I am in the process of a new build and our general contractor has talked us into installing radiant floor heating. They plan to install it in between the joists which I believe is called the staple up method. I am a newbie and self admit I don’t know anything about this topic and perhaps over trust our general contractor. My husband and I were at a reno show and one of the companies said they wouldn’t install in this method as it’s the lazy man way that people do in retrofits. I tried to do some research and it doesn’t seem bad as long as aluminum plating is used properly? Can someone please help point me in the right direction? Or advise on the best way to install radiant heating? It is a back split home in Toronto, Canada. We are in the process of completing framing and they want to start on the radiant flooring.

Staple up is the most expensive and the most inefficient HR floor heating emitter there is. It should only be used for remodels where a client doesn’t care about the acquisition or the monthly operational cost. Better performance HR floor heating emitters get the PEX above the floor structure and as close to the floor surface as possible (e.g., Warmboard or similar approaches). The lowest cost and best performance HR floor heating emitter is a standard concrete slab that you are already pouring and just place PEX in it. Next best is 1.5” Gypcrete slab, but the floor structure needs to be capable of supporting the additional weight. Performance is further improved by keeping the R-value above the PEX to a minimum (e.g., avoid carpet, wood floor, etc.) and/or placing proportionally more insulation and R-value below the PEX.

John Siegenthaler’s “Modern Hydronic Heating” is the best reference book on this subject and it is well worth getting educated on this subject before hiring anyone. Although somewhat less comfortable, mini-splits are a great way of heating too, especially if you also need AC too.