|
07-23-13, 08:10 PM | #1 |
Eco OWNER!!
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: ATL
Posts: 99
Thanks: 25
Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts
|
PEX on slab... need some way to replace carpet...
So I've been searching and searching. I've got carpet in a few rooms. I want to take it out and put pex on the slab. I'm searching for a way to cover the pex and put floor on top. I don't have a lot of thickness at my disposal. I guess the question here is how thin can a PEX installed floor be? I have been looking at can't find a good answer. Maybe I am overthinking this. Can someone help?
__________________
In it for the money (savings) |
07-23-13, 09:10 PM | #2 |
Steve Hull
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: hilly, tree covered Arcadia, OK USA
Posts: 826
Thanks: 241
Thanked 165 Times in 123 Posts
|
This is not ideal, but here is how I would do it. Remove carpet, baseboards and prepare to pour 3 inches of concrete on top of the slab. Pex secured to existing slab.
You need a minimum of 3 inches for a concrete pour to be firm and not to crack. Now shave 3 inches off doors, etc . . . Steve
__________________
consulting on geothermal heating/cooling & rational energy use since 1990 |
07-24-13, 08:51 AM | #3 |
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 5,525
Thanks: 1,162
Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts
|
The way I'm planning on doing it in my office I'm still remodeling is tear my carpet up, put down a layer of rigid foam insulation (prevent heat loss downward and use to adjust to optimum floor height), then wooden spacers for the pex tubing, lay pex tubing in grooves with aluminum heat spreaders (example) as shown below.
Then, you just put your flooring on top of that. In my case I'm going with bamboo. This adds very a minimal amount of thickness to the floor.
__________________
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. |
07-24-13, 08:27 PM | #4 |
a van down by the river
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Kaukauna,WI
Posts: 108
Thanks: 6
Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts
|
Most pours use 2 in of gypcrete, if this is an existing floor you made need to reinforce
__________________
Gary R “If you want total security, go to prison. There you're fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking... is freedom. ” ― Dwight D. Eisenhower |
07-26-13, 09:40 AM | #5 | ||
Supreme EcoRenovator
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,004
Thanks: 303
Thanked 723 Times in 534 Posts
|
Quote:
Hot water piped through an uninsulated slab is the way they use to do it originally. There is heat loss downward but that heat loss seems to stabilize to a certain extent, after a while. There is also heat loss around the edges that doesn't really stabilize. I have heard tales of flowers planted around the perimeter off these houses that lasted through the winter! As far as cracked floors in a concrete pour go, the cracking is to be expected, and crack lines are intentionally put in the concrete to control where the cracks will occur. Quote:
There is a product called Roth Panel that is high-density foam that is faced with .020" aluminum and the PEX channels are already formed in. The high density foam is about 3/4" thick and offers R-3.5 insulation against downward heat migration. Floor goes on top of this. No, not yet. -AC
__________________
I'm not an HVAC technician. In fact, I'm barely even a hacker... |
||
07-26-13, 10:00 AM | #6 |
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 5,525
Thanks: 1,162
Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts
|
That roth panel looks really nice. I don't suppose you have any idea where you can buy it? I didn't see any distributor information on their website.
__________________
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. |
07-26-13, 11:07 AM | #7 | |
Supreme EcoRenovator
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,004
Thanks: 303
Thanked 723 Times in 534 Posts
|
Quote:
I found a supplier local to me that way. -AC
__________________
I'm not an HVAC technician. In fact, I'm barely even a hacker... |
|
07-26-13, 02:08 PM | #8 |
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 5,525
Thanks: 1,162
Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts
|
Blah... I did that. They gave me a few local places. Nobody will sell to me because I'm not liscensed.
__________________
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. |
07-26-13, 05:46 PM | #9 | |
Supreme EcoRenovator
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,004
Thanks: 303
Thanked 723 Times in 534 Posts
|
Quote:
I did find a local installer who would sell Roth Panel to me to DIY, but even though the product looks great, the price was pretty horrible. I'm looking into doing "AC_Hacker Panel". What was holding me back was high density insulating foam. I found some and it's called HIGHLOAD 60 (Dow), R5/in, pretty expensive ($75 per 4'x8'x2"). Thinest is 2". I'm figuring on using a hot wire to cut it into strips, and doing a floor like Vlad did, only using foam (R-5/in) instead of wood (R1/in). I'm figuring on doing a 12'x12' room, and I figure it will take a bit less than 2 panels ($150) to do the job. It would be so much easier to go with Roth Panel, but it's so expensive. -AC
__________________
I'm not an HVAC technician. In fact, I'm barely even a hacker... |
|
07-26-13, 08:11 PM | #10 |
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 5,525
Thanks: 1,162
Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts
|
I'm not sure exactly what licenses are out there, HVAC I assume. I guessed it would be expensive, most of these 'flooring solutions' are, but it would be SO much faster and easier than DIY... I'd at least like to get a cost. What was the estimate for your 12x12 room? Thats not too far off from what my room size is.
__________________
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. |
|
|