radiant floor heating in two story home?

13 years ago

We are building a new home and want hydroponic radiant floor heating. Can we install it on the first and second floors of the home? If not, what kind of heating would we use on the second floor?

Featured Answer

PRO

9H Builders

13 years ago

There are a variety of approaches to installing a radiant system. The most efficient regarding energy savings places the tubing in a concrete topping slab on the second floor. This approach requires that the structural system is designed to accommodate the additional dead load. If you want to take advantage of the real benefits of a radiant system you should speak with your architect and engineer to coordinate this.

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Comments (21)

PRO
Oellien Design, Inc.
13 years ago
Yes it can be used on the second floor and it is installed on the underside of the floor joists. A metal reflector plate is used to reflect the heat back to the flooring. A great heating source.
PRO
Kevin Patrick O'Brien Architect, Inc.
13 years ago
Nothing like radiant floor heating! We used it on both floors of a custom home last year, slab foundation on the first floor and wood subfloor with 1 1/2" thk. lightweight concrete on the second floor! Great system!
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PRO
Kaplan Architects, AIA
13 years ago
If you are going to the expense of putting in the hydronic system, you will want to heat the entire house as Kevin Patrick mentions above. It generally will cost more in upfront cost but it is a more energy efficient heating system and will therefore have a lower operating costs.
wilredd
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks. Can we put the boiler in the detached garage, run pipes under the sidewalk that connects the walkway to the house, and also heat the studio above the garage? Is that asking too much assuming that all the spaces would not be heated at the same time?
PRO
Kevin Patrick O'Brien Architect, Inc.
13 years ago
Anything can be done if you throw enough money at it!! Also efficiency goes down the longer the main runs. You might talk with a local install company in your area to bounce ideas around!
wilredd
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks. Will do.
wilredd
Original Author
13 years ago
You all are very helpful!
PRO
FINNE Architects
13 years ago
We have designed and built many 2-story homes with hydronic radiant floor heating. It is even, steady and wonderful heat as well as energy-saving. I highly recommend it.
--Nils Finne, AIA
wilredd
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks
wilredd
Original Author
13 years ago
Here is a related question: What would you recommend for a cooling system to work with radiant floor heat?
PRO
Kevin Patrick O'Brien Architect, Inc.
13 years ago
@wilredd, my customers are using the wall mount mini split ductless units for A/C (Mitsubishi) when they go with radiant floor heating.
User
13 years ago
Where do you live? It sounds like you are building the house on a slab, or have a high water table. If you are building on a slab, your climate would suggest using a heat pump rather than a boiler. If you are in a colder climate, the boiler in the garage would not be recommended.
evanskie
11 years ago
@wilredd did you go ahead with the installation for both floor? What did you use for your second floor coloring material? We are considering the same in Chicago metro area, but installation cost is freaking me out. Additionally, not sure what to use for second floor Gloria material .
denalidadeb
10 years ago
Any updates on ballpark cost say for a 5000 sq ft, 2 story? Thanks
evanskie
10 years ago
It was too costly for radiant on both floor, so we compromised. We ended up only doing radiant on the first floor (2000 sqft) and HVAC on second.
gebels
9 years ago
What would have been the additional cost to go with radiant on the 2nd floor? Did this cost include the additional structural strength needed and 1.5in concrete over-pour or were you considering other alternatives?
L. T.
9 years ago
We are also interested in installing radiant heat. We live in a city rowhouse with 4 floors each 500 square feet. We are doing significant renovations on each of the first 3 floors and have to redo flooring, heating system and hot water systems. We were hoping to put radiant on the first three floors and mini duct hvac on the top floor. Is it possible to do that and do you have any advice? Any idea on cost?
Mike MacInnis
9 years ago
Hi All. Urgent ques. We are building a 2-story on a slab up here in Canada (brrr!). We will have radiant infloor on both levels. We are starting the framing this week. I need to decide whether or not to put a cement overpour on the second level. It'll cost more -- labour, cement, pressure treated wood, stronger floor joists, etc. -- will it be worth it? The house will be well insulated with sprayfoam.

Thanks.
PRO
Cancork Floor Inc.
9 years ago
When choosing in-floor radiant heat (IFRH), you are choosing to limit your flooring options. There are MANY floors that do NOT work over top of in-floor radiant heat. Cork is one of them. Cork blocks so much heat it negates all the warmth being produced by the system. Solid hardwood has issues over IFRH. Vinyl doesn't like sitting over IFRH. Engineered hardwood can work. Carpet works. Tile/concrete/stone always works.

I would suggest you choose your FLOORING before you go much further with the IFRH.

I've saved clients TENS OF THOUSANDS of dollars of installation costs. The 6mm cork underlay + cork floating floor + regular heating systems = more energy efficient, more comfortable home than with IFRH.

I've seen 6mm cork underlay + 11mm cork floating floor ($4.50/sf total material costs) add 7 Celsius (12 F) in a basement (1100sf basement with ONE heat vent in N. Saskatchewan). So long as you have a regular source of heat, the cork will keep the heat IN the room.

Good luck. Those installation cost for IFRH are IMPRESSIVE to say the least!
Home Home
8 years ago
Cancork, how does cork floor hold up in the basement moisture and does it dent easily with kids banning with toys and etc.? Thx