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Forums > Green Building Technologies > Radiant Heating > Subject: Gypcrete/Lightweight Concrete subflooring?

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UnregisteredUser is Offline
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Posts:2321
02/17/2004 6:47 PM  
I'm designing my house for radiant heat and a suspended slab/gypcrete pour. (I've looked at warmboard and it's just not even close to cost competitive).

What type of subfloor do I need before putting down gypcrete? Does it need to be treated? Do I pour directly onto a glued/screwed/t&G subfloor, or do I need a barrier? How do these things change if I use a lightweight concrete?

Thanks,
T
heatboyUser is Offline
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Posts:2
02/18/2004 7:57 PM  
The typical sub-floor will work fine. 3/4" Advantec flooring is becoming very popular. The last three homes I have put radiant in all have used it. 1.5" of gypsum based flooring will add 12 to 14 lbs. per square foot load to the building. The tube is stapled down to the sub-floor and a latex based liduid will be spryed by the gyp crew just before the pour. No need for any other barrier to be installed by you.

Concrete will be higher in weight. In the 15+ pound range. Normal contruction practices are fine unless spans are long. I would recommend TGI or open web joist designs. Much stronger and less deflection than nominal 2x joists.

The advantages of gypcrete of Warmboard are many. The primary one being that Warmboard is all made around 12" tube centers. At least half if not two thirds of the loops I install are 9" or 6" centers. Warmboard is a great idea. It's just not practical for the way I do radiant. There are other options for radiant on top of the floor. Here are some: http://climatecadvanced.com/installation/New/new.html
http://climatecadvanced.com/installation/retrofit/Thermofin/thermofin.html

Warm Regards,

heatboy
www.climatecadvanced.com
Member - Wirsbo Contractor Advisory Board
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Forums > Green Building Technologies > Radiant Heating > Gypcrete/Lightweight Concrete subflooring?


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