Remodeling the office (new floor, ceiling & adding insulation) passive house retrofit - Page 14

Daox · 08-14-13, 09:55 AM

More work was done this past weekend. I ran a duct from the main trunk of my furnace across to my sunroom which had no vent in it at all. So I can finally get some decent heat in there. I also started dry walling the ceiling. Its kind of starting to look like a real live room again. I'll really have to get pics up soon!

Daox · 08-19-13, 08:55 PM

Woohoo, I finally got the pictures up.

I am no HVAC tech, but I figured I probably can't mess up the ducting any worse than it already is in the house... so I ran a 6" duct into my sunroom. This at least gets some forced air into the sunroom. Before this it only had the hydronically heated floors (which weren't being used) and I had to have the single vent from the office blowing through the door opening to keep the sunroom warm.

Here is the new duct that was run.

Here is the end of it. Ideally it probably should have been run farther into the room, that wasn't what I did because it would have been a ton harder to do due to space constraints.

And here is the drywalling on the ceiling and you can see the outer wall is already drywalled. Its starting to look like a room again.

gasstingy · 08-21-13, 01:02 PM

Looks nice. It's a really good thing my wife can't see those great looking french doors or she might be planning my next project for me.

Daox · 08-23-13, 10:33 AM

Thanks. I'm really starting to look forward to this thing being done... Its been way too long.

gasstingy · 08-23-13, 10:51 AM

Don't I know it. I haven't finished my garage / workshop project yet. I call it my never ending project.

Daox · 09-24-13, 12:12 PM

Back to the office remodel again! I worked on drywalling the ceiling again last night and I'll be at it again tonight.

However, now I'm trying to figure out the floor heating ahead of time. I think my current setup idea is pretty good, but I am always willing to hear suggestions.

The floor will be hydronically heated via my solar hot water system (which isn't yet up) and probably will eventually have a boiler backup. This means it is designed with lower water temperatures in mind.

The current plan is to use 3/8" pex tubing in wood grooves on 6" centers with aluminum heat spreaders similar to this:

I will be running a few of the 3/8" lines in parallel to reduce the pumping power required for it. See more info here: http://ecorenovator.org/forum/renova...r-heating.html

I have about 1 3/8" of floor depth to match the other rooms. From top to bottom I have:

.56" bamboo flooring
~.02" heat spreader
.50" pex tubing
.25" XPS insulation for a thermal break (I assume I can get this via special order)
1.33" total thickenss

I am a little worried about how I'll lay out the tubing. With 6" on center tubing I have to either find 3/8" PEX with a 3" bend radius (typical is more like 4" according to pex universe), or make the tubing layout a little fancy.

AC_Hacker · 09-24-13, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daox

I am a little worried about how I'll lay out the tubing. With 6" on center tubing I have to either find 3/8" PEX with a 3" bend radius (typical is more like 4", or make the tubing layout a little fancy.

This should help. This way you only have 2 sharp U-turns, which can be 'fudged'.

-AC

gasstingy · 09-24-13, 02:22 PM

That diagram is remarkably similar to the pex layout in my garage / workshop, 'cept I have 3 loops instead of 4. Now, if I could only find the time/enthusiasm to complete it.

Daox · 09-26-13, 02:50 PM

I like that idea AC. I could even opt for a small 3-4 port manifold versus using tees. That would flow better.

AC_Hacker · 09-27-13, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daox

I like that idea AC. I could even opt for a small 3-4 port manifold versus using tees. That would flow better.

Yeah, I like this type of layout, too. It was one of our European EcoRenovators that suggested it to me.

The picture was the first one that I came across of the spiral setup.

Don't know if you recall, but there was a thermograph I posted of a radiant floor where the direction of flow alternated with each row. It had the most even thermal pattern.

Also, it's a good idea to have the warmest loop right next to the exterior wall, and work inwards, if you get my drift.

Puzzle time, for sure.

I'm not so terribly far behind you... I have just stripped all the lathe & plaster from my renovate-room. pretty much the same kind of project, only smaller scale, I'm pretty sure.

Best,

-AC

08-14-13, 09:55 AM	#131
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	More work was done this past weekend. I ran a duct from the main trunk of my furnace across to my sunroom which had no vent in it at all. So I can finally get some decent heat in there. I also started dry walling the ceiling. Its kind of starting to look like a real live room again. I'll really have to get pics up soon! __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-19-13, 08:55 PM	#132
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Woohoo, I finally got the pictures up. I am no HVAC tech, but I figured I probably can't mess up the ducting any worse than it already is in the house... so I ran a 6" duct into my sunroom. This at least gets some forced air into the sunroom. Before this it only had the hydronically heated floors (which weren't being used) and I had to have the single vent from the office blowing through the door opening to keep the sunroom warm. Here is the new duct that was run. Here is the end of it. Ideally it probably should have been run farther into the room, that wasn't what I did because it would have been a ton harder to do due to space constraints. And here is the drywalling on the ceiling and you can see the outer wall is already drywalled. Its starting to look like a room again. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-23-13, 10:33 AM	#134
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Thanks. I'm really starting to look forward to this thing being done... Its been way too long. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

09-24-13, 12:12 PM	#136
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Back to the office remodel again! I worked on drywalling the ceiling again last night and I'll be at it again tonight. However, now I'm trying to figure out the floor heating ahead of time. I think my current setup idea is pretty good, but I am always willing to hear suggestions. The floor will be hydronically heated via my solar hot water system (which isn't yet up) and probably will eventually have a boiler backup. This means it is designed with lower water temperatures in mind. The current plan is to use 3/8" pex tubing in wood grooves on 6" centers with aluminum heat spreaders similar to this: I will be running a few of the 3/8" lines in parallel to reduce the pumping power required for it. See more info here: http://ecorenovator.org/forum/renova...r-heating.html I have about 1 3/8" of floor depth to match the other rooms. From top to bottom I have: .56" bamboo flooring ~.02" heat spreader .50" pex tubing .25" XPS insulation for a thermal break (I assume I can get this via special order) 1.33" total thickenss I am a little worried about how I'll lay out the tubing. With 6" on center tubing I have to either find 3/8" PEX with a 3" bend radius (typical is more like 4" according to pex universe), or make the tubing layout a little fancy. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

09-26-13, 02:50 PM	#139
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	I like that idea AC. I could even opt for a small 3-4 port manifold versus using tees. That would flow better. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-21-13, 01:02 PM	#133
gasstingy Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Arab, AL Posts: 491 Thanks: 109 Thanked 49 Times in 43 Posts	Looks nice. It's a really good thing my wife can't see those great looking french doors or she might be planning my next project for me.

08-23-13, 10:51 AM	#135
gasstingy Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Arab, AL Posts: 491 Thanks: 109 Thanked 49 Times in 43 Posts	Don't I know it. I haven't finished my garage / workshop project yet. I call it my never ending project.

09-24-13, 02:22 PM	#138
gasstingy Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Arab, AL Posts: 491 Thanks: 109 Thanked 49 Times in 43 Posts	That diagram is remarkably similar to the pex layout in my garage / workshop, 'cept I have 3 loops instead of 4. Now, if I could only find the time/enthusiasm to complete it.