insulation under hydro radiant heat
WmGalloway
| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on
I am planning to use pex tubing above insulated cement to heat my shop. I am converting an older corn crib barn into the shop. The corn crib has a center driveway that is 10 inches lower than the outside cribs. I will be bringing the floor to all the same level.
On the center portion I will have some space between the pex tube / joists and cement floor. How should I insulate this area?
Fiberglass bats between the joists?
Or, foam insulation laid atop the cement?
See picture for a quick / dirty cross section.
Replies
Fiberglass batts should work just fine. Assuming its unheated under the joists, R30 would be recommended but I would think R19 would be sufficient.
Matt
Assuming the dropped center concrete floor is NOT insulated from the ground, I would lay 1" foil-faced isocyanurate foam board on that area and staple lowE reflective bubble foil between the joists 2" below PEX.
The foam board will give R-7 and the radiant air space between the foam and the bubble foil will give approximately R-11. Additionally, the bubble foil will reflect the radiant heat upwards to the subfloor.
Solar & Super-Insulated Healthy Homes
Fiberglass at floor/ground level never seems to hold up without growing all sorts of moisture loving creatures.
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.