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radiant ceilings

Gordy
Gordy Member Posts: 9,546
in THE MAIN WALL
Yeah Mark that 9' ceiling might give relief to the hot head syndrome I hear about, but never have experienced.....Sounds like a water temp issue to me;)

Gordy

Comments

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0
    do radiant ceilings work well

    I am currently renovating my shop and was considering puting in a radiant ceiling. I will put climate trac on the ceiling and run 1/2 tubing.It is a small area 450 sqft and will be well insulated. What are the pros and cons?
  • Bruce M
    Bruce M Member Posts: 166
    The Best

    In my opinion there is nothing better than radiant in the ceiling. You do not usually have to worry about obstuctions or floor coverings. If it is done right you will be well pleased. If it is a small area I would be tempted to do it in copper.
  • Gordy
    Gordy Member Posts: 9,546
    Lovem

    But have to ask how high is your ceiling first?


    Gordy
  • Bob Vennerbeck
    Bob Vennerbeck Member Posts: 105
    copper for ceiling radiant

    Could you please clarify why you would choose copper for ceiling radiant, and how you would propose to install/detail/insulate it?

    I'm tempted to do this myself as I eventually finish a basement room, and want to be able to justify the project to my better half.


    I have a few hundred feet of 'new old stock' 3/4" M straight copper tubing in 10' lengths that I inherited, and I'm d***d if I'm going to sell it for scrap, but I can't imagine ever using that much for anything else.

    Vbob
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0
    height

    The ceiling is about 8' high. have a bunch of pex and transfer plates saved from other jobs so i thought do the trick. I think this is going to be a nice spring project.
  • Bruce M
    Bruce M Member Posts: 166
    Copper Usage

    The best place to find old school radiant information is here. Go to RESOURCES, click on LIBRARY and go to OLD RADIANT SYSTEMS. Print them out and you will be amazed at how smart they were in the 40's and 50's. Copper retains and transfers heat better than plastic tubing. You have to understand that plastic in it's many configurations and brands is infinitely cheaper and requires less labor to install. Installing a copper radiant ceiling is more of an art form. You would need to decide if you want to heat the area above the ceiling panels. If that is the case, the area above the ceiling panel would be uninsulated. You would have to plan for 25% of the total heat going to the floor above. If you do not want to heat the floor above you would need to insulate above the ceiling panels. Copper radiant ceiling panels that were built in the 40's and 50's are still providing comfort. Unfortunately, copper radiant floor panels that are built on slabs had a tendency to leak because of corrosion from the concrete.
  • mtfallsmikey
    mtfallsmikey Member Posts: 765
    I've seen a few

    Copper ceiling radiant that is...installed in the mid 50's, and they worked VERY well!..Plaster did not eat up the copper like the old infloor copper systems buried in concrete.
  • Gordy
    Gordy Member Posts: 9,546
    perfect

    8' will do ya you won't be sorry.

    Gordy
  • Rich L.
    Rich L. Member Posts: 414
    Rad ceiling pics

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0
    I love mine too!!

    And as for use of copper, I've seen a couple of systems that were installed in the 40's and 50's. They simply ran the copper tubing at 8" OC in between the ceiling rafters, with the copper pipe directly on top of the sheet rock. They then took extra heavy duty aluminum foil and draped that over the top of the copper tubing, squeezing it tight onto the copper, then covered with loose fill insulation. If requires about 150 to 160 degree F water at design conditions, but the ambience of the radiant heat is wonderful...

    Also look to Roth for neat prefabbed panel. We put the Roth panel in our galley at work. Didn't even bother to silicone the tubes in place (fits somewhat lose) and it kicks butt.

    In my personal/professinal opinion, ceilings are the most overlooked radiant surface potential in the world. The consumer can use whatever they want on the floor, and not worry about it. I've heard rumours of "cold shadowing" but have not experienced it personally. I suspect other problems were in play (cold windows, walls, infiltration etc)

    You won't regret it, and it is an excellent way to spread the joys of radiant heat.

    ME
  • Eric L._2
    Eric L._2 Member Posts: 94
    Radiant ceiling height

    What if the ceilings are 9 feet?

    Eric L
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0
    That works...

    It is just not as intense as being at 8' tall. Diffusion if you know what I mean....

    ME
  • Gordy
    Gordy Member Posts: 9,546
    Work of Art

    Could not agree with you more Bruce I still have the Chase copper pamphlet that came with the house from the 50's. Copper is superior in heat transfer. Did my tiled kitchen floor sleeper style in copper before the big jump in price, no plates works beautful.

    Gordy
  • Bob Vennerbeck
    Bob Vennerbeck Member Posts: 105
    old school copper radiant

    Thanks for reminding me of the Library here - got myself lost for hours in there, and now I have more 'good' ideas than I know what to do with. I'm thinking of some painstaking clever and fussy way of combining visible copper and a pressed 'tin' ceiling for a proposed basement 'clean workshop'.

    I found a copy of Revere Copper and Brass's 1945 "A Graphical Design Procedure For Radiant Panel Heating" in a used bookstore, and would be honored to scan it and offer it to the Library, if that's appropriate.

    I don't know how they calculate heat-loss, but I guarantee there are no Microsoft products used!

    Vbob
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