radiant heating over cement floor?

[friesenk51]

I am in the design stage of finishing off my basement. Is it possible to lay radiant heat(hot water style)tubing on to the cement floor then install tongue and groove subfloor above the pipes, styrofoam insulation between the tubing. I was thinking about laying carpeting over the subfloor, I understand that most carpet is made for radiant heat.

[imeduc]

Sounds good but the pad and rug will just cut down on the heat you get.

ED

My mistakes dont define me they inform me.

[HayZee518]

I worked a job in Lake Placid where the heating contractor laid PEX tubing on top of poly on the ground just above the rebar screen. They poured the concrete right over the tubing and brought up the zones to a manifold system in one corner.
Is your finish floor going to be floating above the concrete or are you gonna fasten the stringers to the slab?

[friesenk51]

I was going to float the floor over the tubing. do you have to lay new cement over the tubes or can you just put a subfloor over the tubing?

[hvacdesigner]

Radiant tubing can be used "almost" in any application as long as an accurate heat loss is performed. The heat loss will establish the correct amount of tubing to be used and the temperature that the system will operate at. There are numerous ways for an over concrete installation such as a lightweight concrete or Gypspan product, sleepers using aluminum heat transfer plates, pre-fabbed floor panels, etc.
You "must" ask your carpet supplier what the R-factor of the carpet and especially the padding because all carpets are not good for radiant.
Visit www.radiantpanelassociation.org for some general do's and don'ts.

Designs for Comfortable & Efficient Heating & Cooling Systems