Reply to: Laying a smooth concrete floor

[Uncle Albert]

We didn't put in underfloor heating mainly because we stayed in a place with it a while back and I hated it. I kept having to find places to rest my feet on that weren't warm. I suspect that the heating was just on too high, but it was enough to put me off.

[TheFaQQer]

I guess it must be nice having a warm floor in a bathroom but what about other rooms like living room and kitchen? Do they not advise it for rooms like this? You can't just give it a blast of heat or turn it off if it's too hot can you?

No, it doesn't give you the blast of heat. It does give residual heat, though - you switch it on a couple of hours earlier than you need it, and then it stays warm for a lot longer when it switches off. If you have a tiled or marble or concrete floor, it means that in the summer the floor still stays nice and cool (which helps cool the room as well), but in the winter you can heat the whole place more efficiently than a few radiators will (assuming it's a big enough room).

We have the bathroom floor set to 22 (I think) which is enough to make the floor comfortable when it's chilly. The downside is when you walk off the bits that are heated (the main floor) onto the little bit that isn't (round the toilet) and there's quite a difference! I don't think you get that as much with the water-filled pipes, though, since they give off more heat than the wires do, and spread it about a bit more.

[northernladuk]

We have it in the bathroom, but that's just an electric coil under the tiles. We had it in the church when we owned that, but obviously never saw it finished - it worked fine for the bits that were habitable, though.

I guess it must be nice having a warm floor in a bathroom but what about other rooms like living room and kitchen? Do they not advise it for rooms like this? You can't just give it a blast of heat or turn it off if it's too hot can you?

[TheFaQQer]

I've always wondered this. It must work as it's been around for years. Fad's tend to come and go but underfloor heating is still out there. I have never been in a house with it in though. The idea of burying it under concrete just doesn't sit right with me though. Just can't get my head around the fact the whole concrete warms up so heats the room evenly and all that. I'd have to see it in action before I considered it personally.

We have it in the bathroom, but that's just an electric coil under the tiles. We had it in the church when we owned that, but obviously never saw it finished - it worked fine for the bits that were habitable, though.

[northernladuk]

if you want to lay something 'the other way round', be it a floor or a woman, then feel free

May be it's just because I am not fussy enough

[northernladuk]

Does that sound like a good idea or is underfloor heating overrated and a bit of a gimmick?

I've always wondered this. It must work as it's been around for years. Fad's tend to come and go but underfloor heating is still out there. I have never been in a house with it in though. The idea of burying it under concrete just doesn't sit right with me though. Just can't get my head around the fact the whole concrete warms up so heats the room evenly and all that. I'd have to see it in action before I considered it personally.

[TestMangler]

Erm, I think it's the other way around....

if you want to lay something 'the other way round', be it a floor or a woman, then feel free

[northernladuk]

Good job you've had so much good advice Hooty !!

Always remember, a good floor is like a good woman.

Lay it right the first time and you can walk all over it for years !!

Erm, I think it's the other way around....

[TestMangler]

Good job you've had so much good advice Hooty !!

Always remember, a good floor is like a good woman.

Lay it right the first time and you can walk all over it for years !!

[TheFaQQer]

Now I'm thinking if the floor needs concreting then I may as well first lay pipes for underfloor heating.

Even if these are capped off and not used for now, or ever by me, they might be a good selling point in future.

But presumably that means the concrete must be significantly deeper, and the pipes and labour of installing them would add a fair bit to the cost.

Does that sound like a good idea or is underfloor heating overrated and a bit of a gimmick?

You could do the pipework yourself. If the room is big or has high ceilings etc. then it' could well be the best way to heat the room. Assuming you're looking at water-filled pipes rather than an electric coil, take up the concrete that's there, whack in the pipes, then get the floor done by a professional and polish to a high finish.

[ContrataxLtd]

Now I'm thinking if the floor needs concreting then I may as well first lay pipes for underfloor heating.

Even if these are capped off and not used for now, or ever by me, they might be a good selling point in future.

But presumably that means the concrete must be significantly deeper, and the pipes and labour of installing them would add a fair bit to the cost.

Does that sound like a good idea or is underfloor heating overrated and a bit of a gimmick?

If you go for the underfloor heating make sure you pressure test the pipes before laying the concrete, don't want a leak with a couple of inches of concrete above the pipes!

Also, make sure you sufficiently insulate and use a heat reflecting sheet below the pipes so that the concrete below doesn't simply absorb all the heat from the underfloor heating, you want as much of it going upwards as possible.

Martin

[OwlHoot]

Now I'm thinking if the floor needs concreting then I may as well first lay pipes for underfloor heating.

Even if these are capped off and not used for now, or ever by me, they might be a good selling point in future.

But presumably that means the concrete must be significantly deeper, and the pipes and labour of installing them would add a fair bit to the cost.

Does that sound like a good idea or is underfloor heating overrated and a bit of a gimmick?

[xoggoth]

Opens Readers Digest DIY Manual for about the second time in the 20 years I've had it.

1 Make sure floor is not damp, if it's pre 1940 it may not have a damp proof membrane and damp will eventually ruin any surface you lay. If it is damp, remove any dust/dirt and repair any cracks with cement. Dry as much as possible with a fan heater and use 3 coats of moisture curing polyurethane sealant, allowing each to become touch dry before next. Scatter dry sand over the final coat before it dries.

2 If step 1 is not required, fill any significant indentations with sand and mortar mix. First brush with PVA adhesive and add a little to the mortar. When dry, clean floor with sugar soap and water. Rinse and allow to dry thoroughly.

3) Finish with a self levelling compound - very runny so levels itself. Follow mixing instructions on packet. Spread with a trowel to minimum depth of about 1cm or as needed to fill in any dips. It hardens very quickly, about 1 hour, but see instructions on packet before walking on it.

[vetran]

concrete doesn't tend to leak unless its very wet or the shuttering is very poorly supported.

Lay dryish near the edge, build up slowly ish. support shuttering with bricks at right angles or concrete blocks.

[Bunk]

Lay least favourite CUK posters on floor. Cover with concrete.

If MF there will be no flat finish.

Has anyone seen Mordac?