Underfloor heating Q

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jc100

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Anyone done their own electric underfloor heating? Easy or not?

I want to put underfloor heating on top of concrete slab and underneath engineered hardwood flooring. Room is 15x15 with a 3x14 hallway too. Not sure which system to get...read about cable that requires a skim coat on top, mats that do and do not require a skim coat. Addition of insulation boards on top of the slab and under the heating cables seems to be universal advice except for one system that appears to be insulation, cables and underlay for a floating floor all in one system. That's reasonably pricey though but ultimately might be the easiest solution.

Also, the electrical hook up...I'm replacing electric baseboards with this system so I assume I'll just be able to use that circuit but I have no clue...I'm an electrical dumbass. At the very least I'll get an electrician in for that bit.

Thinking about the DIY option as I was quoted about $5K for the underfloor heating, thermostats and the engineered hardwood installation but without the electrical hook-up. Will get a few more quotes too.

Anyone got any input?
 
jc100 said:
Anyone done their own electric underfloor heating? Easy or not?

I want to put underfloor heating on top of concrete slab and underneath engineered hardwood flooring. Room is 15x15 with a 3x14 hallway too. Not sure which system to get...read about cable that requires a skim coat on top, mats that do and do not require a skim coat. Addition of insulation boards on top of the slab and under the heating cables seems to be universal advice except for one system that appears to be insulation, cables and underlay for a floating floor all in one system. That's reasonably pricey though but ultimately might be the easiest solution.

Also, the electrical hook up...I'm replacing electric baseboards with this system so I assume I'll just be able to use that circuit but I have no clue...I'm an electrical dumbass. At the very least I'll get an electrician in for that bit.

Thinking about the DIY option as I was quoted about $5K for the underfloor heating, thermostats and the engineered hardwood installation but without the electrical hook-up. Will get a few more quotes too.

Anyone got any input?
Click to expand...

Use a Nuheat mat system. It needs a dedicated 120 or 240v circuit. At 20amps I believe the 240 circuit will heat up to about 300sq-ft so that's the way you wanna go.

And be sure to install it on an insulation barrier and then either float or glue your floor down on top. No matter what you'll have to cover the mat (or cable) with thinset. Check here for insulation on top of slab: http://www.nuheat.com/download.html?file=/docs/nuheat-slab-insulation-barriers.pdf
 
mmmnaked said:
Use a Nuheat mat system. It needs a dedicated 120 or 240v circuit. At 20amps I believe the 240 circuit will heat up to about 300sq-ft so that's the way you wanna go.

And be sure to install it on an insulation barrier and then either float or glue your floor down on top. No matter what you'll have to cover the mat (or cable) with thinset. Check here for insulation on top of slab: http://www.nuheat.com/download.html?file=/docs/nuheat-slab-insulation-barriers.pdf
Click to expand...

Thanks...dumb question but are the baseboard heaters that are already in the room likely to be on a 240V circuit? I think my house capacity is maxed out at the moment and I'd like to see if I can do this without adding significant cost by getting the supply to the house upgraded/modified.
 
jc100 said:
Thanks...dumb question but are the baseboard heaters that are already in the room likely to be on a 240V circuit? I think my house capacity is maxed out at the moment and I'd like to see if I can do this without adding significant cost by getting the supply to the house upgraded/modified.
Click to expand...

Most likely 240.
Hopefully you have a circuit dedicated to that room so your not effecting heaters that will be left installed.
 
There are 30 or 40 different manufacturers and most are similar. I don't recommend it for a primary heat source (Replacing baseboards heaters) Most mat systems put out 10 - 12 watts per square foot and that usually isn't enough to heat a room. If you put in more heat the floor can become too warn for some activities. Feet sweat, you can't put down carpet. Heated wooden floors are a touchy subject. Some manufacturers say yes and other say no.

A lot depends on where the room is and how you will be using it.
 
jc100 said:
Thanks...dumb question but are the baseboard heaters that are already in the room likely to be on a 240V circuit? I think my house capacity is maxed out at the moment and I'd like to see if I can do this without adding significant cost by getting the supply to the house upgraded/modified.
Click to expand...

I may be wrong of course, but if there's three wires (black, red, white) then its 240v. My house was built in 73, and that's how all the baseboards are.
 
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