| Many people are confused over the choice | | | | the most unobtrusive radiant heat to install in an |
| between Warmboard™ and a staple up radiant | | | | existing home. It will not add any additional floor |
| heating system. This article should help to set you | | | | height or disrupt your existing floor coverings as it |
| straight. | | | | is installed underneath the current subfloor |
| A Warmboard™ system combines a structural | | | | between the floor joists. |
| subfloor with a complex radiant panel into one | | | | This system is perfect when you want to add a |
| straightforward radiant heating system. It's | | | | radiant heat system without replacing your floors |
| basically a strong, broad, weather-resistant, 4' X 8' | | | | or floor coverings. For example, if your basement |
| sheet of plywood, with a series of channels cut | | | | is unfinished you could easily staple up radiant heat |
| into the top plane and a thick sheet of high-grade | | | | tubing between your ceiling, or floor joists. |
| aluminum, which is permanently bonded to each | | | | A staple-up system is not as responsive as the |
| panel. The aluminum is highly conductive. In fact, | | | | aluminum base method, but is more responsive |
| it's about 30% more conductive than most | | | | than the thermal mass method - basically because |
| common alloys, but it also cools down quickly. | | | | under-floor radiant heat needs to heat up the |
| Warmboard™ replaces the normal structural | | | | wood subfloor and floor covering above. To |
| subfloor. It can be cut, nailed or screwed directly | | | | radiate more heat into your home, you may want |
| to your floor joists just like any conventional | | | | to consider installing heat transfer plates. |
| subfloor. | | | | Heat transfer plates will ensure that your heat |
| Most Warmboard™ systems function with | | | | lasts much longer. They are a better heat |
| water ranging in temperature between 90º and | | | | conductor than wood, so your home would not |
| 110º, however if you are considering a wool | | | | only heat up more quickly, the heat would also |
| carpet, or another high resistant floor covering, | | | | last longer if transfer plates were used. |
| you can easily raise your water temperatures and | | | | Overall both systems have their advantages. As |
| still operate your heating system efficiently. | | | | far as labor goes, a Warmboard™ panel |
| Warmboard™ also have two important | | | | system would save you time and labor - they are |
| properties - they have high conductivity and low | | | | much easier to install, but depending on where |
| thermal mass, which means they will heat us | | | | you plan to install your radiant heat system, both |
| quickly and retain heat quite well, but not quite as | | | | Warmboard™ and under-floor radiant heat |
| long as radiant systems imbedded in concrete. | | | | systems are a clean and cost effective way to |
| In comparison, a staple up radiant heat system is | | | | go. |