We're having 550 sq ft of porcelain tile installed in our home that was quoted using the Ditra heat floor warming cable system. My concern is that the Ditra cable and thermostat are only capable of 82 degrees F. max which will basically only take the chill off the tile. I know other cable systems are capable of temperatures of 104 degrees F. Has anyone used other brands of cable with the ditra heat membrane and if so are you happy with the results? This is a remodel over wood sub flooring so im not going to go consider hydronic radiant because of the cost and complexities involved retrofitting although if I were to build new that would be my choice. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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tile floor cable heat system
- Thread starter i4ni
- Start date
Heat cable systems work great in a small bath 10-20 soft and are economical to operate and offer real comfort. They often run at 80-85*.
Cable system for 550 sgft is NOT going to economical to operate especially at 100*
Cable system for 550 sgft is NOT going to economical to operate especially at 100*
kd3pc
Well-known member
Ditra has designed the product with that temp range, so that it - Ditra, floor tiles, subfloor, and adhesive/grout will last a long time. Masonry really doesn't like sudden temp changes, it shocks the components and eventually one of those will crack, loosen or ....
70-82 degrees is fine, Ditra is not designed to "superheat" when you walk in to the bathroom, punch the thermostat and expect to feel the warmth flow up through the tiles.
Sounds like you should look closely at the "other" systems to make sure what you want, can reliably be provided by that system. Ask for references that have had product installed more than a year....and take a close look at that.
70-82 degrees is fine, Ditra is not designed to "superheat" when you walk in to the bathroom, punch the thermostat and expect to feel the warmth flow up through the tiles.
Sounds like you should look closely at the "other" systems to make sure what you want, can reliably be provided by that system. Ask for references that have had product installed more than a year....and take a close look at that.
Radix2
Well-known member
Why do you think you need it to be hotter?
Is this the only heat in the rooms or is it a supplement?
I have the electric cable style in a bathroom as a supplement and 80 is plenty for extra comfort. I also have radiant floors in another house and as the sole heat source, the floor temp can only be 4-6 degrees above the room air temp...so how hot do you want the room?
Is this the only heat in the rooms or is it a supplement?
I have the electric cable style in a bathroom as a supplement and 80 is plenty for extra comfort. I also have radiant floors in another house and as the sole heat source, the floor temp can only be 4-6 degrees above the room air temp...so how hot do you want the room?
vavet
Well-known member
I used a cable type system in my previous house under the tile, embedded in self-leveling compound. I kept the thermostat set to about 80 degrees. It was enough so that it felt warm on bare feet. It was more than "knock the chill off." I would not have a tile floor without heat in it, infact, when we built the new house, we opted for vinyl floor in the master bathroom instead of the included tile. They wanted a crazy (IMO) amount to run the heat in it, so we saved about $5k between the credit they provided for deleting the tile and not having to pay for the heated tile. At some point, I will install a new floor in that bathroom. I had the electrician wire in an extra circuit so that part of it is ready.
BadgerBoilerMN
Well-known member
First, electric heat is rarely economical to operate or install for that matter.
Second, concrete, "masonry" is not a problem. Ever had a driveway so hot you can't walk on it hit by sudden rain shower?
Finally, a floor in the mid 70's is usually considered warm but also controlled by a room/air thermostat. If you want a floor to operate at a certain temperature you must install a floor sensor and a way to control the room temperature through ventilation since the floor will overheat the room if left at a fixed high output temperature.
85°F is considered max as this is roughly your skin temperature and exceeding it will make most people sweat.
Second, concrete, "masonry" is not a problem. Ever had a driveway so hot you can't walk on it hit by sudden rain shower?
Finally, a floor in the mid 70's is usually considered warm but also controlled by a room/air thermostat. If you want a floor to operate at a certain temperature you must install a floor sensor and a way to control the room temperature through ventilation since the floor will overheat the room if left at a fixed high output temperature.
85°F is considered max as this is roughly your skin temperature and exceeding it will make most people sweat.
awdblazer
Well-known member
i have my infloor heat set at 85 ish in my bathroom
love it wouldnt want it any warmer
takes the chill off of the tile
love it wouldnt want it any warmer
takes the chill off of the tile
We had electric floor heat under tiles and although it was wonderful on the feet in winter. It is very hard and unforgiving in the kitchen- about 150'square feet . Cost to use it was about 1$ a day. It has since been replaced( another story but it involves a huge sense of satisfaction for getting a pieces out bigger than 4 square inches)
larry4406
Well-known member
Tejay - what was the problem with the install in the kitchen - cost to run? Ceramic is hard and you just don't like it? I am planning on ceramic install in the kitchen and am thinking of adding a floor cable heat system.
I'm in northern VA.
Where is/was your experience that went south?
I'm in northern VA.
Where is/was your experience that went south?
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
As the name implies, that kind of system is only designed to warm the floor up so it's comfortable on your bare feet, not necessarily heat the room.
Shopteacher
Well-known member
We have the ditra heat in a 400 sq foot kitchen, now we never set it that high (this winter I think the warmest we set it to was 70) but it is only supplemental heat.