Concrete Question

[knightp25]

I have a 17x24 garage that i built 2 years ago.

Insulted the walls and Roof, i also have a ceiling fan installed

I currently use a Propane heater to heat the garage, it works very well.

But..... (and i know heat rises) i use the ceiling fan to push the heat down, but the concrete floor and roughly 3ft up from the floor, it is cold.

Anyone have any suggestions as to heat the floor, or make it suitable

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

Its too late ... in-floor hydronic.

Are the garage walls and ceiling well insulated? Is the floor insulated? What kind of floor/slap? Any frost walls?

Maybe some ductwork along the walls to draw the warm air from the ceiling down to the floor and blow it across the floor?

 

[knightp25]

yea its too late for hydronic..

the walls and ceiling are well insulated, I have insulation and OSB on all the walls, the ceiling has insulation and radiant barrier on it.

the slab is just concrete on the floor

the ductwork isnt a bad idea.

 

[dave89iroc]

you need radiant, tube heaters work pretty good for heating the floor, you need ceiling height for them though

this type https://www.zoro.com/dayton-7-combo-component-do-not-sell-individual-21mk91/i/G8550692/feature-product?gclid=CjwKCAiA-KzSBRAnEiwAkmQ157v5rSO8dk9n5TrMGCzTbwEIdrRcssXF2rO5u8G5CI-jmoTyaPMetRoCY5cQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[TractorJeff]

Can you put foam on the outside concrete down 2 or 3 feet deep to stop the frost from getting to the concrete?

 

[850xpeps]

Foam on the outside and 4’ out from the slab. That will help.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[johnnyradiant]

TractorJeff's gotta a good start. If your slab isn't insulated you should notice the difference with that step and it will help with whatever else you do to supplement your down low heat needs. If your slab is insulated already it might not be as noticeable a difference.

dave89iroc radiant heaters would be a nice addition to the heating source.

It's not too late for hydronic you could add a layer of hydronic to your slab with a skim coat on top. Uponor and others make products that you can add after the fact. The Uponor product takes up about 1/2" of thickness and then you could lay carpet, a wood floor, or place a layer of concrete on top. The practicality of that may not be best depending on what you are doing on your existing floor though and unless you do it yourself you may find the cost not in your justifiable range as it is only a shop.

 

[CKS1955]

Can you put foam on the outside concrete down 2 or 3 feet deep to stop the frost from getting to the concrete?

I am having the same issue with my shop floor. The walls are insulated with an R-13 and the attic R-40 to R-45. But... the concrete floor is not insulated nor the 8” exposed concrete wall below the stud wall. I can get my shop up to 60 degrees, but the floor is absolutely freezing even after 3 or 4 hours.

I read this weekend that you lose 80% of the heat to the perimeter of the slab exposed to exterior temperature and only 20% to the ground.

I am looking at the following two or three options:
1) XPS the exterior of the concrete wall to a depth of 2’ to 3’.
2)XPS the interior of the 8” concrete wall.
3) XPS and then plywood the slab and 8” concrete wall.

Jay

 

[hogdaddy]

Try reversing the fan to pull the heat up and it will send it back down the walls?

 

[wssix99]

It's too late for hydronic and any solution that would economically heat the floor 24/7, but if you want something for short term comfort heating, you could put down an electrical radiant grid on the floor and then cover it with a contentious topping.

You'd need an exotic top coat to hold up in a garage, but if the integrity of the slab is good and solid, it should work out.

If you have a single work area (not under cars) that you want to heat like this, it would be a lot easier and you could even tile over the grid.

 

[pcmeiners]

To add, burning propane or any other fuel, unvented as in not having a flue, produces a great deal of water, which will add to condensation issues.

 

[GMCGarage]

You need radiant heat, not direct contact.