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Heat Sheet® Radiant floor panels take the traditional installation process of radiant floor heating to a new level. With less labor per install, increased energy efficiency, and reduced costs, switching to Heat Sheet® is an efficient and profitable choice for your next heated flooring project.
Moving from traditional radiant floor heating to Heat Sheet® is easier than you think. Below you will find installer tips and tricks that can lead to a seamless Heat Sheet® Installation Process.
Tips for Getting Started with Heat Sheet®
Tip #1: Take Care When Leveling Ground
Our compact Heat-Sheet® panels securely interlock together. Unlike traditional methods, there are no seams to tape, which eliminates a construction step. However, care does need to be taken when leveling the ground. If the surface is uneven, the tubing may not seat correctly and may end up popping.
Tip #2: Consider Using PE-RT Piping
Some installers prefer PE-RT* piping as it has a bit more flexibility than Pex piping. With Heat-Sheet, the bends in the piping can be a bit more dramatic than typically found in installations using regular flat stock insulation. Thus, the more flexible PE-RT piping can come in handy.
In general, with Heat-Sheet®, the piping is almost always easily and quickly “walked” into place. When installing tubing in the winter, bring a portable heater and point it directly at the roll during the day, as both Pex and PE-RT pipe can stiffen up in the cold.
*PE-RT is a polyethylene (PE) resin in which the molecular architecture has been designed such that a sufficient number of tie chains are incorporated to allow operation at elevated or raised temperatures (RT).
Tip #3: Keep Foam Staples Nearby
When bending the piping around the molded knobs, make sure to keep your foam staples on hand. While you will likely use 90% less of them throughout a Heat-Sheet® install, they are still a valuable asset for tight bends.
Tip #4: Bring a Sawzall
A sawzall is a valuable tool on the jobsite, as the manifold is the spot where it can get a little tricky. Carefully taking the time to correctly map and measure exactly how many pipes are coming off the manifold is a pivotal point in a clean installation. You also need to consider how much “spread” you will need to get the pipes to line up into the pre-made grooves.
Tip #5: Take Care when Ordering Concrete
The pre-made grooves and molded knobs that create Heat-Sheet® ‘s grid pattern also require approximately ½” more concrete to get the same coverage as you would have with regular flat stock. However by eliminating the need for taping, and often eliminating the vapor barrier*, the time and cost savings created during a Heat Sheet® installation is what makes this product a game-changer for radiant floor heating systems.
*Depending on local building codes and the thickness of your Heat-Sheet® panels, you are unlikely to have to install a vapor barrier before setting the Heat-Sheet® panels into place, which is usually a 6 mil poly.
Case Study:
Heat Sheet® Made it Easy for Martino HVAC to Make the Switch.
Installers, such as Alex McKinnon from Martino HVAC, have found significant cost savings by switching to Heat Sheet®. During a typical radiant installation using flat foam board, Martino HVAC would regularly outsource the time consuming and laborious prep work. This meant taking time for an external company to do the leveling, insulating and pipe placement. Switching to Heat Sheet enabled the prep work to often be completed in a single day, which is significant when truck-time can be costed out by contractors at upwards of $1000 per day.
By reducing the installation time, eliminating the vapor barrier, reducing the number of staples required, and eliminating the need to outsource the large amount of prep work, Alex’s overall installations have drastically been improved by Heat Sheet®.
Businesses like this are one of the reasons we are dedicated to creating such durable and versatile products. Using these tips and benefits, Heat Sheet® makes it simple to switch to a product that consistently outperforms traditional radiant flooring, while saving installation time and resources.
Sharing with Heat Sheet®
We want to share how our Heat Sheet® radiant floor panels support your builds! Please share your projects with us by using #HeatSheet and by tagging @LogixBrands.
Start saving time and money with Heat-Sheet® today! Request a quote, get more information, or talk to a Heat-Sheet® Advisor by contacting us today.
