heating cost. floor vs. air

[kert]

One day for sure to go from a VB on top of the prepared subgrade to all foamed and pexed ready for pour. Really much less than a day.

That may be a little optimistic depending on if and how many helpers you have. I did my 30x60 in a long day and a half. I had help the first day and was by myself the second.

I also took a bunch of pictures back and forth across with a couple tape measures so I know where the tubes are if I ever need to drill holes (already have).

I also would be happy to never see another ziptie again in my life.

 

[93L#3008]

Was just quoted $5,400 for everything but the boiler and then another $4k for heating source later this fall.... Well respected company that has been doing this for 20 yrs.

 

[BadgerBoilerMN]

The only people who don't want radiant floors are the ones who haven't experienced it. First, it is more comfortable and costs less to operate. The radiation will last the life of the building and the heat source can be sealed combustion and replaced every 20 years or so. The boiler will not take up expensive floor space as it hangs on any wall.

Radiant floor heating is a long-term comfort investment.

Radiant cooling is not yet practical but unlike heating benefits from moving air. Cooling should be done from above and with a conventional air handler placed in the attic or a mini-split heat pump to dehumidify and perhaps with over-head fans to assist.

KO has a good point in that the year round ground temperature helps to keep a building at 50° with little effort if the insulation spec is right.

The only unhappy customers I have are the ones who decided that radiant floor heating "wasn't worth it".

 

[Highbeam]

KO has a good point in that the year round ground temperature helps to keep a building at 50° with little effort if the insulation spec is right.

This is interesting. I know the ground temp is in the 50s because my well water from 200 feet underground is at 50 degrees. It would make sense that no heat would be required to keep a buried shop at 50. With an above ground shop you will lose heat to the cold air but as you approach desired temps of 50 and below, the heating load should be minimal.

I'm curious to see if my building ever drops to freezing temps even without a heat source.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The only people who don't want radiant floors are the ones who haven't experienced it.

About 50+ years ago, my uncle installed radiant floor heating is his basement so his wife could do her drapery and upholstery business in comfort. He already had hot water heating and a concrete slab so he laid copper pipe/tube on top of the slab and poured 2" more of concrete on top (he was a licensed plumber and was friends with many in the concrete business).

Amazing ! We always had our family holiday parties in his basement (40+ people) and no one ever complained about being uncomfortable. The ceiling was a bit low and he had to cut the bottom off of the door leading into the basement from the garage.

 

[bgarrett]

Exterior foundation foam / soil contact is against code in South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas.

if you cant use insulation under the slab, what are you allowed to use to insulate under the slab?

 

[bgarrett]

if you cant use insulation under the slab, what is good to use to insulate under the slab?

 

[matouse3]

"exterior foundation" is that your slab?

I would think that your moisture barrier which goes on top of the soil and before your foam board would cover this.

 

[koditten]

I wasn't aware there was a code restriction for ground contact insulation. Is this a southern states code, have to do with insect infestation? I know it gets cold in those states, but for how long. I know most of Florida would it really not make much sense to have heated floors down there. I would like to know why this code exists.

Thanks

KO

 

[Highbeam]

If the foam was buried in such a way that it also extended up from the earth and touched wood then the foam would become a conduit for the travel of termites. This would happen on say a slab edge insulation where the foam runs from below grade to the top of slab where the wood is.

If the foam is completely buried and surrounded by concrete on all sides except beneath then I would suspect it is fine.

 

[bgarrett]

if you cant use insulation under the slab, what is good to use to insulate under the slab?