What about applications with plywood subfloors? Pettigrew has developed his own system for that, too. In between the concrete layers is an insulator. He also prefers pouring the slabs in two layers: a structural slab, then a 3 1⁄2-inch concrete layer with the radiant heating tubes. Pettigrew says he’ll do just about any kind of decorative surface his customers want, but, generally, he uses stains and colored micro-toppings. Not only does a concrete floor conduct, hold and radiate heat well, “it’s beautiful with stain and art work.” “When I saw staining about 12 years ago, I knew I was interested and I took that on to the next step, to find the best market, which was radiant heat,” Pettigrew recalls. When it comes to installing the systems, he lets the plumber take care of laying the tubing, but Pettigrew is the concrete specialist. in Capitola, Calif., works the Bay area and has plenty of experience with radiant heat floors.
We’re seeing a lot more of these with stamped concrete finishes.”ĭave Pettigrew, owner of Diamond D Co. Commercial hydronic installations are rising fast, both for large concrete floors and large snowmelt systems. “Today, radiant heat is the fastest growing segment of the heating industry,” said Mike Chiles, president and general manager of Watts Radiant, a leading supplier of radiant heat products (“We’re seeing an incredible rise in interest among those in the concrete industry - not just for the popular PEX tubing, but also for synthetic rubber tubing, and electric radiant mats in, and over concrete. And, he says, there is a shortage of installers.
#Concrete radiant floor heating cost install
The cost to install radiant floor heating runs from about $3.50 to $14 a square foot, depending on where you are in the country and how elaborate the system, according to Corbett. The good news for concrete contractors is that concrete floors have the highest output of radiant heat, and the best heat retention. (In some applications, the tubing is attached under the floor, between the floor joists, but that doesn’t really apply to this discussion.) If radiant floor heating is to be installed without a slab on-grade or on the second floor - or higher - the standard installation involves attaching the tubing to the subfloor, and then, most frequently, a 11⁄2-inch slab of concrete or gypsum-based cement product is poured on top. Corbett explains that in Europe the systems are typically done in two pours, with the tubes embedded in a topping slab. But hydronic tubing is very flexible, so some cracking should not be problematic, just cosmetic. These slabs expand and contract more frequently than slabs without radiant heat, so all care of the normal steps should be taken with the pouring and curing. The heating tubes are normally fastened with plastic ties to 6-inch by 6-inch concrete mesh so the tubing winds up in the middle of the slab. Radiant floor heating is a natural in on-grade concrete slabs. >Whether or not radiant floor heating presents an opportunity for concrete contractors depends on the area of the country you’re in and the usual method of construction there.
So, it makes sense, he observes, for concrete contractors to investigate and form a relationship with radiant heat installers in their area. “In 2002, there was approximately 130 million square feet of hydronic radiant flooring installed-and about half of that was installed in concrete slabs.”Īnd Corbett reports that the installation of radiant heat flooring is growing at about 20 percent to 25 percent a year. Most big projects are hydronic, Corbett says, because there is a better level of control with regard to water temperature and circulation. Electric systems are growing fast, especially in conjunction with tiled floors, as the electric elements can be embedded in the thinset layer, he adds. “A lot of smaller jobs and retrofits are done with electric systems,” reports Hoyt Corbett, a consultant and publisher of The Radiant Flooring Guide,” based in Seattle. There are hydronic (hot water) and electric systems. Radiant heat delivers warmth without ducts and registers heats evenly, in an energy-efficient manner and is silent. And, today, many people are giving radiant floor heating another look as an option in commercial and residential applications. Of course, the technology of radiant heat has improved through the centuries. When a technology has been in use for some 2,000 years you’d be right in thinking that the originators might have had a pretty good idea.
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