samiam1017

glennjanie

Welcome to the Forum, SamIAm:
Go to your local plumbing supply store and ask for help. They will be happy to show you all the materials and how to use them. I can tell you radiant heat is the most comfortable method available; the only reason I got rid of it is that it didn't have air conditioning with it. We went to geo-thermal.
Glenn

samiam1017

thanks
was hopeing to get some recommendations on manufacures that are good
get some lit and go from there.
i have never seen the subfloors in person but they have a aluminum for reflexing heat
can i make my own sub floor by putting down sheets of aluminum then strips of plywood far enough apart to fit the pex tubing then put the flooring on top of that?????

glennjanie

Yes, that is done frequently. However, if you have access to the floor joists (a basement or high ground clearance), you can apply the PEX directly to the bottom of the existing floor. Holes are drilled in each end of each joist, as near the floor as possible, the PEX is snaked through the holes and a reflective piece of metal is nailed or screwed to the floor thus holding the PEX against the floor and keeping it warm.
There are manifolds for making zone heat for each room and there are modern boilers that are much smaller than the old beasts and much more efficient. Some have even used a high efficiency water heater.
Glenn

samiam1017

i can go eather way on first floor i would think above subfloor would be mor effient but what about cost differnce will need to look into that
i try to do most of my own work so labor is really a factor just materal diffences
thanks for your input
i purchased a electric floor unit for a bath room for a apartment i am dooing over will let you know how it works out