200 yearold cottage need a new sitting room floor,what is the process using jablite and under floor heating?

Question

200 yearold cottage need a new sitting room floor,what is the process using jablite and under floor heating?

Answer 1

Hi

Look up the underfloor heating system you are after - for instance a 'Penguin' system or similar and be guided by their installation notes for their particular system - differing types of underfloor heating include water, electrical etc... all of this will depend on what you actually require to be heated - for instance a large lounge area with an open galley will be totally different to that of a low beamed cottage with dab walling

Jablite is simply a type of polystyrene insulation typically put between insitu concrete - this penetrates the jablite and binds it whilst creating thermal insulation and a part structural slab - much in the same manner of cavity wall insulation

Hope this is of help -

Answer 2

This is much less difficult than it might seem.  You need to dig out the existing floor so as to leave room for 75mm insulation (minimum) and 100mm of concrete.  

The easiest way is to dig out ab it more and put in some coarse sharp sand, as that is easy to level and flatten with a plate vibrator.  Lay down the insulation (I put 100mm in as it costs almost the same and is warmer) and then a damp proof membrane on top of the insulation.  Then lay on top of that some A142 steel mesh making sure you dont puncture the DPM.  Use cable ties to fix the underfloor piping to the steel mesh at about 400 centres.  For the concrete, I now use self levelling concrete - tarmac topflow is good and you can order by phone with your credit card.  Work out he volume carefully and MAKE SURE you have a sealed tray of DPM to keep it in.  It will escape if you have a gap.  Overlap joins in the DPM by 1 foot and tape the join to be sure.  The concrete hardly needs any levelling.  Just poke it with a rake for a few minutes and you end up with a lovely flat level floor that you can carpet or board straight onto.  Much better than messing about with concrete then screeds etc.  You do need to spray the surface of the fresh concrete with curing compound, but Tarmac will give you that if you tell them you were always supplied with it in your last house.