Attaching pex to wire mesh

[nemise]

I was told to use zip ties to attach the pex to the wire mesh for in slab radiant. Is there something special about these zip ties, or can I just use regular zip ties that I can get for free?

http://www.supplyhouse.com/Viega-15304-Zip-Ties-Bag-of-100-5305000-p

 

[brewchief]

Regular zip ties are fine, just make sure you clip and pick up the tails or tuck them down so they don't end up sticking up through your floor.

Rebar wire ties and a spinner handler are faster if you ask me.

 

[kj_mustang]

Rebar wire ties and a spinner handler are faster if you ask me.

A lot cheaper too.
http://www.blueridgecompany.com/radiant/hydronic/687/rht-wire-tying-tool-ties-for-pex-tubing

 

[rburke65]

Free is good. Nothing special on zip ties. I used the rebar wire and a spinner handle.

 

[anthony666]

i use 5 inch plain steel rebar ties and a spinner for 1/2" pex & 5/8" snow melt stuff .. i use 6 inch rebar ties for 3/4" pex .. and i use nylon ties for the few times i gotta put 1" in the slab .. i never buy the super expensive stainless ties, once the slab is poured the pex ain't going nowhere

nylon ties are a billion times slower, but free is free .. just push the tail down flat or snip it right off because if there's a chance it will stick up out of the slab it will and it will drive you CRAZY

 

[nemise]

Great,
thanks for the info everyone

 

[Mike_B]

I used a roll of mechanics wire that I had sitting around. Cable ties would have been easier to work with, but more expensive for me.

 

[Highbeam]

I bought a super big and cheap sack of zip ties. I actually had blisters from zipping them before I was done. Wife got the job of going around and cutting AND collecting the tails so that they would stay away from the surface.

 

[ADSR]

Cheap ties worked for me. 2 squares are 12" so for nice straight lines, follow the mesh and cut the waste off.

 

[James-W]

A friend of mine has in-floor heat in his basement and he used plastic ties to tie the pex to the wire mesh. They seemed to work pretty good for him.

 

[Randy in Maine]

I did use something like these to attach the tubing to my existing floor joists when I ran the radiant floor heat into the house. It was in my crawl space so it was not an easy job to do anyway.

http://www.supplyhouse.com/PEX-Tube-Talons-198000

 

[pstnbly]

I use zip ties, wire ties scare me over the long term, sorta like girdling a tree.

 

[anthony666]

I use zip ties, wire ties scare me over the long term, sorta like girdling a tree.

the tube is encased in concrete .. what could happen ???