Securing Pex

Kevin O. Pulver

Antman, if the Wirsbo pex rails don't snap in tight, it's the WRONG SIZE as you correctly suspected. I've heard of guys using the orange plastic snowfence/safety barricade to tie tubing to, but it won't be nearly as tight as pex rail I wouldn't think. Mark Eatherton uses nothing but wire mesh in concrete as far as I know, BUT it's the flat panels, NOT the stuff in rolls. The flat panels would probably lay down real well and maybe be less money and work than the amount of pex rail you might need. That's the best idea I can come up with. Kevin

antman

Existsing slab below grade

Just wondering what works best when putting 1/2" pex down on an existing concrete basement floor where they are going to put down an 1 1/2" concrete overpour (mud job) then tile. it is about 500 sq. ft. so it is alot of tubing. I had used the Wirsbo plastic pex rails with multicore on a small application and did not like it, very loose and sloppy, I don't know maybe my supplier gave me rail for 5/8" but it didn't snap in as it suggests. Any suggestions? Is there a better brand of pex rails? It looks like both Wirsbo(I mean, Uponor, ah' whatever) and Viega look like they are made the same just a different brand name.

Thanks as always.

Anthony

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Ted_9

Wire

What about a steel grid. Are they laying it down?

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antman

I had recommended to the owner to put down 4x8 sheets of 6x6" wire so I could tie to it, but the tile man said he didin't want it. So I was thinking about the pex rails shot into the concrete. I was wondering if anyone had better luck with the pex rails and thought the tubing SHOULD snap into and hold it. Plus I was thinking multicore (pex-al-pex) would be alittle more stiff and retain nice straight loops, but when I had used it last time it looked pretty bad.

Any thoughts?

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Ted_9

tile guys

Why does the tile guy have a problem with the grid?

I want to learn here.

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antman

Good Question!

Same one I asked only to hear "he doesn't want it"

So before I give my propsal I want options.
1- secured to wire mesh.
2- secured with pex rails.
3- ?

Thanks, Ant


Go figure

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harvey

pex rails

we use the plastic pex rails and they work great! We layout the rails first and use construction glue to hold them down. By the time you get them all glued, the batch that were glued first are ready for pex. One day (trip) job.

harvey

pex rails

we use the plastic pex rails and they work great! We layout the rails first and use construction glue to hold them down. By the time you get them all glued, the batch that were glued first are ready for pex. One day (trip) job.

hr

How would

the tile setter know the slab has mesh, clips, whatever?

If anything the mesh would help prevent cracks from traveling up through his tile! Although a tile membrane is always a good idea.

I agree with the PAP, it seems to stay put better. I did a rubber tube over slab years ago with just construction adhesive and those half circle plastic nail clips with concrete nails installed in them.

I'll bet construction adhesive would hold PAP if it had enough dry time. Make sure the pex manufacture approves the adhesvie you plan on using.

I'll bet the foam adhesive would be kinder to plastic tube than the regular smelly construction stuff

hot rod

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Nron_13

we use wire mesh shot to the floor so they wont float and yes use the flat sheets the rolls are a nightmare .

Cosmo_3

Insulation?

How are you insulating teh radiant slab?

maybe you can use the foam staples if you are using foam to insulate over the existing concrete?

I think the problem with the tile guy is the fact that tile setter's mud is a very dry mixture. The last commercial job I did, I stapled to the foam. I know that the tile guys did not encapsulate around the pipe as well as a wet concrete float would have, but I gave myself a good bit of lee way w/ the design. It has been working fine on the original design temp of 112F, so..... so far so good!


Cosmo Valavanis

Dependable P.H.C. Inc.

Scott Gregg

Cosmo beat me to it!

You need to insulate first anyway.

www.thebarrier.com or www.microfoil.com

Then you can hilti fixing rails over it or use mesh clips if you decide to do mesh. I think the staples would be too long.

Rehau has fixing rails that work great.