in floor staple up hydronic system

Robert Gould

I've placed pex tubing in my new basement slab and was about to start the staple up job in the joist bays for heating the first floor. I now discovered tar paper in my 1908 house between the fir floor and the 3/4" subfloor. I have read in Dan's book that this would not be a good idea because of the smell that would be created by the heat. Is this a hard and fast rule? What can I do for an alternative? Also, I didn't place o2 barrier pex in the slab because I was going to use an open gas fired stainless steel system. What are my alternative boiler options? Thanks, Rob

Robert Gould

staple up job

I've placed pex tubing in my new basement slab and was about to start the staple up job in the joist bays for heating the first floor. I now discovered tar paper in my 1908 house between the fir floor and the 3/4" subfloor. I have read in Dan's book that this would not be a good idea because of the smell that would be created by the heat. Is this a hard and fast rule? What can I do for an alternative? Also, I did'nt place o2 barrier pex in the slab because I was going to use an open gas fired stainless steel system. What are my alternative boiler options? Thanks, Rob

Jeff Lawrence_25

non-Barrier?

If you didn't use Barrier PEX in the slab you can either use a copper fin tube boiler or a mod-con with all non-ferrous circulators.

As far as the tar paper, you may not have a problem. Some people have said it's not a problem.

Where'd you get the PEX and who did the design?