I’m thinking of using radiant floor heating, a low volt electrical heatstrip called step heating, found at http://www.electroplastics.com/ and I wonder if I might use PIFs for flooring under the heat strips to insulate and keep the heat going up into the room rather than down to the earth. Any feedback?
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AZ,
I'm igornant. What's a PIF?
SamT
No, I'M the iggorant one... I meant to type SIP, a structural insulated panel. Pardon!
Is this suplimental heat, such as a bathroom floor, then you do need some kind of insulation. And it does not hurt for suplimental heat, but the marginal difference is small.
But the type depends on the house construction.
No, the heat strips will be the primary heating for this house. It's in a temperate area, in NE Arizona, elev 6300ft, by no means cold; what a midwesterner would call "chilly". I'm wondering if the SIPs can withstand the foot traffic and sustained loads of furniture and appliances.
Yes, SIPS are used as sub-floors. Depending on the span they might need "joist" between panels or other supports.But again what is the type of construction that you are planing on.
Great! I'm going to build the home using techblock for exterior walls, using them also for the stem wall type foundation. I'm thinking of using wood or I-beam girders as floor support beams, leaving a crawlspace underneath for passage of plumbing and septic lines. Then, SIPs as an insulating subfloor, placing the heating strips on that and plywood or OSB on top, sandwiching the heat strips. I'm glad to know that SIPs are strong enough to be used as a subfloor. Thanks!