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Jay-Cee · 12-22-10, 03:03 PM

AC,

I was just sitting here thinking how can a person find a compromise between a full concrete floor vs a staple up scenario??? Perhaps this is a solution:

What if a person used metal studs as a concrete form to make "heat slabs" of a certain dimension? Galvanized metal studs used in commercial construction are thin, light, good transfers of heat, and cheap. They are shaped like a "U" and if layed flat, would yield a "tray" that was 1-1/2" tall x 4",6",8", whatever dimension you like depending on cost and availability.

Let's say you could find 2x6 metal studs on craigslist for a couple bucks each. You could run 1 tube down the middle, because they are easy to cut and work with, you can put them end to end to make a tray that you can run from wall to wall and then fill with the sakrete product of your liking. You can also do them 1 at a time making this a DIY dream. This would give you a preformed "slab" with a heat tube running right through the middle. Maybe you only place a run every 12" in the room, cutting your concrete weight down by x% but still giving you some mass. Fill the voids in between with foam and wood for subfloor support and something to fasten to. If you aren't worried about the raised floor height, this may be a great solution. If you used something cementitious as a substrate (i.e. durock, hardiboard, etc.) then you could further strengthen the thermal bond by applying mortar to the tops of your "heat slabs" as you go.

It seems this may allow each person to micromanage the weight/efficiency trade off .

12-22-10, 03:03 PM	#429
Jay-Cee Lurking Renovator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO - USA Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Hybrid Floor? AC, I was just sitting here thinking how can a person find a compromise between a full concrete floor vs a staple up scenario??? Perhaps this is a solution: What if a person used metal studs as a concrete form to make "heat slabs" of a certain dimension? Galvanized metal studs used in commercial construction are thin, light, good transfers of heat, and cheap. They are shaped like a "U" and if layed flat, would yield a "tray" that was 1-1/2" tall x 4",6",8", whatever dimension you like depending on cost and availability. Let's say you could find 2x6 metal studs on craigslist for a couple bucks each. You could run 1 tube down the middle, because they are easy to cut and work with, you can put them end to end to make a tray that you can run from wall to wall and then fill with the sakrete product of your liking. You can also do them 1 at a time making this a DIY dream. This would give you a preformed "slab" with a heat tube running right through the middle. Maybe you only place a run every 12" in the room, cutting your concrete weight down by x% but still giving you some mass. Fill the voids in between with foam and wood for subfloor support and something to fasten to. If you aren't worried about the raised floor height, this may be a great solution. If you used something cementitious as a substrate (i.e. durock, hardiboard, etc.) then you could further strengthen the thermal bond by applying mortar to the tops of your "heat slabs" as you go. It seems this may allow each person to micromanage the weight/efficiency trade off .