Can you get radiant heat flooring in very small sections?

Can you get radiant heat flooring in very small sections? (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid

Message

Toppingfrmbottom -> Can you get radiant heat flooring in very small sections? (9/15/2010 1:05:31 PM)
For those of you who don't know what radiant heat flooring is, it's this mesh stuff with wires running through it and it heats the floors. Kind of similar to the way an electric blanket works. I'd guess. I'd love to have some radiant flooring for the concrete floor where my feet are in contact with the floor the most, since the cold flooring is a bitch and painful to my feet, and the rug I had there did no good. It'd be a very small patch, so probably not feasible even if it's doable, but the question is still a good one to ask, I think.

DomKen -> RE: Can you get radiant heat flooring in very small sections? (9/15/2010 1:24:50 PM)
You'd have to tear up the concrete slab and install theradiant heating system and then pour new concrete. Seems a lot of work for small gain. try an electric blanket set on low under your feet or warm socks.

Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: Can you get radiant heat flooring in very small sections? (9/15/2010 1:40:31 PM)
A lot of people I have seen on home remodling puts it right over the existing floor. quote: ORIGINAL: DomKen You'd have to tear up the concrete slab and install theradiant heating system and then pour new concrete. Seems a lot of work for small gain. try an electric blanket set on low under your feet or warm socks.

mnottertail -> RE: Can you get radiant heat flooring in very small sections? (9/15/2010 1:44:32 PM)
and repour...the situation is you would have this mesh (which for safety reasons you should not walk directly on) sitting atop a 4" plus hunk of concrete quite large, and even reactionaries do not believe that heat descends, so youd be sticking the heat to the smear at a heavy rate all day long while not satisfactorily heating your floor.......so maybe you could get one of those heat the planting soil mats for seedlings, and put it right where you need it, on top of a rug??????????

LaTigresse -> RE: Can you get radiant heat flooring in very small sections? (9/15/2010 1:46:03 PM)
http://http://www.tilestoreonline.com/Radiant_Floor_Heating_s/114.htm http://www.thermosoft.com/

Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: Can you get radiant heat flooring in very small sections? (9/15/2010 1:58:12 PM)
And by directly on, you mean on the mesh, not on the mesh with flooring over it right? Because on all the home improvement shows, they lay the radiant flooring, put a floor on top of it, like tile, or laminant or what ever, an then people walk on the floor like it's a regular floor. I could get a small electric blanket throw, like another user suggested, or something like you said yes. quote: ORIGINAL: mnottertail and repour...the situation is you would have this mesh (which for safety reasons you should not walk directly on) sitting atop a 4" plus hunk of concrete quite large, and even reactionaries do not believe that heat descends, so youd be sticking the heat to the smear at a heavy rate all day long while not satisfactorily heating your floor.......so maybe you could get one of those heat the planting soil mats for seedlings, and put it right where you need it, on top of a rug??????????

DomKen -> RE: Can you get radiant heat flooring in very small sections? (9/15/2010 3:40:02 PM)
There has to be floor above the system. Do you want to put a floor over the concrete slab? If so you can do that. http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12590

Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: Can you get radiant heat flooring in very small sections? (9/15/2010 3:42:22 PM)
Yeah, that's what we'd do. But the idea of a small heated throw is nice too. and probably cheaper lol. quote: ORIGINAL: DomKen There has to be floor above the system. Do you want to put a floor over the concrete slab? If so you can do that. http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12590

Termyn8or -> RE: Can you get radiant heat flooring in very small sections? (9/15/2010 3:58:03 PM)
This might work and save you some trouble. Get a waterbed heater, a throw rug about the same size and a piece of roll roofing cut to the same size. The roll roofing should unsulate it from the concrete enough to let it heat but not overheat too much, then the rug goes on top and your lil footsies should be nice and comfy. Note that you'll probably end up setting the thermostat very low, and I don't think I would leave it on if you go on a cross country trip. In other words just use it when you need it. You might also consider a thin sheet of aluminum between the rug and the heater to spread the heat if you want the area bigger than the waterbed heater. I don't mean aluminum foil, a sheet about 0.025" thick should be suitable. It may be desirable even if the heater pad is big enough, it should spead the heat more smoothly. A waterbed heater might have hot spots that would normally be dissipated by the water in the waterbed, and you don't want hot spots. Just a relatively cheap and easy idea that might work............. T

pahunkboy -> RE: Can you get radiant heat flooring in very small sections? (9/15/2010 4:16:37 PM)
I knew someone with radient heat. He had to have it torn out- when it developed a leak. He then went to baseboard. Gas. The water wrecks the pipes over time.

littlewonder -> RE: Can you get radiant heat flooring in very small sections? (9/15/2010 5:05:04 PM)
radiant flooring is not cheap but it can be done in small areas...if you have the money. Plus if you get it expect your electric bill to skyrocket. Yeah....a heated blanket is gonna be tremendously cheaper lol

MasterG2kTR -> RE: Can you get radiant heat flooring in very small sections? (9/15/2010 5:39:37 PM)
The type of flooring you are talking about can easily be made custom size to almost any size you want. However as some have said you can not simply put that on the floor by itself. Rather than pouring a new floor you can put it down and put some cheap(?) ceramic tile over the top of it. This is also NOT advised as a Do-It-Yourself project. In my job I have dealt with this stuff, and I have seen firsthand what it takes to do it right. There are a lot of home improvement projects I will take on myself...this is not one of them. Termy, your idea of a waterbed heater is not viable. They are designed to for very low, very slow output of heat. However, there are small "welcome mat" sized heaters that are designed for that purpose which would work for the OP's purpose. You might try looking at McMaster-Carr (mcmaster.com) they have (or at least had at one time) them available.

pogo4pres -> RE: Can you get radiant heat flooring in very small sections? (9/15/2010 5:45:01 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: pahunkboy I knew someone with radient heat. He had to have it torn out- when it developed a leak. He then went to baseboard. Gas. The water wrecks the pipes over time. Wasn't the water attacking the copper pipe pahunk, it was the concrete, the newer flexible PVC hot water radiant heat systems are guaranteed for 50 years or so. So if you have a "normal" flooring system not a slab the hot water is the way to go to begin with. Constructively, Some Knucklehead in NJ

Termyn8or -> RE: Can you get radiant heat flooring in very small sections? (9/15/2010 6:14:27 PM)
"Termy, your idea of a waterbed heater is not viable. They are designed to for very low, very slow output of heat. " I don't know about that, a waterbed has ALOT of water in it. Converting calories to BTU would probably reveal that they have more output than is apparent. I don't feel like doing the calculations right now, but it seems like it would be so, offhand. I remember when I bought a used waterbed years ago. The guy said " Don't expect this thing to get warm for at least a few days " , little did he know that I have two hot water tanks and it was comfy the first night. But then I was "cooking" with gas. What would concern me more is the possibility of hot spots. A waterbed heater does not have to have an even output because the thermal conductivity and mass of the water takes care of that. It needn't be designed as carefully as say - an electric blanket. And IIRC they have a warning not to power up without being under that mass of water, probably for that exact reason. But with the sheer weight of the water on it, I doubt it would be a problem walking on it. Maybe if I ever get bored I'll try it, I think I still have that old waterbed heater in the basement. I gave up on the waterbed when the repair kit ran out, too many leaks. But then being me I had it overfilled and the mattress covered the sides. (it was an oversize mattress) If I try it I'll let you know. At least I am not afraid of fire, this place is worth more burned to the ground in this economy :-) T

DesFIP -> RE: Can you get radiant heat flooring in very small sections? (9/15/2010 7:34:36 PM)
No, you don't put it down with no set up. You put down a layer of thinset, a sort of concrete product used to set tile in, then the mesh, then another layer of thinset, and then your floor proper. If you do otherwise, you're at risk of burning down the house. (10 Grand in Your Hand tends to skip on explaining the how to and move on to the showy stuff. Holmes on Homes goes into the gritty details. Hell, The Man's a contractor and he watches Holmes on Homes and learns about better ways of doing things and new products.) Smallest section I've seen was 3' by 6' and a couple of hundred dollars. Get a sheepskin rug or electric socks. Personally I'm fine in smart wool socks inside of slippers in cold weather.

DesFIP -> RE: Can you get radiant heat flooring in very small sections? (9/15/2010 7:37:04 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: DesFIP No, you don't put it down with no set up. You put down concrete backerboard over the existing floor (or remove the existing floor), then a layer of thinset, a sort of concrete product used to set tile in, then the mesh, then another layer of thinset, and then your floor proper. If you do otherwise, you're at risk of burning down the house. (10 Grand in Your Hand tends to skip on explaining the how to and move on to the showy stuff. Holmes on Homes goes into the gritty details. Hell, The Man's a contractor and he watches Holmes on Homes and learns about better ways of doing things and new products.) Smallest section I've seen was 3' by 6' and a couple of hundred dollars. Get a sheepskin rug or electric socks. Personally I'm fine in smart wool socks inside of slippers in cold weather.

Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: Can you get radiant heat flooring in very small sections? (9/15/2010 7:56:49 PM)
The show was money hunters, and they show you how to remodel, on a budget, and try for everything you wanted, like lets say you wanted what would be a 40 k remodel but you only have 19 k. However you REALLY had to have, or had your heart set on radiant flooring. They'll get you radiant flooring, but they'll do it in a budget smart way, that allows you a form of what you wanted, but in a non break the bank way. I don't know if it's a good quality show or not, but that is the tittle of the show. Socks and slippers don't help, I've gone that rout before, usually what happens is my feet will still freeze and ache, despite heavy wool socks, or the socks will annoy my feet and leave huge squeeze dents in my calves where the elastic of the sock sits. I have some carpet I bought to put down, and maybe that will also help a bit. quote: ORIGINAL: DesFIP gritty details. Hell, The Man's a contractor and he watches Holmes on Homes and learns about better ways of doing things and new products.) Smallest section I've seen was 3' by 6' and a couple of hundred dollars. Get a sheepskin rug or electric socks. Personally I'm fine in smart wool socks inside of slippers in cold weather.

DomKen -> RE: Can you get radiant heat flooring in very small sections? (9/15/2010 11:16:30 PM)
It honestly sounds like it might be a problem not so much with the warmth of the floor but in the circulation in your feet.

Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: Can you get radiant heat flooring in very small sections? (9/16/2010 1:49:38 AM)
DomKen, I thought so too and I tried to ask my dr, and she automatically rejected it. She said I am to young to have cirulation problems. Though I may broach it at another time with my new dr. All though the concrete is a cold bitch to have near your skin, also lol. quote: ORIGINAL: DomKen It honestly sounds like it might be a problem not so much with the warmth of the floor but in the circulation in your feet.

soul2share -> RE: Can you get radiant heat flooring in very small sections? (9/16/2010 4:04:19 AM)
Get socks...just get socks......

Page: [1] 2 3 4 next > >>

Collarchat.com © 2025

Terms of Service

0.046875