Slab VS Crawl for radiant.....which is better?

PG

I'm putting an addition on my house (28'x8'). The existing house has GFA. I'm doing a staple up floor warming on existing kitchen and bath. The kitchen will be extended out and I was planning to heat this area with radiant in Gypcrete. Same for the family room being expanded, and hopefully same way for the 2 rooms being added upstairs. I think a slab is cheaper then a crawl to start with. Does anyone know which will work out better overall for infllor heat, service, etc.? Thanks

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What's your climate?

Exposure of the addition? Solar gain needs to be considered on any south facing rooms. Slabs on sunny south exposures can be a drag to get a good control handle on! If that is your case I thing a low mass dry system ( transfer plates under the subfloor) would be my choice.

Slabs (high mass) are slower to respond to temperature swings, but they do store heat and spread the heat better, in my opinion.

Crawl spaces offer you the ability to get back under and tinker with not only radiant, but wiring, plumbing, etc.

If you go crawl, make it a nice one Grade big rocks out, install a vapor barrier and maybe some pea gravel for working on.

If it were my crawl space, I would spring for some InsulTarp, white side up it would brighten the space, provide an excellent vapor barrier, and is a great product to crawl around on.

I drag scrap pieces of InsulTarp to any crawl space I have to work in.

hot rod

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hr

What's your climate?

Exposure of the addition? Solar gain needs to be considered on any south facing rooms. Slabs on sunny south exposures can be a drag to get a good control handle on! If that is your case I thing a low mass dry system ( transfer plates under the subfloor) would be my choice.

Slabs (high mass) are slower to respond to temperature swings, but they do store heat and spread the heat better, in my opinion.

Crawl spaces offer you the ability to get back under and tinker with not only radiant, but wiring, plumbing, etc.

If you go crawl, make it a nice one Grade big rocks out, install a vapor barrier and maybe some pea gravel for working on.

If it were my crawl space, I would spring for some InsulTarp, white side up it would brighten the space, provide an excellent vapor barrier, and is a great product to crawl around on.

I drag scrap pieces of InsulTarp to any crawl space I have to work in.

hot rod

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

PG

Metro Detroit climate

addition is facing north East. Early sun, shade later. No plumbing going in. My electrician said no prob with a slab. Why not put down a slab, then insulation then 2" or so of a gypcrete product?

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