How to Install DIY Radiant Floor Heating |This Old House

[@mustafah4668]

This was awesome! I work in the Hvac industry but this was so informative for me because I've never installed floor heating but want to for my basement in the future.

[@kevinhornbuckle]

The last image is inaccurate and would negate the heating system if installed that way. The last image is from a different job. It shows the tile going down over isolation membrane. That would be a thermal barrier keeping the heat from the tiles.

[@multidinero]

+Kevin Hornbuckle If you look at the video stilled at 0:46 you will see where you made the mistake of assuming that the image is wrong or from a different job. The Schluter systems are comprehensive and always use the orange waffled underlayment applied with a 1/8 inch notch trowel directly over the concrete floor and then a 1/4 inch notch troweled thinset mortar application underneath the tile floor finish.The underlayment isn't thick enough to prevent the radiant properties of the system from being felt while simultaneously giving a more stable and comprehensively leveled surface. Not saying that I know better than you, just pointing out the point you may have missed in the video.

[@kevinhornbuckle]

+multidinero that is an interesting possibility. It would be good to get verification of what the tile installation method actually was on that job. I can't see why it would be necessary or even preferable to have a second isolation membrane.

[@LightGesture]

@0:45 No. You saw the job right.

[@LightGesture]

Kevin Hornbuckle The membrane I think is redundant and pointless in most cases... Knowing tiling for a while, it does add strength to your overall job, and thus your tiling -- theoretically--(most likely). Will last longer. No real expansion and contraction from cold/hot would help too, I'm sure...

[@mponsot]

@@LightGesture Without the Ditra you'll see lots of cracked tile.

[@bubbaputin8100]

Thanks for this. I now am sure that this will be a total professional job.

[@noukhollands]

Never do the lines like that always in a snail patern so you dont get warmer and colder spots

[@bburnsga]

Thank you! But I'm confused. There's the foam layer with the "pucks" -- you put Ditra on top of that? I guess you put enough thin-set to cover the pucks, then put this pink layer on top?

[@Bart-dg6qv]

If you're interested in this start with watching European videos about radiant heat floors. Don't follow US jokers unless you want to flush a lot of money.

[@an-tm3250]

Your directions are very clear, you make it look very easy for a DIY person !☺☺

[@leemcbroom4708]

Schulter product, concrete, then more Schulter product (ditra). Almost seems like a infomercial rather than This Old House.

[@SpencleyDesignCo]

We need this is our bathroom!

[@Cpt1nsano]

missing the fact that loop lengths should not exceed 300' (100m) or that a proper layout includes expected heat loss and required BTU

[@TRUE_GR1T]

Thankyou. Someone that knows there is actually a science to designing a floor heating system.

[@zack9912000]

Terry Barber again not a DIY job, way too many butcher jobs we have cleaned up from know it all homeowners

[@jonniewadd56]

@@zack9912000 You MUST be an installer!! ( a know it all at that!!)

[@zack9912000]

Fred Murray We get it done right the first time and none of the mistakes that homers will make , then they have to call us anyways to fix and then lie about it when we ask what happened. There is a reason it needs to be done by design, homeowners don’t have a clue what is required to meet code requirements or have their butcher work inspected. We get to clean up the mess they cause and the best part is your insurance will not cover the damage caused from a DIY install. Permits and inspection are required by nearly every spot of the country. If you don’t have those documents your insurance won’t cover it

[@jonniewadd56]

@@zack9912000 You are under the assumption that DYI's cannot do as good a job as the "professionals". Well, whether it be what we are talking about here or for that matter any type of installation, I've see DIY jobs much better than "professionals". No doubt some DYIer's don't have a clue, but not ALL, much like the "professionals"

[@jaxchristian6408]

Can you do epoxy over the Portland cement? I realize there has to be a cure tome.

[@slamdunk58]

I'm going to build a 850 square foot garage package for a cottage. Would I be able to use this technique to do the entire floor and run it off a electric hot water heater?

[@BartenderMix]

This video Was fine but i am glad this wasn't the format they stuck with

[@logicalblueberry]

We're looking into adding a hydronic floor heating system to an existing home on a concrete slab. This adds 1 3/4"? Seems like a lot to me. Wondering if an electric floor heating system would be more suited for an existing home?

[@talamotile33]

Electric (Ditra Heat) is only 1/4” (excluding tile). But technically the electric heat is considered floor warming and not used as a primary heat source. However, I installed electric in my kitchen and dining room, and if I turn it up the forced air heat hardly runs.

[@coreym5072]

This works with existing concrete slab in basement?

[@weirdonerdfreak]

Are there any downsides to this install method compared to traditional?

[@andresrivera4887]

They didn't show the whole process

[@corectorul8560]

Did anyone tested this kind of screed over the pipes? Only 8 mm over the pipes? Ok, with an extra adhesive layer, about 13 mm over the pipes? Is it sufficient? Won't it break? I've seen 35 mm screeds before, but never something less than this. The difference looks huge.

[@DylanBegazo]

What about this: from top down Wood flooring or wood tile (My personal preference) The water tubing Radiant barrier (to prevent the heat from going downwards, only upwards into the floor and room) typical insulating barrier typical Sub floor Better? The radiant barrier acts like a thermal blanket. keeping the heat of the above tubing from escaping down below into the sub floor.

[@scottwhite6436]

Did this for 5 years. I miss it.

[@jogog9204]

At end what was the overall thickness of floor from wood substrate to tile

[@talamotile33]

Typically 2” or more depending on tile thickness

[@jeffreyd508]

I would like to have finished concrete floors for my flat/condo in Chicago. Will this be warm enough for winters, on the second floor? Also, is it expensive to keep warm? I use electric radiators for heat and wondering if this would also reduce my overall costs Thanks!

[@mr.wizeguy8995]

This type of heating system is mainly used on Europe and doesn't need any other heating system if it's done correctly not even winter and floors is always nicely warm. Chancing electric radiator for water radiant heat might not be best solution because you need source for hot water aka water heater or something else. It might be easier to use electric floor heating system in your case. Does it reduce overall heating cost, well that depends mostly how well your flat is insulated but as overall you can slightly lower room temperature because your feet will be warm and that's why it feels warmer and same reason it consumes less energy.

[@ec3462]

Korea has this system. We dont have others. Very warm. We mostly use gas not electric. We pay a lot gas utility in winter but I think paying money is better than get a cold or sickness. I paid 200 dollars in the winter and 150 dollars in the summer. Summer is air conditioner for electric.

[@ottyscotty4291]

Does it work with steam?

[@SD-pi9co]

Can I do this in my trailer?

[@mikemurphy7519]

At the end there is orange foam on top of the concrete, is that correct? Won't that prevent the head of the tubes from getting to the tiles?

[@zack9912000]

Hint this wasn't done right and not even close to code.

[@talamotile33]

That’s not foam, it’s Ditra uncoupling membrane, it doesn’t act as a thermal break, and it helps protect the tile from cracking.

[@alyenendrovtsorokean7406]

What type of tubing is used?

[@annw8909]

Question; why didn't he put vapor barrier down ??

[@StanisawMigas]

A great system

[@indigodragon7129]

Could you not use a composting bin with gallium resivors to help absorb the heat from the composting bin and conduct it to a water tank that is being circulated through the floor to heat a room or home? 😊

[@djcfrompt]

Indigo Dragon71 I don't know that I'd want to use gallium, I wouldn't want the possibility of that getting lose in my compost.

[@indigodragon7129]

Wow so 👽 use composting bins to eat out of when they can't get a human colon to hollow out? Hay how interesting. 😂

[@plumbingpassionandwork9859]

Good job you can hav a look how I`m dooing floor heating system in Poland ther is another option of douing this job

[@jamesdinneenjr5622]

Do tell!

[@marcelw6440]

How durable is this? Heated floors are cool and all, but it's going to be a bitch to repair if it leaks. Just seems easier to wear socks and add another log on the fire place.

[@pticapolska9292]

AVOID THAT.!!! Very good example how NOT to install water operating underfloor heating. Hot inlet and cold outlet are in different parts of the room. They MUST be next to each other to spread the same temperature across the room

[@mr.wizeguy8995]

Looks like you don't have any clue how this system works. It's low temperature system that water maximum temperature is usually limited to 28 celsius. Manifold that you can see on 4:15 is usually installed central part of house and all PEX tubes is connected for it from different rooms. There are commonly 2 circuit on each room as you can see also on this video. Near outside wall is circuit which will be set on calculated flow and on center area is another circuit which is operated whit room thermostat. That manifold will be equipped with electric actuator which is operated with room thermostat on each room and that way temperature will remain stable no matter where those inlets and outlets are.

[@tomaznovak645]

@@mr.wizeguy8995 U didt get Ptica....the layout of pipes is wrong....that works with electrial heating wires but for water radiant heating thit is the right one kzbin.info/www/bejne/amfKlaVrbMZ7q6c&ab_channel=ICMAS.p.A. to spread the temprature evenly across the room. If someone whould do zig zag at my house i would show him the door before he connects the first pipe.

[@irinacamilleri5818]

@@mr.wizeguy8995 What Ptica meant is that there is an optimal 'snail' layout for the pipe. The water slowly cools down as it flows, so if the end of second half of the pipe is all in the second half of the room, that side will be colder. It is not a massive difference, because pipe lengths should be up to 100m per loop, but there is space for optimisation nonetheless.

[@mr.wizeguy8995]

@@irinacamilleri5818 I missed that he meant by that. If you talk about just pipe layout best option is to do 2 circuit in each room. Smaller circuit is near exterior walls and is set to calculated flow without thermostat meaning near outside wall floor is always warm where most heat loss happens due proximity of exterior wall. Bigger circuit will cover rest floor area and you can adjust it flow by thermostat by raising or lowering room temperature with it. Best layout for pipe is go to circular from outside to middle of room and then other way back then every 2nd loop is warm and other is "cool" and you get much uniform heat on whole floor. Layout what they did on video can be done on small rooms temperature wont be so much different on each ends because pipe is kinda short so water won't have time to "cool" so much.

[@zack9912000]

@@irinacamilleri5818 it still isnt correct at all how this was done.

[@Vv-xt9rz]

Osm technology hi im from india and i have never seen or heard this technology im watching shinchan and there i heard it (episode in which aichan come to meet shinchan un his house)

[@gloriaadu5485]

CAN THIS BE DONE ON A TILE FLOOR?

[@aap71]

show the pour!!! Christ!!! That's the friggin money shot and you skipped it!

[@jonniewadd56]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnSZlpeQbdunoac

[@Russeroo]

Connected two soda stream bottles to the manifold and poured in 500ml of cherry cola concentrate. Was a great way to chill out. I always wanted a cola fountain. Use milk and ice cream for something a little different, it’s a great way to get your calcium

[@firpofutbol]

Does anybody know if I can just lay plywood over the foam instead of a concrete layer? Reason is in my application, weight is a major concern.

[@irinacamilleri5818]

No, concrete is what absorbs, stores and transfers heat. Plywood would not do that. You need to look at the kWatts/ meter2 heat output of systems and with plywood little heat will reach the room. Plus there will be air between the tubes and the plywood and that's an insulator.

[@irinacamilleri5818]

There are other systems that have less heat output, but do not use screed/concrete. Look up floating floor underfloor heating installations. The issue there is how much heat do you need to keep you warm? Will this be the only heat source in the house or radiators / electric heaters also?

[@rupe53]

firpofutbol … you probably don't realize that a thin layer of concrete is maybe 10 pounds per square ft, which is not much in the big picture. Standard wood construction is likely good for at least 40 pounds per sq ft, which means you can safely put 4,000 pounds on a 10 x 10 (100 sq ft) floor if you spread the load evenly.

[@talamotile33]

Check out Ditra heat, the electric floor warming system by Schluter.

[@timreed6957]

Looks easy,!

[@kevinhornbuckle]

It is harder than it looks but is still manageable. Using a self leveling poured concrete, such as Laticrete, would make it easier.

[@zack9912000]

How many homeowners tell us that when their insurance company has us come in to fix it after they spend thousands in water damage bills

[@logicalblueberry]

@@zack9912000 Of course, you see only the failed installations. Hopefully, most DIY installations are fine and you will never hear about them?

[@tygrahof9268]

Would this work with a water heater and pump or is this strictly an on-demand system?

[@believerfever8923]

What type of contractor should I look for to do this sort of work. Any idea what it would cost to do a 1200 sq ft basement with a tile finish? Thanks!!

[@ExtrovertedCenobite]

What happens when that tubing starts to leak? Break open the concrete and do the job over? Doesn't sound like a good Idea!

[@lvkuang]

not entirely over, but you do need to chisel the concrete of the broken spot and fix it

[@ExtrovertedCenobite]

@@lvkuang How would you know where the broken spot is? It seems like a problem that will be costly and a pain in the future. There are better alternatives for less money.

[@lvkuang]

@@ExtrovertedCenobite finding the leak is half the job. Using a thermal image camera while running the system can give you an idea where the leak is

[@ExtrovertedCenobite]

@@lvkuang that would give you an idea of the general area, still you have to cut open a portion of the concrete, replace the tubing then refill which never matches perfectly. Too much rise, too much cost and not the best solution.

[@irinacamilleri5818]

@@ExtrovertedCenobite I don't think you can 'patch' a part of the tubing. At least, the idea is to have no joints and a patch would mean joints. In plumbing, the first thing you learn is that leaks only happen in the joints. If you bend a pipe you wont get a leak, but if you weld a corner joint, you are increasing the risk. The main thing with these systems is that there are no joints. It is a single, whole length of pipe per loop. Loops are up to 100m. Every loop joins to the manifold, which is outside of the screed. Those pipes used are usually not the same ones as for other plumbing jobs, mostly because they are chemically made to last years and not to transport safe drinking water. It is a closed system, so this water will not ever be consumed. There is a 50 year warranty on these pipes. All that being said, if there is debris under the pipe that damages it when cement is poured over, or you decide to screw a piece of furniture into your floor and go through the pipe ... you are screwed.

[@Combat_Pyro]

could you not just use self leveling floor leveler? Or is that way more money

[@talamotile33]

Self leveler is about 5-8x more expensive just for materials.

[@jeureeka552]

Ok but i moved to a new home that already has it and I have no clue how to turn it on

[@bobslaughter1478]

Can this be done with a Yurt?

[@InventorOfYouTube]

How come each panel is $207 at home d?

[@nickkelischek3082]

There are 12 panels in each box and they are now $179 for a box. 12 x 8 = 96 sq. ft. So about $2 per square for for the panels.

[@noreason2701]

This is literally entirely an advertisement.

[@turdferguson74]

What's the cost per sq ft?

[@rupe53]

Corn Dog … cost depends on how much pipe you put down into the floor, although the pipe itself is the cheap part. In order to get started you need someone to figure out how many BTUs the room (or house) requires. This comes into play for the diameter of the pipe, spacing of the pipe, and the water temp that is circulated within the pipe. Spacing the pipe 12" apart versus 6" between runs uses a different length over all but 12" spacing only gives you half as much heat, all else being equal. That's why someone has to do the math up front.

[@marionsutcliffe1119]

Ceramic tile is good at conducting heat - really? Wasn't ceramic used for space shuttle re-entry heat protection, plus lining ovens etc?

[@cecilyt006]

Deez olde Nutz

[@rafiullahkhattak4525]

How can i buy from u?? Im interested.

[@zacharycantrell5411]

I thought you were matty Matheson ... you are not sir!

[@ahmedkarbala9452]

شغله مرتبه

[@leeknivek]

why is this foam $200 for a 2x4 panel

[@markusr1308]

A 2’ x 4’ panel costs $230

[@kenanmonte007]

How do you know those are female edges and not gender fluid edges? *smh*

[@bobbyrossy508]

*triggerd*

[@Denbig.]

That floor has indentified itself as gender netural.

[@milesrago2195]

especially when at the same time youre saying we cant assume the wall is straight

[@SGCXD]

It was assigned at the factory 😂😂😂

[@shawncockrell6007]

200 bucks for a 8 ft3 panel...2500 in foam for a 10x10 room, plus all other products plus labor....that's a 10k floor,...absurd.

[@zack9912000]

Well that also would Include a properly sized boiler and correct installation.

[@oldhandyluke]

I would prefer cast iron radiators

[@mr.wizeguy8995]

And therefore cold floors.

[@WanidaChannel]

สวัสดี

[@zack9912000]

Not a DIY job period. So many jobs we have had to rework because homeowners have no idea what they are doing. Get a pro

[@justgivemethetruth]

that is why people watch these videos. surely this is not so complicated and arcane that a person of average intelligence if given the specificiation cannot figure it out. let me gues .... you are an installer maybe? ;-)

[@huntemall219]

@@justgivemethetruth . I heard people like this guy the whole entire time I built my garage, remodeled my entire house and built a 720 sq ft addition from the ground up. All myself. An average person with a strong work ethic can easily do almost all home projects.

[@thomasisrael1636]

You sound more like a pro who doesn't want to lose work.

[@zack9912000]

Thomas Israel service tech for over 30 years and the bs that is shown on here to homeowners is what drives us nuts. Homeowners think they are experts on the matter because they watch the show and they butcher up the jobs up so bad we spend three times as long as it should cleaning it up. Then you the homeowners get pissed at the bill to unscrew the mess you the DIY community caused. If a homeowner wants to do it fine, and when it goes wrong your homeowners insurance will not cover the damage period. If you don’t pull the permits and have the proper inspections and when it goes wrong your insurance will not cover the damages. I Had a homeowner attempt to do just this and caused 45k dollars in water damage because he cut corners. He never pulled a permit or had it inspected. Then got pissed at the handful of quotes he got were so high. He refused to acknowledge he cost himself the headache and we get the headache to clean it up to code so it can pass inspection.

[@dustinpollard6237]

That headache you get? Thats called a paycheck and you choose to earn it, and also choose to not change careers and be happy. Bitching about it on KZbin all day surely makes the shitty people who can't admit wrong or be humble enough to realize its a job too big, stop and call a pro.

[@tigerdog5259]

Putting socks on or house shoes are a whole lot cheaper and easier.......🤔

[@williamroden8495]

Tigerdog 82416 . Cheaper is it??? Show us the video of you using socks to heat your house!

[@Sacapuntas69]

But there are many rich people out there who have money for this. Me, I double on socks during winter!

[@dustinpollard6237]

Some people add a hot water coil to a stove they already burn 24/7 for 5 months and use it to distribute heat (btus) more evenly without 10 extra fans going.

[@futureprogrammer880]

It heats the house what are you talking about?

[@dudelivestrong]

This you just assume that foams gender? Woooooooow

[@kcwoodworking7474]

this method is obsolete. nuheat or electronic floor heat is the way to go. less then 3/16 thick. schluter sucks anyways wedi system is the way to go.

[@JustinShidell]

Electric heat in a basement floor? Wouldn't that cost 3-4x what a Natural Gas boiler would in energy costs?

[@altergreenhorn]

KCW That maybe true in gasling not care for environment US but in EU electric heating is done only if you haven't have any other option . The reason is simple (your) electric system runing costs are al laest 3 time more by month than proper water driven system.

[@mr.wizeguy8995]

You can warm up water with any heat source. Electric is always same so this system is much better.

[@mr.wizeguy8995]

@zentraal There are two types of electric floor heating systems other is for comfort uses small diameter heat cable and needs another heat source but floor feels warm beneath foot. Other system is more efficient, wire are thicker and doesn't need any else heat source and it can heat whole house even harsh winters.

[@mr.wizeguy8995]

I don't get what you try claim in-efficient? Do you mean electric floor heating consumes more energy than electric radiator or what. Floor heating are more efficient because heat is stored on floor mass also it provides heat evenly around whole house and you get less variation of indoor temperatures meaning no cold corners or really warm spots. When you have lot of internal mass to store warm energy, less you need to warm up because it will remain same temperature much easier rather than if you just heat up air and open door lots of warm air escapes outside and then you need to be heat it up again instead heat is stored on mass where it will heat up the indoor air.

[@mistersushirod]

Male and female edges? Triggered!