energy/heat efficient floors over radiant in slab
deziree_worster
5 years ago
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Oak & Broad
5 years agoSpringtime Builders
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoRelated Discussions
On-Slab Radiant Floor Heating Feasiblity
Comments (2)What you're proposing is certainly feasible using your existing boiler and some sort of 3 or 4 way mixing valve or assembly. Your floor would have to be isolated from the existing slab and you would not benefit from a thermal mass. However, you may have faster reaction times. Keep in mind that pipe spacing is related to water temperature so make sure of your design before starting and ordering materials. Do consult with a radiant in-floor specialist that understands hydronic boilers as well - you don't want surprises! SR...See Moreslab for flooring and energy efficiency?
Comments (12)I lived in a house with a finished concrete slab as the main flooring for about 5 years. Overall, I liked it a lot, especially the look. However, I relate to the concerns mentioned by the previous posters. I lived in the northeast, but my floor would still "sweat" a few times during the summer. Very weird experience, but rare enough to not be a huge issue for me. It is indeed a very hard surface, which can be hard on our body, especially if you have any joint issues. Regarding your question about efficiency, my house was definitely very efficient. Much more so than the old farmhouse on a 200 year old basement I have now. If you put a significant amount of insulation under the slab, you will have a very efficient home. The typical passivhaus approach, the most rigorous efficiency standard right now, is typically done on a slab because it is much easier to air seal and insulate than is a basement or crawl space. We had radiant heat in our slab. Because the slab is a tremendous thermal mass, this is a very efficient approach if you will be keeping the house heated throughout the winter. For a second home, this option can be annoying because it takes the slab quite a while to come up to temperature. I had this issue because I was traveling a lot at the time and would turn the heat down. When I'd come home, it would take about 12 hours to bring the house temperature up just using the slab heat. However, we didn't have insulation in our slab because it was a converted barn with a repurposed slab. YMMV if you have insulation underneath....See MoreWhat floor covering do you have over your radiant heat?
Comments (8)We used an epoxy paint with the paint flecks so as to resemble terrazzo over our radiant heated shop floor that we put in. Ourselves. Embedded in the slab. We wanted the best transfer of heat possible for a building containing tonnages of steel machines and automobiles. Do research thermal lag. It's one big drawback. One thing that the engineer obsessor other half researched to death was that the floor covering materials and home layout will determine the loop spacing, length, and how many zones you will need. A system designed for wood will need to have a different temperature than one for concrete or tile, which are more efficient at radiating the heat. There isn't a one size fits all solution. But be SURE that your system designer and your engineered wood floor manufacturer are in synch with the requirements....See MoreRadiant heat tiled concrete slab - to polished concrete slab. Possible
Comments (5)Thanks...I try. Too many people *think* a concrete floor is a money SAVING project. It is not. A SLAB floor is money saving. It is ugly, unfinished and can be very rough on the feet. A properly finished concrete floor is beautiful but very expensive. Most people think slab concrete is the FINISHED floor and therefore cheap. What they do NOT appreciate is how UGLY it is and how much it stains and etches and degrades over time (chalky dust on the surface all the time). They are very disappointed in a SLAB floor. When they are told the cost to fix a concrete slab floor they look at the refinisher like they have 2 heads and say, "Well if it's going to cost me $10/sf why don't I get hardwood and be done with it?"...See MoreGreenDesigns
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