Which method????

Dave_22

New addition 13X9- mudroom/foyer. Am planning on radiant next year in the rest of the house, most of which will be underfloor w/plates. Probably aMunchkin boiler. How should I do this foyer? It will be over a crawlspace. Thermfin on top?? Gypcrete?? Panel system?? Whattya think?? Thanks.

Dave_22

Anyone..........

> New addition 13X9- mudroom/foyer. Am planning on

> radiant next year in the rest of the house, most

> of which will be underfloor w/plates. Probably

> aMunchkin boiler. How should I do this foyer? It

> will be over a crawlspace. Thermfin on top??

> Gypcrete?? Panel system?? Whattya think?? Thanks.

Dave_22

Anyone..........

Any opinions- Platetes on top with sleepers seems easy to me- what about preformance??

Bill Nye

I really like

Stadler-Vega climate panel, or Wirsbo Quick-trak. It is the 1/2" plywood with grooves for tubing and aluminum plate on back.

It is fairly easy to install, you need the subfloor anyway, and you can get the carpenter or GC to help install it. It does not build the floor up too much.

I've done several projects with it , no complaints.

Dave_22

Would you just install backerboard over the top then for your tiles???

hr

Depends more on your

skills and time. Certainly plywood is available nearby? Most of the lumber yards or box stores will rip strips for little or no cost. This allows you to build your own system. I like the ThermoFin U fins for an over top application.

Now you are free to customize your layout, spacing, return bends, etc. It also allows the use of any manufactures 1/2" pex, or my favorite, PAP.

I think the heavier gauge aluminum ThermoFins and plates just below the backer board offer the best transfer and quickest response system you can build.

I have not personally installed the Wirsbo or Stadler product, so I can't offer an opinion.

Their products sure offer a "ready to install" feature to them, and the contractors here report excellent performance.

Both should work fine if you confirm this with a heat loss calc for the space.

hot rod

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Dave_22

Fill in between?

Thanks HR. On the radiant engineering site, they say to fill in betwwen the sleepers with a high-strength liquid cement compound (ie. FixAll). Is this common? There have been a few people who never mentioned this. Thanks again.

Dave G.

hr

Sure that would work

I usually have a batch of 8" wide plywood strips and end up with an entire plywood floor with ThermoFin every 8".

This picture is a 12" OC.

In all honesty I don't do the "wood working" aspect of the job. carpentry labor rates work out better for the "check signer

In all my wood strip/ ThermoFin installs the carpenters relieved the plywood strip edges fro the fins to lie flat with the ply. Simply run the strips through the table saw on edge.

You might chose a fill material for the loop ends. i prefer to give the most amount of nail surface for the hardwood or backer board installer. Cuts down on scrap that way.

You know, it's hard to say which system is "best" as you can see the concept is similar from product to product, store bought to site built, etc. It comes down to what works best for YOUR application and DIY comfort range.

hot rod

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