Striping

thfurnitureguy_4

It is suspended a few inches below the sub floor and inside the joist bay. It will heat the whole bay and should be very even on the floor.
I would like to learn more from anyone who has used or owns the Ultra fin.
Thankyou for the responce. The striping I am worried about is the discoloring of the flooring due to the temp.

thfurnitureguy_4

striping on wood floors

trying to find info. on striping of hardwood flooring, caused by in floor radiant heat. What kind of situations cause this? Are there any problems with Ultrafin and striping? Thanks.

Brad White_81

Striping

If you mean a visible coloration, I have not seen it. The term
"striping" as I use it means a detectable hot and cold pattern that of course follows the tubing embedded below. What causes it is normally design-related. Tube spacing too far apart requiring too hot a water temperature, a vicious cycle that may heat the room eventually but with a barefoot dance from hot to cold.

I have no ultra-fin experience but I understand that it requires higher water temperatures, but also is not directly adhered to the subfloor if I have that correctly. So not sure how it would perform "to the soles of your feet".

S Ebels

Never seen it

I've never seen it nor have I ever heard of it. I would think that a person would have to get the wood very hot indeed to produce a discoloration in the floor. I would more suspect a field applied finish of some type, probably latex based, that would yellow at different rates due to temperature difference.

As always, at least in my book, the tighter you can run the tube, the lower the required water temps. The lower your water temp is in relation to providing the heat needed, the longer the run time. Low, variable water temps, constant circulation and properly spaced tube = happy hardwood.

hr

I have seen vinyl flooring

get strips from excessive temperature. I have also studied various installation methods with infrared cameras.

The higher the tube wall temperature and the tighter the connection to the floor will show or at least be "feel-able"

The key, of course is the BTU/sq. ft. number required to heat the space. You should be able to meet the load with floor temperatures not to excees low 80"s. Of course the floor covering R value plays heavily into what tube temperatures you neeed to make the load.

My limited studies on Ultra Fin show it does an excellent job of even heat spread as it is the air temperature in the joist bay that is the transfer mechanism. Anytime a tube touches the floor expect to "see" or feel a warm spot or stripe.

These IF pictures show suspended tube, staple to subfloor (notice the temperature of the staples!), transfer plates and WarmBoard. Notice how the 1/2 of the panels with carpet also help spread the temperatures.

If you ever tube a shop at 15 or 18" on center you will get a clear picture of striping. Also initial snowmelt start ups

hot rod

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thfurnitureguy_4

Hotrod, excellent picts! Were any of these of the Ultra fin? Thanks for the advice on temps.