pavers

wetheat1_2

I would suggest that you get with a local Wirsbo contractor and ask him to do a design. I can help whom ever you choose with the calculations. If you need help locating a contractor call our customer relations group for a list. 800-321-4739

Tim D.

Keith_8

snowmelt under pavers

Is a snowmelt system as effective when placed under concrete pavers as it is in poured concrete?

We are weighing some options for the front side walk and patio and the snowmelt system sounds pretty good after this winter.

Keith

Mark Eatherton1

It depends...

Are the pavers imbedded in sand? If so, then no, it's not as effective as cement. The sand has air in it which acts as an insulator. If the pavers are imbedded in cement, then they wouldn't be as effective as straight cement, but it WOULD be better than pavers laid in sand.

It depends...

ME

J.C.A._3

Mark is right,

Sand or stone dust will decrease the effectiveness of the heat transfer LOTS!

I would look into a "stamped" type system. Looks like pavers but can be made in concrete or hot top. Solid surface will cut down on the load AND the amount of time to install it. Chris

Keith_8

I was afraid of that

Makes sense that the sand would act as a insulator.

Installing the pavers type system is a job I would tackle. Stamped concrete is beyond what I want to tackle on ny own.

We had a local company come out and give us some nice ideas of what can be done with the stamped concrete.

It looks like the best long term solution.
Lets see if the wallet can afford the dreams.

Keith

wetheat1_2

Question

An important consideration or questions is, what do you need the system to do? The thermal conductivity of a sand and pavers application is lower than a poured concrete application for sure, but it may still be able to meet your needs. BTU's required are a function of load and losses so they change only slightly from one application to another. The water temperature will however be higher in the paver application.

Tim D.

Keith_8

Percentages

Any idea what the percentage are? How much warmer will the water need to be to melt the snow and keep it from freezing.

Trying to get a handle on wether or not it's worth the added up front expense of going with poured concrete vs the pavers.

I'd have to check but I would say we had 12 storms this winter that required shoveling. A few were notable.

Keith

Unknown

sand and snow melt

Kieth,

personal experience tells me that concrete is better then COMPRESSED sand with pavers when the system is DRY.

Once melting starts the sand allows some place for the water to drain off to. The water (ie wet sand) will transfer heat MUCH faster the dry sand and concrete.

All depends on what YOU want as a system and as a finished look. When it comes to pavers I have a lot of working systems with sand and pavers. I also have systems with concrete and pavers on top.

steve

Unknown

ONLY wirsbo contractors???

Tim,

We all know you are Wirsbo's rep here but could you maybe be more diplomatic and REAL? Did you know that even NON- Wirsbo contractors (oooooooh I shutter to think that not all contractors bleed green) who know radiant and snow melt are capable of doing such a job?

WOW, go marvel at that.

Hey everyone, stay tuned, coming top a podium near you Tim will tell us how Wirsbo created physics just before Al Gore created the Internet!

skw

Keith_8

Design Help

Thanks Tim,
I will turn to my local vender for some help in laying out the system.

My main objective is to melt the snow with out breaking the bank. I suppose its not a bad trade off to have a longer run time to achieve the results vs upfront costs.

Interesting thought that the wet sand acts as a conductor.

Keith

Keith

hr

Plenty of ski areas

have pavers set in sand that are melted. Even with a slab underneath, the sand is used as a setting bed and to lock them together, and act as a grout of sorts.

Yeah, it seems the sand would always be wet once the melting starts??

hot rod

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