Heating Help

BHT, I would approach it..........

@ June 24, 2002 8:27 PM in Aquapex for stapel up - Bigheadtodd

the same way I would do any other project except with a HX and stainless or bronze components downstream. I haven't done a large project (or most smaller ones, for that matter) without reset, so that would help minimize the expansion issues associated with any PEX. Before you try running the heating system without a HX, check with whatever boiler manufacturer you select about this issue. I know Viessmann won't warranty any non-barrier installation without a HX and I can only guess most others would be the same. You could always use a dedicated water heater and forgo the HX. I can't believe I just typed that ;-) hb PS Why did the other contractor go? That's surely something I would want to know both sides of before proceeding. To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

I like meat!

@ June 24, 2002 7:28 PM in Meat and Potatoes job - Mike Kraft

I also like your project, Sir Cheese. Powder coat? Tough act to follow! I'll have to look in my bag-o-tricks for my next panel ;-) I also love the spiral duct. Is it lined? hb To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

This is the very reason.........

@ June 24, 2002 11:22 AM in Some very real questions from a homeowner - DVW

the potential client will know after out first meeting what the cost of radiant will be. No need to even run the numbers at this point. I find out if and what they have budgeted and they will pretty well know what a project from my company will cost. Will I be the highest bid? More than likely! It comes down to not wasting each other's time. It is nothing personal. If they decide to hire me, they become my most treasured business asset. It was someone's duty to inform them of estimated costs long before it got to this point. Why is everyone so afraid of quoting costs? It is what it is. Wales - Darby? Call me, Dave. hb To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Adding the time in the overhead.

@ June 24, 2002 10:09 AM in Low-E Slab Shield - heatboy

hr, Do you figure full rate or a partial rate for this? On this pour, if I added my charge for being there, it would have added another $600 for the half day the pour took. hb To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

I am in complete awe, Dan.

@ June 23, 2002 5:51 PM in Almost Finished - DF

I just keep staring at the pictures! Simply amazing. Way above my head. I have no doubt you will continue this trend with your own stuff. I have never seen anything nicer. hb To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

He is not interested..........

@ June 23, 2002 1:16 PM in See what you think. PAH

in hiring you, Dave. Unless they are paying for designs upfront, they don't see anything but the over all project costs. With a project that size, $300 will get him the entire design. Company policy #4: No designs are giving to any potential client unless or until design fees are collected or a signed contract with downpayment is received. Until then, all designs are the property of this firm. He knows you are the best man for the project. Stand your ground. And you know what? There is another project coming your way this week with a client who will appreciate your talents and professionalism. hb To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Concrete pours

@ June 23, 2002 8:04 AM in Low-E Slab Shield - heatboy

How many of you are on site when the concrete is poured? Do you add money in the project for stand around time? I usually stop by the site before the actual pour just to check manifold pressures, but I don't normally hang around. I always ask if someone wants to pay my fee for being there, but seldom does it happen. I have never had any issues during the actual pour, so being there, to me, is not beneficial. What do you guys do and how do you handle any fees for it? hb To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Been there........

@ June 23, 2002 7:51 AM in yellow page ad's - Geo

spent the money and received not one job. When I was in the Yellow pages, I was the only one advertising radiant. That was 6 years ago. Complete waste of money. Now, there is a plethera of contractors who have radiant in there ads. For my business, people who find me use other avenues. My website, recommendations from manufacturers and, naturally, word of mouth referrals are my greatest opportunity for projects. I even get leads from other contractors, which seldom pan out, but get my companies name out nonetheless. hb climatecadvanced.com "Expert in Silent Warmth" ™ To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Having used both.......

@ June 22, 2002 4:49 PM in thermofin vs rti - bbob

I think either will perform adequately for you, Larry. I have used a couple of miles of extruded plates both below and above the floor and am very happy with their performance. Almost all of the major tubing manufacturers offer these in some form. I think they are finally realizing they are the ultimate in heat transfer. I haven't used any PEX-AL-PEX with them. For me, it is much too cumbersome a product too use when working under the floor. Any advantage in output over PEX is quickly lost in the additional labor actually pulling it through the joists. The same would apply to any kind of thermal compound applied to the plate before attaching it to the sub-floor. Messy, possible smell when heated? My opinion, only. hb To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

If the water table..........

@ June 22, 2002 3:01 PM in Low-E Slab Shield - heatboy

is that high, insulation of any resistance will be of little use, methinks. Radiant would probably not be a good choice for heating that potential swimming pool ;-). My point was, when you weigh all of the issues surrounding slab insulation, I believe the trade-off in resistance is more than made up with all of the beneficial aspects of these types of insulation. hb To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Fear vs. Courage

@ June 22, 2002 7:52 AM in Thought for the day - hb

Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, don't sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy! Dale Carnegie To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

At what point.............

@ June 21, 2002 9:45 PM in Low-E Slab Shield - heatboy

is there a diminishing return for insulation. I firmly believe the every slab should be insulated. But how much? I think we can agree that all insulation does is slow down the rate of heat transfer and that the soil under the slab will eventually catch up and start to create a heat sink. At that point, what is the difference between R 2.5 and R 10. I know of slabs with no insulation that work just fine. Maybe keeping slab temps as low as possible via reset controls is more important than insulation values? Don't know. I have more questions than answers. Things like Slab Shield and Insul-tarp are much easier to get to a jobsite, to work with and, as I said above, the concrete guys like it and final grade is not as critical, which helps a great deal when it comes to "gettin' along". hb To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

At what point.............

@ June 21, 2002 9:44 PM in Low-E Slab Shield - heatboy

> HeatBoy,
>
> Why do you like Low E slab shield? I
> use Dow Blue Board 2" = r-10 or it is r5 per
> inch. 3/8 times 4 = 12/8 or 1.5" thats a savings
> of 1/2 an inch. Do they make it in differant
> sizes or would I use four layers to get r-10. How
> is it with termites? I know in some areas they
> don't like dow blue board because of termites.
> What about cost compared to Dow Blue Board?
>
> JR

is there a diminishing return for insulation. I firmly believe the every slab should be insulated. But how much? I think we can agree that all insulation does is slow down the rate of heat transfer and that the soil under the slab will eventually catch up and start to create a heat sink. At that point, what is the difference between R 2.5 and R 10. I know of slabs with no insulation that work just fine. Maybe keeping slab temps as low as possible via reset controls is more important than insulation values? Don't know. I have more questions than answers. Things like Slab Shield and Insul-tarp are much easier to get to a jobsite, to work with and, as I said above, the concrete guys like it and final grade is not as critical, which helps a great deal when it comes to "gettin' along". hb To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Teamwork

@ June 20, 2002 7:44 PM in Low-E Slab Shield - heatboy

No, hr. He supplied it, but we discussed all of the available materials and options before this was decided on. Insul-tarp was near the top of the list, but their reluctance to confirm any kind of insulating value for their product makes me nervous. That, and the rep for Insul-tarp here is a complete idiot ;-) hb To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Finally a product I like!

@ June 20, 2002 6:45 PM in Low-E Slab Shield - heatboy

I'm now officially hooked on this stuff. Easy to work with, great R value for it's thickness and, most importantly, I am now in control of insulating the slabs. 3/8" has an insulating value of 2.5 The concrete guys love this stuff also. Final grade doesn't have to be perfect and there is no cracking of the insulation as with polystyrene. Another thing about Slab Shield is the 3/8" has a crush rating of 10K lbs. psf. and the 1/2" is 7K psf. They also have duct wrap, house wrap and other goodies. hb To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor" To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor" To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor" To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor" To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor" To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"