The floor covering industry considers the sound insulation very important in living areas such as multi-family or single-family dwellings. When evaluating flooring underlayment, sound deadening and acoustical ratings are one of the things homeowners or HOA considers. It all begins with how sound is generated and the medium it transfers through. The main test done by flooring industry is the Impact Insulation Class (IIC) ad Sound Transmission Class (STC). So lets first determine what these two test are.
Impact Insulation Class (IIC) Sound Rating
IIC test the ability to block impact sound by measuring the resistance to transmission of impact noise or structure-born noise. Examples include objects falling on floor, kids jumping off couches, tap dancing, anything that stimulates footfall.
Sound Transmission Class (STC)
STC evaluates the ability of a specific construction assembly to reduce airborne sounds. Examples include voices, stereo systems and TV noise.
So How Are The Ratings Calculated?
Both test involve an apparatus in an upper chamber and a measuring system in the lower chamber. The frequencies are calculated by decibel measurements and ratings are calculated by a very complex mathematical formula.
The higher the number, the higher the resistance – the better.
To meet International Building Code – both IIC and STC need to meet the minimum of 50 to pass. Many larger luxury condo associations and municipalities are now looking at the higher 50’s and lower 60’s range.
Floor Soundproofing Underlay Types
Knowing What Installation Type Of Your Floor Can Steer You In The Right Direction
Nailed Down or Glue Down Flooring
Nailing down your flooring to the subfloor is not the best option. When an impact is made on the floor, the impact energy will transfer to the nail to the subfloor.
Glue down is a better option due to no impact energy transferring to the subfloor but the underlayment.
With floating wood floors such as laminate, floating bamboo, rigid PVC core vinyl planks and wood/plastic; the underlayment is not attached to the subfloor or floor. There is a small air gap allowing to absorb more “sound”. The QuietWalk underlayment provides very high ratings such as IIC of 71 and STC 66 as of mid 2018.
Disclaimer: All Ratings Are Not Equal As with any underlayment sound testing number that a company gives you, each subfloor or floor assembly in your home. On top of that, the manufacture of the floor covering can use different materials. MP Global provides sound testing on common assembly but can not provide testing for every flooring in the world as it is entirely infinite.
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You are about to install your new flooring. As you lay the first plank you realize that
Camping is a favorite past-time activities for our families. All the kids are out of school during the summer time to enjoy the fresh outdoors. Gathering around the campfire on a cold night in the mountains telling stories. Labor day is one of the last opportunities for the season to camp and the temperatures are dropping.
One of the main concerns is the space under the flooring for radiant heating. Hydronic Systems is completely out of the question as this will take up way too much space. You would have to consider the electric heating film for ease of installation.
Electric Heating Film – No More Than The Height Of A Credit Card
The pro’s of electric heating film is the thinness of the mats. No more than the height of a credit card, you won’t lose space in an already limited quarters. With the mats running either 120V or 240V, this allows no bulky equipment to be installed in the RV/camper.
QuietWarmth although not tested for RV/motorhome applications, countless successful stories of users installing the systems in their campers. QuietWarmth radiant heat films are a little wider in size compare to some competitors, allowing to reduce the amount of mats needed to be connected.
A typical layout of mats:
Family members will be warm during cold nights to help the family get the sleep they deserve for tomorrow’s activities. When you wake up on a frosty morning, wouldn’t it be great if the RV floor was nice and toasty, making it easier to get out of the bunk and start the day?
The development of low-voltage electric radiant floor heating means that travel trailers, RVs and tiny houses can have the comfort and efficiency of radiant floor heating in small spaces.
Electric Radiant Floor Heating Reviews for Laminate and Floating Floors
We laid this under laminate flooring in the den under my wife’s desk. Since the floor is easy to pop up it was the right choice and it took no time at all. The box came with everything needed besides a few tools. I liked that it was easily trimmed with scissors. The website listed on the box even provides a detailed video for installation. Since installing this one my wife insisted on getting 2 more for the bathroom and we are going to attempt to use one in the green house in the colder months. It does not make the floor hot just cozy enough to be bare foot. We did see there is a separate thermostat that can be bought to control the temp of the floor may be more suitable for some. By Bstep7245 in Indiana
I had never heard of such a product before receiving Quiet Warmth – Radiant Heat Film for Floating Floors free from Bazaarvoice/ TryIt Sampling Community to review. So excited about the amazing features, no more cold feet, socks. My grandbabies didn’t want to sleep in their beds they just wanted to sleep on the warm floor. By JamesC in Many Louisiana
Bought this a month ago bi had it installed in the walk in closet area. We live in Midwest where the winter temperatures are very cold. This was just perfect. Warm feeling under the foot early in the morning. Just perfect way to t start the day. Works great as specified. By Theheat23 in Minneapolis
I recently had the Quiet Warmth Radiant Heat Film installed in my laundry room and I love it. My electrician didn’t take much time to wire it up. It sits directly under my floating floor and keeps my feet pretty toasty. The room gets cold during the fall and winter so this is just what I needed. By Definfected
I used this in my bathroom. The floors are always cold in there. It was easy to install. It took less than a day. It warmed up fast and even threw out the whole area. It is very thin and i sould not tell it was there. It was very easy. By Cduke in San Antionio TX
This is a great way to keep your space warm and efficient. It was very easy to install under our flooring, and gave a seamless and smooth finish to the flooring. We will certainly consider this for more rooms. By pfoster in New Tripoli, PA
I am so glad I received this product. Even with it being April here in Texas this weather has been cold and this product was able to help warm my floors. I installed it in my living room right in front of my sofa now my feet stay warm. I’m going to purchase one for my kitchen soon for when me and my wife cook. Our fur babies and grand children like the warm floor also. Great product great price.by Biggaryj in Texas
We have an older home with what I think is bad insulation and we are currently doing remodel room by room. The master bath is always incredibly cold and I was told by several people installing heated floors was worth every penny so we gave it a shot. Quiet warmth is just that. I was worried for some reason it would make a noise, but It doesn’t. It installed a lot easier than we expected and has been worth the time and money 100%. We have seen a decrease in our monthly utility bill as it’s been more efficient way to provide heat. This film has my family hooked and we will be installing it next in the kitchen and guest bathroom. Not only are we saving money, but adding value to our home. By JGrant in Denver CO
I installed it under my hardwood floor. Super easy installation. Wires came up from the wooden floor to be plugged to a power source. It provides gradual heat and is great for winters. The heat was evenly spread. Cutting the length was super easy. I highly recommend this product that comes in handy in the winters. By gurdial8 in Herndon, VA
Today I installed my Quiet Warmth Radiant heat film under my floating laminate floor. It was a pretty easy installation. It did not come with a thermostat so I purchased a Quiet Warmth Digital Non-Programmable Thermostat with a Built-in GFCI, it was also easy to connect. The heat film is super thin so it does not add any thickness to the floor. I did not need to, but it can be trimmed to fit with scissors. I like how it evenly heats my bedroom floor, no more cold feet. I will definitely be buying more of these for the rest of the house. By Maxbet in Chicago, IL
So easy to install, and gives great heat evenly across the floor,if your looking for an easy to do yourself project to keep your floors warm you have got to try this radiant heat film for floating floors by Denny322 in Pennsylvania
Omg when I received it was packaged all neat and nice. And when I received it was a little difficult to open but I finally got it open. When I first used it , i was amazed with how it made my whole warmer and it stayed at right temperature too. It is truly an amazing product to have and use in the home. I will continue to use it.
EASY to use. So much easier than I expected. Love the warmth it provides. Great to use in bathrooms and so nice after showers. If you are in the market for something to warm your floors, this is a must have. By xOliviasmommy14x in Horn Lake, MS
This QuietWarmth – Quiet Warmth – Radiant Heat Film for Floating Floors is extremely easy to install and allows easy adjustment for complicated areas. It is so wonderful to put our feet on a warm, cozy floor. Need to buy a lot of extras. Thank you! By VinAAT
Electric Radiant Floor Heating Reviews for Tile and Glue-Down Flooring
I remodeled my master bath and decided to put this under my tile. With the product being so thin it didn’t really add any height to my floor. I’ve decided that I will be going out to purchase more of this product to put in my entrance way and my wife’s area where she gets ready. ~ Toolmanwoody in Pittsburgh
I have a very cold bathroom, with cold floors. My father installed the film. He says it was easy and with the new tiles it works nice. My wife is happy with it I recommend this technology and will be installing more films as I redo house. By RobertNYC in New York
I live in Chicago and the tiles in the kitchen used to get crazy cold here. I came across this product ad immediately wanted to try it. I have put this in the kitchen floor and it is now so easy to stand and cook without having leg or hip pain. The warmth also helps heal any pain in the foot. Would highly recommend this product by Rahul in Chicago
We installed this in our office over tile floors and it’s been amazing so far. We previously had electric baseboard heat in the office and were able to remove that and free up 10 feet of wall space. Now we have radiant heat that is much more comfortable as opposed to the on/off nature of the electric baseboards. Installation was easy (for a qualified person) and we hope to enjoy this for many years to come. By rvdaddy in Philadelphia, PA
I installed this heat film in my bathroom under the tile floors. We laid it down starting from toilet , across the shower to the vanity. So, we get the nice warm floor under the bare feet in the cold mornings of our NorthEast home, when we walk into the bathroom. I used a thermostat for this radiant heat floor. I used Programmable thermostat, but non-programmable can be used as well. These films are very nice-super quality and very easy to install (with proper planning, of course). Easy to trim the mat with scissors. It really works well and keep the floors warm. no need to cover the full bathroom floor (as you don’t need to waste it under vanity/tub). Definitely DIY if you are handy enough (or use proper electrician for connecting thermostat). Would be a good idea to connect and let it run overnight to ensure heating is good and works well – before you put the tiles on. Overall, very happy with the product. By Desi2go in NYC
I got the QuietWarmth Radiant Heat Film for Tile Floors to use in the bathroom that we were remodeling. It worked great. It was so easy to put down and you could cut it to the size that your needed. It makes a difference and we love it. By Zanna7783 in Pittsburgh
QuietWarmth is an amazing product that helps to heat cold tile flooring from underneath! It is easy to install. Just roll out, cut length to fit if needed. It also suppresses impact sound from flooring while keeping the floor insulated and actually makes the tile warm to the touch! Perfect for anyone who constantly has cold feet like me! This type of radiant heat film can actually save homeowners 30-40% on their energy bills, what more can you ask for?! I would highly suggest this product for anyone looking to build a home or just redoing their flooring! By actingfreak1413 in Athens, OH
This is one cool product! It’s simple enough to install. Since it can be easily cut, I did a small area in the bathroom and am planning on doing another area in the enclosed porch. It really gives my home a spa feel. By Ivaz104 in Cape May, NJ
Very impressed by this product, a lot more user friendly than I though it would be. It was very easy to lay, and easy to cut to fit as well. It is not hard to lay either. The product is a must have and leaves the floor amazing by Chayes in Portsmouth, VA
Used under a tile floor in the bathroom. Provided nice comfort. Easy to install under the grout and time, but took some extra time to install as I am not very experienced with electrical. Provided good amount of heat. By emichalo1224 in Pittsburgh, PA
This heat film for tile floors was very easy to install. Installation was done in an afternoon. My wife is enjoying the warm tile and so am I. It has no wires and just rolls right down and voila it’s installed. I love that I was able to find this item.by Bob53 in Phoenix, Arizona
The QuietWarmth Radiant Heat Film for Tile Floors came packaged well and shipped quickly. The QuietWarmth Radiant Heat Film for Tile Floors looks and feels well made and not flimsy or fragile. At first review, it seems to be a good, well made product. By Warm Floors in Pennsylvania
So my wife gets extremely cold rather quickly and hates when her feet are cold so while remodeling our bathroom I decided to surprise her with heated tile floor and I’m so glad I did. She couldn’t be happier they don’t get so hot they burn you like some of the cheap flimsy brands and they’re not cold they’re the perfect temp to make sure you don’t freeze while walking in the bathroom by Joshuad in West Springfield, MA
We put this in our bathroom and I never realized how nice heated flooring is. It was very easy to install and simple to set up. This size worked perfectly for my bigger bathroom. I will be installing this in the kitchen of our house next. No more cold feet in the Ohio winters. By mitchlb in OH
want to make that cold bathroom or kitchen floor nice and cozy? This is the ticket! Pretty simple installation and boom, nice warm floor in the winter! The only issues I would have is I wish you could buy longer lengths. By iceman373 in PA
The quiet warmth radiant heat film for tile floors is absolutely amazing. This thing works like a charm and keeps my tile very warm. It is very easy to install and is very lightweight and is flush with my tiles and floor. This is very heavy duty as it keeps my tiles very warm and heats them up very fast. I like how simple it is to install and to operate. This is an absolutely amazing product and I think every homeowner should have this in their house. This is very good on cold nights when you have to go to the bathroom and your floors are warm and even getting out of the shower on cold nights. I absolutely love this product and definitely would recommend it to everybody. By Warm Feet in San Francisco, CA
I installed this in a room Im building in my garage. It was easy to lay down and put the tile over. The directions are easy to follow. I have had it down for a few days now so I will update my review as time goes on. So far I can tell it is made of great quality and seems to be doing its purpose. It doesn’t seem to have any flaws at this time. I am very happy with this Heat Film and would definitely buy more. By Eddieh5 in Elizabethtown KY
Electric Radiant Floor Heating Reviews for Existing Floors and Subfloors
I got this to put in my bathroom underneath the hardwood floor. It was super fast and easy to install. I really like the fact that I didn’t have to tear up the floor to install it. It’s so quiet that I forget it’s even there. The floor stays nice and warm. So warm that my dogs favorite spot to lay is now on the bathroom floor. By Pun008 in New Providence, PA
I received my QuietWarmth Retrofit Radiant Heat Film about two weeks ago. I read the directions and was surprised as to how easy the installation was. The film rolled out easily as I stapled it into place between the floor joists. Even wiring it to the thermostat was fairly simple if you follow the directions and know a little bit about wiring electrical outlets. It does a good job warming the ceramic floor in my kitchen. I have not had it long enough to determine how it will affect my electric bill. If you are a DIY homeowner and want to add some heat to your floors, I recommend buying this product. By Joseph in Richmond, VA
No more fiddling with wires or incurring prohibitive costs using a professional. This product takes the guesswork out of it all. I now have wonderfully warm floors in my bathroom. Thank you so much!!! By Redwildcat in Portland
I installed this in our bathroom. The instructions are very easy to follow. It works great and is awesome for out cold bathroom floor. We live in an older house and I didn’t wanna do a total remodel and this fit in our budget. By ScottN in McRae, CA
This was the effect solution to my heating problems in the kitchen of the old farmhouse we bought. The kitchen was added on sometime in the early 1900.’s and the floor was always cold by the sink as it was on an outer wall. This was easy to install in the crawlspace and now the floor is nice and toasty! By mikemoe78 in Pennsylvania
Got a piece to out in the foyer, installation was not the easiest but it wasn’t that hard either. I have to say that it works like a charm, downsize is the many pieces needed, but is worth the investment. Highly recommend this to any house owner. By mrodriguez0426 in Allentown, PA
We got this while we were remodeling our house. We had decided to try the heated floor for our older dog. He wont sleep in a dog bed . While we were putting in the floor we installed this on the subflooring and conected ot to a thermostat. A couple days later after we finished the floors we decided to try it out. And it works great on my feet and my dog is loving it he sleeps right in the hall every night. We will be doing the living room with these as soon as we get to that room. By Ashley in Lowell, NC
It works great and worked like a charm in my bathroom. The floors feel so nice and warm all of the time. I was so excited to get these because our floors stay cold all of the time. I was amazed that it worked so well. By Jay25 in Senatobia MS
We are in the process of remodeling our bedroom and bathroom floors. I didn’t have enough to do both rooms so my wife chose the bathroom. It comes in a roll and you can easily cut to fit the desired space. Its very easy to put down we just used a stapler. It will be nice to have some warm floors come next winter. By June67 in Louisiana
This is a great addition to any home! It was pretty easy to install, and as a beginner I really appreciated that fact. It provides a nice gentle heat and really warmed up the floor, I am going to do the rest of the rooms in my house too. By Kps989 in Wisconsin
This is exactly what I needed to turn my recently laid bathroom floor into an outstanding upgrade. The flooring had been installed a few months ago, however only took a few hours to pull up to be able to lay the Quiet Warmth Retrofit Radiant Heat Film underneath it. I acquired a digital thermostat and was able to hide the wiring behind some trim. Now I can have a heated warm floor in my bathroom on this cold wintery nights and anytime I want. It is incredibly relaxing, I think the bathroom is my new favorite room, thanks to this awesome upgrade. This is my first experience using a heated underlayment system, however it will not be my last.. I am, looking to do my other bathroom the same exact way next. Then on to another room. I am a Quiet Warmth customer for life. By Dave302 in Wyoming, Delaware
We use this for our bathroom basement and it was my husband’s 1st time to try and figure out how to install it. It’s not rocket science, he did it himself and he said is no big deal. We laid tiles on the floor and it’s actually so nice to feel the warmth under your feet. By anna.c12
This is an amazing product for use do it yourselfers who dont want to pay an arm and leg to get heated floors in your home. The instrustions are easy to understand. Doesnt take long to install either. By Mademoney in Akron, Ohio
I got this for a small bathroom in the house and look like its going to be pretty easy plus I dont have to replace my whole floor as it can be installed under the existing floor with a crawl space or basement. I have a crawl space so wont be too hard to do though is suggested it be connected by an electrician by kenb72112 in Newport, AR
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You are about to install your new flooring. As you lay the first plank you realize that
Is electric radiant heat efficient for you to convert your house over from forced-air or baseboard heat?
heat your floors compared to forced air or baseboard heaters? In this article you will find out there are two common choices for heating. Forced air and radiant heat and which one is more efficient to heat up your floors.
Forced air heating is simply air carrying warmth through air ducts in your home. Powered by natural gas creating a flame to heat up the air and a blower to push the air to the center of your home.
But how much heat is lost between the source and the destination? The opportunity for the warm air to cool down when traveling through vents increases with more travel. Each vent systems are not perfect and air is leaked through cracks.
Once the warm air reaches the destination, the warm air rises to the ceiling to leave you moderately warm.
Indoor Air Quality for Forced Air
Ductwork also collects and distributes dust and other impurities, including germs. With forced air recirculation the dust and germs can recirculate in your household causing illness. It is ideal to change your filter regularly to optimize indoor air quality.
Taking up 45% of your energy bills according to U.S. Department of Energy, forced air isn’t very efficient in our books.
Efficiency Level Rank: 4
Baseboard Heat
Diagram of a radiator heated room with heat distribution
Baseboard is a close relative of forced air except it has no ductwork, filter and is electric powered. Matched up with poor placement of baseboards, the units generally end up heating outside walls and not internal walls.
For example, if placing baseboards under windows, the cold window glass cools the warmer room air next to the glass, and that cool air drops like a rock to the floor. Also, traditional heaters need to heat up to 149-167 degrees Fahrenheit, consuming more energy to heat up your floor.
According to U.S. Department of Energy, baseboard heating is the most expensive way to heat your home.
Efficiency Level Rank: 2
Radiant Heat
Radiant heat offers even distribution of heat through the room with little to no loss. This is produced by transfer energy, which is heat makes direct contact with the surface. The heat then radiates off of the surface.
Diagram of a underfloor heated room with heat distribution
The heat is not lost during distribution due to transfer heat. Heat will rise to the ceiling but the source starts from the flooring and follows up to the ceiling.
Indoor Air Quality for Radiant Heat Systems
No germs/dust can collect inside ductwork of a radiant heating system. No system in place to push allergens in the air.
According to U.S Department of Energy, radiant heat has a number of advantages over other forms of heat distribution. Due to no loss of heat with distribution and indoor air quality, radiant heat is the clear winner in energy efficiency.
Efficiency Level Rank: 9
But there are different radiant heat systems on the market? Is the hydronic system or electric radiant heat more efficient?
Radiant Heat – Hydronic Systems
Hydronic systems is basically hot water running through ½” PEX piping through your flooring/walls. A standalone boiler is needed to heat up the water which pushes the water through the piping. It takes the boiler a while to heat up the water but once done, it can provide gentle heat to floors and walls.
Depending on the boiler (gas or electric), gas is more cost efficient than electric.
If you are looking to install an electric boiler, you should consider the electric radiant heat system due to maintenance as it would cost the same to heat up your room. Hydronic systems have to be maintained every other year for optimum performance.
That being said, our rating for efficiency is:
Hydronic System – Gas Boiler – Efficiency Level Rank: 8
Hydronic System – Electric Boiler – Efficiency Level Rank: 6
Electric Radiant Heat
Electric radiant heat is a cable or film that generates warmth by alternating currents running in a mat or cable system. The mat is powered by electricity (120V or 240V) which is the same cost as hydronic system – Electric Boiler but no maintenance is needed plus quick installation time makes this ideal for DIY or contractors.
Electric Radiant Heat Efficient Level- Efficiency Level Rank: 7
As you have read through the article, the hydronic system – gas boiler is the most efficient but you have to also look at your time installing the system, maintenance involved and basically what you are comfortable with in your home.
With over 74% of homes, laminate flooring is the most popular floor to exist. Over the colder months of the year, homeowners search for underfloor heating for laminate floors.
Is laminate flooring suitable for underfloor heating?
Yes, most laminates are suitable with underfloor heating (electric and water), but it is advisable to check with the flooring manufacturer before installing the system. Some flooring manufacturers recommend to not exceed 27 °C or 80.6°F. Using a radiant heat thermostat restricts the system from reaching the maximum temperature. It should also include a flooring sensor which sends signals to the thermostat control.
Different types of laminate flooring have different thermal properties, as such there are differences in their suitability for use with an underfloor heating system. The more dense and the thinner the boards are, the better they conduct heat and typically more suitable they are for use with underfloor heating.
When choosing laminate or wood flooring, it is important to ensure good thermal conductivity, which is best when using more dense wood. The thinner the flooring material and the higher the density, the shorter the heat-up time and more responsive the system will be.
When you have underfloor heating for laminate flooring, you can use any underlayment. Essentially, the underlay keeps the heat resistance within the allowed tolerances. Using the correct underlay can stop rising damp or condensation, and will reduce the risk of open joints during the heating period.
Some radiant heat systems require a membrane (not needing an underlayment) during installation which will increase the height of the floor. If you are looking at underlayment that has sound deadening benefits with radiant heat capability, QuietWalk is a recommended underlayment in the flooring industry. At 2.5 mm thick, this will allow the height for the electric heat wiring to channel and not increase your flooring height.
If you use a thinner underlayment, the subfloor will have to be notched to accommodate the wiring.
Crack isolation and sound control products are designed to solve well-known issues in flooring installation. Crack isolation products keep subfloor cracks from transferring into tile and stone floors. Sound control products are designed to minimize impact noise from footfalls and other types of traffic, as measured by their Impact Insulation Class (IIC) rating. We asked contractors and manufacturers to share their insights into these different products.
Flooring Installation: Crack isolation
James Woelfel, president of the National Tile Contractors Association and vice president of Artcraft Granite, Marble and Tile Co. in Mesa, Ariz., said he uses crack isolation products on every job. These are dependable products when used correctly, but become a problem when they’re not properly applied, he stated.
“The theory behind crack isolation is to transfer cracks from the substrate to the weakest point in the installation, which is usually the grout joint. The biggest error I see is people not using a wide enough membrane for spot applications. They’ll have an 18″ by 18″ tile that will be going over a hairline crack, and so they just put down an 18″ by 18″ or 18″ by 36″ membrane. The problem is, for the membrane to work it needs to be three times the width of the tile. Otherwise you’re not transferring the crack to the grout joint-you’re transferring it to the tile itself.”
Another issue is putting down crack isolation for no reason, which is often indicative of a mindset that will lead to other problems in the installation. “Crack isolation is a wonderful product, and it has absolutely furthered our industry. But if people are not familiar with how to use it, they end us causing themselves more problems than the product can solve.”
Woelfel added, “People often misconstrue crack isolation as a type of movement joint, so they think they’re not going to need any movement joints. That is completely wrong. You will always need movement joints.”
Dan Kelley of Kelley Tile and Marble in Canyon Lake, Calif., offered his expertise to help Merkrete develop its Fracture Guard FD, a fast-drying, liquid-applied crack isolation membrane.
“I’ve used Merkete products for years, back when they had the [Fracture Guard] 5000. After they came out with the 7000 I told them we needed something that dries quicker. I brought 10 guys down with me to their office in Orange County, and they listened to the installers telling them what they wanted. Often when you sit down with a company, they’ll have a meeting with you but not take any action. Merkrete not only listened to what we wanted-they developed it and it’s a good product.”
Al diBicarri of AD Ceramic Tile in Marlborough, N.H., swears by Schluter’s Ditra uncoupling mat. “We usually do a lot of high-end residential work, and we use Ditra matting on every job. I like it because it’s a lot simpler for me to use than a cement board product, and it has the added advantage of the uncoupling benefit. We also use the Ditra-Heat mat so we can install radiant heating cables easily.”
He said working with Ditra is simple, provided the installer takes the time to read the directions. “A common mistake installers might make is not making the thin-set loose enough or not having the right sized trowel for the job. I’ve been doing this for 40 years now, so I think it’s pretty easy.”
He added, “Schluter is a great company for technical support, and there’s plenty of literature and always someone to talk to. But really it comes down to having common sense. When you put down the mat, pick it up by an edge and make sure it has 100 percent contact with the thin-set.”
Alan Pratt of Set in Stone in Parkman, Maine-who uses Schluter Ditra in his projects-also praises its ease of use. “I can teach someone how to put Ditra down in 10 minutes. It makes jobs go faster for us. Ditra is light, easy to work with, you don’t have to cut it with a power tool and it’s user-friendly.”
Melanie Debelak, Keene Building Products marketing manager, had this to say about the company’s KeedeRoll 100 Uncoupling Mat: “KeedeRoll 100 is designed for use with both modified and unmodified mortars. It works by absorbing subfloor movement and reinforcing the mortar, protecting the tile from shear stresses. It can be used over plywood or OSB subfloors, Dependable patches and self-levelers, concrete slabs and with radiant heat flooring.”
Sound control products
Jim Wink, Foam Products Corp. vice president of sales and marketing, stated, “Our underlayments are used daily in residential and commercial flooring wood, laminate and LVT/LVP installations for acoustical sound control. For the past 15 years, our acoustical Eco Silencer underlayments have been used for wood and laminates and for more than four years, our acoustical Silencer LVT underlayment has been used for vinyl plank flooring.”
Jack Boesch, MP Global Products director of marketing, noted, “Our new SoundBuffer universal acoustical underlayment is made from 100% virgin latex rubber. It can be floated, single-glued or doubled-glued, nailed down or stapled, and is suitable for luxury vinyl, laminate, and engineered and solid wood floors.”
Introducing QuietWarmth Radiant Heat Film for Floating Floors
New in-floor electric radiant heat system, made in America, gives homeowners an easy and cost efficient way to add gentle supplemental electric radiant heat room by room to homes in any climate.
NORFOLK, Neb. – Nov. 5, 2015 – The new QuietWarmth Radiant Heat Film for Floating Floors, from MP Global Products, is an excellent supplement to a primary heating system that can be installed in any room in a home where extra warmth and coziness is desirable. It is a great choice for bedrooms, bathrooms, playrooms, three-season rooms that typically do not have heat, rooms where babies, toddlers, and pets play or lay on the floor, and rooms that are inherently chilly.
Installed over a subfloor and under a finished floor, QuietWarmth Radiant Heat Film uses just three main components: the ultra-thin flexible radiant heat film; an in-floor sensor that monitors the temperature of the floor, not the room, and aims, typically, for a setting just a few degrees above room temperature; and a GFCI thermostat that gives occupants local control of the room’s coziness.Most of the installation can be performed by the homeowner or a flooring contractor, with only the final hookup of lead wires at a central electrical box requiring the services of a licensed electrician. The system, which is draft-free, fan-free, and silent, uses just 12 watts per square foot, conforming to the warranty requirements of many floating floors.
A programmable thermostat for each installation can be set individually to help prepare the room for anticipated occupancy at various times, for example before breakfast, after school, or in the evenings.
6 Reasons to Use Supplemental In-Floor Electric Radiant Heat in Light Commercial Applications
In-floor electric radiant heat is a new hot trend in commercial projects these days. It’s an easy way to provide supplemental heating for offices and other workspaces and can be activated at the local level, enabling individual occupant comfort. Rather than moving heated air as a hot air surface does, it uses a warm surface to transfer heat to people and into a space.
Line voltage and low voltage systems are available designed specifically for floating engineered wood, hardwood, laminate, luxury vinyl tile, and ceramic tile floors, with power consumption measured by wattage output per square foot. Standard wattage density is 8-12W per square foot, which does not exceed warranty requirements for most floating floors.
The systems are easy to install, requiring the services of a licensed electrician only for the final hookup of lead wires at a central electrical box. Be sure to look for systems that are tested and UL (Underwriters Laboratories) listed, UL-Canada ETL, or CSA (Canadian Standards Association) listed. Additionally, there are six key reasons that supplemental in-floor electric radiant heat is a good decision for commercial buildings.
(1) System Simplicity: Installed over a subfloor and under a finished floor, in-floor electric radiant heat systems feature just a few main components: the heating elements, which can be heating cables, heating film, or heating mats or mesh; an in-floor sensor that monitors the temperature of the floor, not the room, and aims, typically, for a setting just a few degrees above room temperature; and a GFCI thermostat that gives office occupants local modification of their work environment.
(2) Adjustable Control: Programmable thermostats can be set individually to help prepare a space for occupants at the start of each work day, providing highly customizable comfort. This is beneficial given that local control of temperature and lighting has been shown to improve employee satisfaction.
(3) Useful for Non-Traditional Spaces: In-floor electric radiant heat is a good option to supplement primary heating systems in buildings with offices that, because of window configuration, orientation with respect to compass points and prevailing winds, or other non-controllable situation, are inherently colder than other offices in the building. It is also a great choice for offices created in converted lofts, former factories, or high ceiled repurposed spaces.
(4) Increased Amenities: In other non-residential spaces, such as hotel and motel guest room bathrooms, in-floor electric radiant heat under tile can be a very nice perk and provide a touch of luxury underfoot. There are systems available that deliver electric radiant heat within an underlayment product that includes an anti-fracture membrane that isolates cracks in a concrete subfloor from telegraphing through to the tile surface.
(5) Safe Operation: In-floor radiant heating is quieter and safer for supplemental heating than space heaters that may hum and can tip over when set up under or near employees’ desks.
(6) Set It and Forget It: The systems are maintenance free, once installed they are out of sight and out of mind – just activate and control the thermostat.
Original Article: Buildings.com – October 21, /2015
Posted on: Tuesday, November 10, 2015
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You are about to install your new flooring. As you lay the first plank you realize that
QuietWarmth Peel and Stick Radiant Heat for Tile Floors is an in-floor electric radiant heating system for adding comfort and coziness to rooms with traditional tile, stone or marble flooring.
QuietWarmth Peel and Stick Radiant Heat for Tile Floors is an in-floor electric radiant heating system for adding comfort and coziness to rooms with traditional tile, stone or marble flooring.
MP Global Products introduces QuietWarmth Peel and Stick Radiant Heat for Tile Floors, an in-floor electric radiant heating system for adding comfort and coziness to rooms with traditional tile, stone or marble flooring.
According to the company, QuietWarmth for Tile Floors complements the recently launched and very well received QuietWarmth Radiant Heat Film for Floating Floors. Both use a unique conductive ink technology embedded in a flexible thin film and generate gentle highly efficient supplemental heat from under the finished floor covering.
QuietWarmth for Tile Floors’ ultra-thin radiant heat film is integrated in a waterproof anti-fracture membrane which helps isolate cracks up to 3/8-inch wide.
The clean, quiet, hypoallergenic and maintenance free lightweight system, sliver thin at just 0.05-inch (about the thickness of three stacked credit cards), provides up to 85% heated surface coverage, without any hot or cold spots. Using only 12 watts per square foot, the system disperses gradual evenly consistent supplemental warmth from low wattage resistance heating of the radiant heat film, said the company.
Featuring an ultra-thin heating film, QuietWarmth Peel and Stick Radiant Heat for Tile Floors installs quickly in one day without any mess, mortar or glue. Simply roll out each peel-and-stick mat. Each mat has wires pre-attached at one end. Direct all lead wires toward one central junction box with the final connections by a licensed electrician to the electronic programmable thermostat. One thermostat will handle 150 square feet of heat.
QuietWarmth Peel and Stick Radiant Heat for Tile Floors is available in four rollout pad sizes (3’x5′, 3’x10′, 1.5’x5′ and 1.5’x10′) that will accommodate most any layout, according to the company.
Challenge: Specifying underlayment for new flooring at the Trump International Sonesta Beach Resort, a hotel in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida.
The developers of the resort, Donald Trump and Dezer Properties, wanted an underlayment that would address noise abatement, crack suppression, and potential mold issues. The hotel has 355 hotel rooms and guest suites, each with a private balcony boasting views of the Atlantic Ocean or the Intracoastal Waterways.
Solution: Specification and installation of MP Global Products Insulayment – a high-performing, recycled fiber acoustic underlayment designed for use under glue-down and nail-down hardwood and engineered wood floors and under ceramic, porcelain, and most stone tile. The underlayment features randomly air-laid filaments that create a capillary effect to cushion the floor and absorb impact sound, meeting all stringent building code requirements. Insulayment also includes an antimicrobial additive that inhibits mold growth.
“Insulayment was easy to install, cost-effective, and met all the code requirements set by the industry within the state of Florida and Miami Dade County,” said Angel Acosta, the construction project manager for Trump Grande Ocean Resort and Residences.
Insulayment is third-party certified made from 100% pre-consumer recycled textile content and is LEED-compliant. It is available in 100-sf rolls.
Original Article: Construction Specifier – May 13, 2015
Posted on: Wednesday, May 13, 2015
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You are about to install your new flooring. As you lay the first plank you realize that
[Norfolk, Neb.] Engineered specifically for installation under glue-down or nail-down hardwood and engineered wood floors, MP Global’s Insulayment is designed to dampen impact noise and decrease airborne sounds from traveling to the room below, the company stated.
According to MP Global, Insulayment is an appealing choice for installations where concern for the environment is a consideration. The underlayment, which is made in America (eliminating overseas shipping costs and minimizing transportation costs), is certified made from 100 percent pre-consumer recycled textile content, MP Global added.
Insulayment is available in 360 square foot and 100 square foot rolls.
Norfolk, Neb. – MP Global Products’ Insulayment is a high performing acoustic underlayment engineered specifically for installation under glue-down or nail-down hardwood and engineered wood floors. The roll-out fiber underlayment is designed to dampen impact noise and decrease airborne sounds from traveling to the room below.
Insulayment is a very appealing choice for installations where concern for the environment is a consideration. Insulayment keeps floors warm in the winter and cool in the summer, minimizing energy demands. In addition, the underlayment is Made in the USA, which eliminates overseas shipping costs and minimizes transportation costs, and made from 100% pre-consumer recycled textile content. It also helps to smooth out little subfloor imperfections.
