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Protecting Warmboard during construction

Last Post 29 Apr 2012 06:37 AM by ACES-Energy. 4 Replies.

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MDH

New Member

Posts:3

03 Feb 2012 12:46 PM
We are working up our plans to build a home in the mountains of Colorado. The build site is at an altitude of 8200 ft. The main portion of the house will be 24’ x 48’ with a prow on the end with the view. The main floor will be above a walk-out basement, and have a 24’ x 24’ master suite wing off the main portion (currently not planning to extend the basement under the master). There will be a second “half” floor with bedrooms, full bath and a loft area. The great room, on the main floor, will have a high (20+ feet) ceiling. We want radiant floor heating throughout. We also want to use ICFs for the basement and SIPs for walls and roof, and possibly water-to-water geothermal. We are working up the heat load calculations, so don’t have those numbers yet. With a big glass area in the prow, I’m sure that is going to add significantly to the load figure; but with a grand view, it has to be. We plan to have tile flooring in the 2.5 bathrooms and kitchen, and hardwood (maybe bamboo) for the rest. Now to my question… We want to use Warmboard, but are concerned about PEX exposure/damage during construction. I believe we will need cement board under the tiled portions. It seems to me that the cement board could be laid down after the PEX is run & tested, and that would protect the tubing – of course the underlying tubing locations would need to be clearly marked. Could we also have a thin layer of plywood (or?) in the areas of the wood flooring – also marked? I know the plywood (or?) would add to the R-value, but perhaps we could use thinner hardwood.

ICFHybrid

Veteran Member

Posts:3039

03 Feb 2012 05:55 PM
Can't you just throw down sheets of OSB until you are ready to lay flooring? At $.20/sf it is pretty cheap and can still be used as someone's building materials afterwards, or even donate it to Habitat for Humanity for the write-off.

MDH

New Member

Posts:3

03 Feb 2012 08:19 PM
Thanks, that's a great idea!

lsmart

New Member

Posts:1

06 Feb 2012 08:09 PM
MDH- Thank you for your interest in Warmboard. Warmboard panels are rated Exposure 1, which in combination with the waterproof aluminum skin means our panels will withstand the elements better than most conventional plywood. Warmboard is tough. Tubing (Warmboard recommends 24 Pex Al Pex and 5 standard oxygen barrier manufacturers) damage from nails, staples, or other sharp objects during construction can happen but can be repaired by the use of a coupling. Tubing protection through precautionary steps and an open eye will minimize or negate tubing damage. General contractors that are accustomed to Warmboard will usually elect to install tubing right after exterior and bearing walls go down but before non bearing interior partitions. Installing tubing this way goes the quickest while minimizing custom routing. These contractors know through experience what to look out for during construction. For general contractors that are new to Warmboard, I recommend installing tubing in this manor (just before non bearing walls) for only densely populated wall areas such as bathrooms, walk in closets, and laundry rooms. The framing contractor must understand to avoid the tubing locations (every 12 inches on center) when installing their bottom plate and stud wall/bottom plate connection in these areas. The benefit of installing tubing in these areas first is that you minimize custom routing only to around toilet and shower drains. For the rest of the project's expansive areas (great room, dining room, kitchen, bedrooms), I like seeing the tubing installed just before drywall. Installing the tubing in this fashion will minimize tubing hits and maximize productivity. Where I see most cases of tubing damage is during the hardwood floor installation process. Again, tubing is always on 12" centers which leaves a lot of room for nails or staples. It is important to educate the hardwood flooring installer to mind the tubing which he or she can easily see. Warmboard has 8 regional managers across the country that appreciate the opportunity to visit projects with builders that are unaccustomed to Warmboard. I personally reside in the Denver area and plan many of my Rocky Mountain travel around the installation of Warmboard. Regarding the installation of a luann or OSB over Warmboard to protect the tubing.... Builders may use a dozen 4'x8' sheets and place in high traffic areas (entryways and hallways). Most often, I see either a luann or Ram Board installed with taped seams prior to drywall mudding, texturing, and painting to keep the subfloor clean. Larry Smart Warmboard

ACES-Energy User is Offline

New Member

Posts:67

29 Apr 2012 06:37 AM
Just wanted to throw my two cents in there. We just completed a house with Warm board and used the same method as described here. We installed the warmboard and than made sure where the tubes were going to be placed was extremely clean. Next we put tubing in and than layed 4x8 sheets of osb/plywood over the majority of the warmboard. just make sure other contractors are still aware of what it is.

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