Gypcrete vs. Concrete for radiant floor
| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on
I’m installing radiant floor heating in a new family room extension over plywood and strapped with 2×3’s on their sides (ie. 1 1/2″ thick). The tubing is on 6-8″ centres. Will concrete work to fill in over and around the tubing? I’ve been told that gypcrete is the best material but it is considerably more expensive and dusts off more readily after drying. The finished floor will be 3/4″ hardwood, probably maple.
Replies
Word is that concrete will work fine, so long as the aggregate is fine enough to work with the 1 1/2 thickness and the thin segments around the tubing. I saw a 'recipe' somewhere, but cannot seem to find it at the moment.
The main advantages to gypcrete are less weight, self-leveling, and easy pumping.
My understanding is that because concrete is denser, it has a greater thermal mass, so it heats and cools a bit more slowly. Not a bad thing, but a difference to consider