barredrock <....> wrote: [This message originated at GardenWeb] thanks for your input so far. this is what im doing now on the bathroom floor, see what you think so this is what im thinking. in this order, tell me what i am or aint doing right thanks 1. I believe it is 5/8 tongue and groove osb 2. 1/4 inch hardibacker 3. suntouch heated floor mat embedded in modified thinset and let dry how long before applying tile? 4. Do i need a leveler???? 5. ditra with unmodified thinset on both sides 6. tile ------------------------------------------ Answers Step Zero is missing. Step 1 is not enough. Step 2 is good. With expensive screws. Step 3 is good. Depends on the instructions on the bag. E.g. eighteen hours or so. Step 4 not unless you think you need it. Are these humungous tiles or puny tiles? Do you have a 6' level and what does it look like when laid on the floor in various directions? With thinset you can compensate easily up to a point.... but that all depends. Step 5 may be unnecessary, but it depends on Step 1 and Step Zero (what joists you have) Ditra is good for slabs that may crack a bit and widen horizontally. It might help also on Hardibacker or any other CBU on wood. But this has been debated a lot and never "proven" a.f.a.i.k. If your floor is springy, Ditra won't compensate enough to make it worthwhile. Step 6 what size is your tile? Have you tiled before? Do you know what slaking is? Etcetera... -- David

Actually, I have saved considerably on my heating bills since I started using Speedheat's Rug Buddy. I started with one in the living room and then put them in all of my bedrooms, too. I used to keep my house a toasty 74 - not very green, I know, but I've always ran cold... but now, I only heat the rooms I'm using and keep it at about 68... it's a much different heat than blowing ones... it's like it heats you all the way to your bones or something... It takes about an hour to get the room up about 20 degrees or so if you cover about 50% or so of the room... about half an hour in the rooms that are 85% covered. Of course, your feet are warm within about 5 minutes, so that's helpful. I use the plug-in stat they have now in the baby room because I care more about the control, but the others, I just put them on a timer. They have an electrical cost calculator on their site. Just remember that you will use it less than other heaters because of the comfort level difference... and of course, you don't have to heat rooms you aren't using if you don't want to, which saves, too. - I think there are some that were on the market before that were more expensive to run - and I know hydronic is REALLY expensive. My uncle has it in NY, and it takes a pretty penny... I told him to just do this, but I haven't convinced him yet. lol Here is a link that might be useful: Speedheat's Running Cost Calculator

We used an EMF cancellng 'SunTouch' roll out mat in a bathroom renovation that worked out quite well. I would like to add that particularly where bathrooms and other wet areas are concerned, that even though this is a rather easy installation - do not succumb to the DIY temptation. Do have it ALL installed by the proper, licensed electrician! SR Here is a link that might be useful: SunTouch This post was edited by fsq4cw on Mon, Aug 26, 13 at 23:15