UFH Heating upstairs

Pataman

I want to put in ufh upstairs in my timber frame house. I am concerned about the weight element as I am told it should be buried in concrete. Concrete upstairs, not too sure about that. Is there anything else instead of concrete that will give the uniform heat without the weight?

Viking House

Hi Pataman

We sometimes use the sandwich system.
Fix a sheet of green plasterboard to your floorboards with liquid foam and screws.
Run your pipe on top of the plasterboard,
Cut double strips of green plasterboard and put between the pipe loops,
Fill in the area between the plasterboard and pipes with flexible self levelling compound.
Put a layer of Fermacell on top if you want a tough finish.

If you increase the insulation levels you won't need heating upstairs.

Tobi2

You could put a thin layer of concrete screed, 2" or so.
We have done this to facilitate ufh..
So far so good.
Tobi

beolight

You could put a thin layer of concrete screed, 2" or so.
We have done this to facilitate ufh..
So far so good.
Tobi

make sure floor joists are capable of taking this extra load

9 or 10 inchjoists would be needed if i recall correctly

Pataman

We are putting in 9" joists, just wondering about the extra load with the screed.

Tobi2

9" joists here and so far so good.
hth
Tobi

Tobi2

Just one more thing I thought of earlier, what final floor are you planning for upstairs.
I had great intentions of having tiles all upstairs but due to the extra weight and level floor being required, it was not an option anymore.
(glad now though with my nice wooden floor )
Just something else to bear in mind.

Good luck
Tobi

Pataman

Carpet, except in the bathrooms tiled floors.

flocker

I have seen aluminium diffuser plates that fit between the joists and the pipe pushes into a recess on the plate. They are lightweight but I believe they are expensive.

Why put UFH upstairs? I can see the advantage in saving wall space but reaction time and having heat their all the time even if it's "set-back" is a disadvantge IMHO.

Pataman

To be honest, I have only spoken to people regarding ufh downstairs, I just assumed it was the natural progression to put it upstairs also. Rads are still an option.

Carb

Once I told my TF company, there was no issue. They did there own structural calculations, and put in extra/stronger joices where needed. I have 2 inches of concrete over one inch of insulation.

As for the reasons:
1. I initially intended going geothermal (probably won't now), which obviously doesn't work well with radiators.

2. If anything it probably cost me less than radiators

3. I don't like radiators, they end up been covered stuff anyway.

4. The soundproofing from the concrete floor, and solid feel underfoot is worth the hassle. I'd recommend you look into doing this, even if you don't go with UFH upstairs.