"Radiant Heat Suggestions" Topic

Looking to add radiant heat to my kitchen, since the ceramic tile is very cold in the morning. Big reason for this, is the cold basement underneath, which I will be addressing, but wanted to add another heat source (besides baseboard heat) to the room.

Also, we are planning on redoing the Kitchen in the next year (or so), but wanted to start to look at some options. Lastly, it needs to be (somewhat) cost-effective, as slippers are a cheap alternative tot he problem.

So questions:

1. I know that there are both heated-water based and electric sytems. but don't know if they are new construcion or add ons?

2. Specific to #1, can a system be run under the Sub flooring to be effective, or does it need to be in between the sub floor, and finished floor
2a. If it is the former is an add-on system available in water and/or electric
2b. If it is the latter, are prefered finished flooring materials with respect to radiance properties, as well as any impact on the materials from the heat sources, "mid" floor materials, etc. (example, if water needs to be in thinset, how well would laminate flooring work over that medium)

3. Any thoughts on effeciences (already thinking that electric would be more expensive to operate) vs. installation costs?

Thanks in advance for your responces.

I can't answer all your questions, but I've experienced radiant heat -

My first experience was a radiant heating system used in a kitchen, sitting in a cement slab. The floor was toasty, but we abandoned it in place and went with baseboard. It worked, but we also melted all the snow within three feet of the kitchen's exterior walls. The iron pipes used were buried in the the cement floor – leaks (which we never had)required a jack hammer.

Second experience – a friend installed a radiant heat system in his kitchen. A metal grid was nailed to his sub-flooring and high pressure, heat resistant plastic tubing was installed. The tubing ran in four foot wide spans, looping 180 degrees about every six inches and covered the entire floor. The tubing was then covered in a lightweight cement mix and then covered with finished flooring. Estimated life expectancy – damned if I can remember.
Since it was installed by a plumbing/heating firm it wasn't inexpensive.

All the systems were hot water based.

Spend some time in Korea and you fall in love with radiant heat. They have been using it for a couple thousand years and it is very comfortable. When I build my next house, it will be all radiant heat.

There are add on systems that can be attached to the sub floor from the basement. I have seen them, but know only enough about installation to be dangerous. This is one area where you need to search the web and get some expert advise.

(speaking only from electrical wire – radiant heating) We were going to install it in the upstairs bathroom of our house. It's a bit cold in that room in the winter and my wife wanted stone floors. We decided against it because for it work efficiently, everything has to be perfect. There can be no shifting of floors in case something gets pierced. All the wires have to dead on. Plus, it's a bit like turning on an electric blanket.

As for radiant heating by water, it's the bomb. My sister-in-law installed it in their first loft. It was the only source of heat and was very efficient. Those floors were toasty. Good stuff. Saved on the heating bill as well. They are artists and had 25 foot ceilings. At least the floor felt warm rather than the other way around. Of course in the summer, the place felt like a sauna.

My brother used to be the southeast sales rep for Warm Board. Of course, that was more than a year ago, so no current contacts with the company, but it seemed like a nifty concept.

warmboard.com