radiant/ floor warming in a barn

Wes Weber

We have justed purchased a new shop. It as a large barn that was buil for as a cinderblock plant in the forties. There are I beams holding up true 2x12 joists with a double layer of rough oak floor boards.

We would love to install radiant for our trucks to pull in and restock or clean out ect.

Any Ideas on a material we could pour IE gypcrete or the like. It would need to be able to be driven on and be some what flexible.

Maybee this is a pipe dream but idf any one has done this let me know

Wes

harvey

flexible floor?

What about radiant ceiling? What's the heat loss of this place?

hr

Are you considering

driving on a 2X12 framed floor with multiple trucks? Best run that by a engineer to make sure you have enough structure for that weight.

Even adding 1-1/2" of concrete can push a joist system beyond it's safe limits, in some cases.

hot rod

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John MacGregor

barn floor

My advice is to install metal decking, then pour a slab w/radiant and install floor drains. The metal decking will isolate your new slab from any expansion/deflection issues related to a wood floor.

Almost certainly you have enough strength in the floor system. I consulted an engineer for my barn floor. The problem for 2x12s and trucks isnt the joists, its the point load of truck tires, assuming youre not overspanned of course. You said its a cinder block plant though, so I wouldnt worry!
3'x20' piece of decking is about 50 bucks if I remember.
Hire an engineer, will be money well spent.