Best way to insulate PEX attached to subfloor on new home?
Keith Schmidt| Posted inGeneral Questionson
Building new home. We are installing infloor heat in our basement (cement) and the basement will be fully finished. We are also installing floor heat for a main level (ranch home), attaching the pex to the bottom of the subfloor. Wondering what the best method for insulation (if any) is required.
We will have open web floor trusses. Basement ceilings will be fully finished. Thanks in advance
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Keith,
This question has been discussed frequently here at GBA. I suggest that you read the information in these links; then, if you have further questions, you can post them here.
What is the best method to insulate beneath PEX pipes installed under floor joists for radiant heat?
Heat transfer plates for radiant heat under floor joists
Reflective barrier and insulation for radiant heat
Lessons Learned the Hard Way
Thanks Martin. I read those and most seem to talk to crawl spaces and older homes... Meaning they have many air leaks, etc.
For ours. Being new AND since our basement will be fully insulate and finished and heated with radiant heat... My question, given this, is do we need to insulate the main/level one Floor given everything below it is heated and insulated. If Insulation/plates are required what would be the best solution?
The heat loss characterisitcs of basements are different from first-floors, and you'll need at least R13 batts snugged up to the tubing & heat transfer plates to isolate the first floor from the basement, otherwise you'll be overheating the basement whenever there is a heat load on the first floor. (This is radiant heating 101 stuff- hopefully you have a competent hydronic/radiant designer to help you sort this all out?)