As the owner of a near sixty year old Levitt ranch, I’m in the distinct minority that still has the original radiant heating in the concrete slab. We’re about to change windows and doors, new kitchen, new baths, upgrade electric and plumbing. I’m pretty well set in all those decisions and choices but I need some good flooring advice.
I grew up in the same house a few blocks away, since it was new, and LOVE the radiant heat. For years, we’ve heard stories that the copper lines get like Swiss Cheese from the reaction with the concrete. I’ve had one leak in the last 33 years, with water coming up through the floor. I don’t know if there are hidden leaks maybe just going down into the ground instead of up through the floor, where we would see them.
We really don’t want to do the quick and cheap baseboard conversion just to be able to put down new flooring. In the future, I want to upgrade the heating with new radiant, and was leaning toward Warmboard or alternatives, rather than jackhammering the slab to lay in new lines. The issue is the added layer on the floor and what that does to door thresholds, the closet door tracks/heights and other that I haven’t thought of.
Any advice on that issue of adding a couple of inches on top of the existing floor? Does jackhammering actually make more sense? If I didn’t change the height of the floor, I can put down some low cost tiles to complete our current remodel. If the raised radiant solution is the right one, would I need to raise the patio doors we’ll soon be installing so they work in the future?
Lastly, if I could just tile over what’s there, does anyone have advice on removing the partial vinyl tile flooring that was put over the original asphalt/asbestos tiles. I think sealing the asbestos under the Warmboard or alternative makes sense, but am assuming I should remove the vinyl tiles that are applied over them (in only one room)?
Thanks for any input (and to any that read through this very long post)
Replies
Greetings Mac,
This post, in response to your question, will bump the thread through the 'recent discussion' listing again which will increase it's viewing.
Perhaps it will catch someone's attention that can help you with advice.
Cheers
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While the infloor copper pipes may not leak water, the problem is that there is very likely no insulation under this slab. Concrete is a very effective conductor as is the soil on which it sits. Unless the heated slab is isolated from the soil, you will waste a lot of heat.
That means jackhammer and excavate, insulate and repour. Else leave it alone. Its 32 x 25 right, so how much money can be watsed year after year?
Thank you, Tim. We added four feet quite a few years ago, so it's actually 36x25. Sounds like you know the house...