2 Q’s: 1) If you had flooring you didn’t want to remove, but had access to the subfloor underneath via a crawlspace (or basement), could you install “strips” of this between the joists? For instance, if you drilled a hole between joists to connect the pex? It’s not ideal obviously, and it’s a harder install, but can’t see any other way to avoid ripping up the oak hardwood floor. 2) Can the system be added to over time? Install in a couple of rooms and then install in a couple more later?
Hello, and Happy New Year. Thanks for reaching out. Here are a few thoughts.
1. The method you are discussing is often called “Staple-Up” or “Joist Track”. This is a decreasingly popular way to do radiant heat, because, as you mentioned, it’s not ideal, it’s harder to install, and it’s much less effective. Here’s some information on that method. Installing strips of Warmboard sounds…not good. Honestly, a better solution might be putting Warmboard-R in your walls, which is a terrific solution/workaround for those who wish to upgrade to radiant but want to keep their existing floors intact. (This photo below is of Warmboard-S going in the walls, but you get the idea)
2. Absolutely. When you work with us, you’ll want to just size your boiler, and plan your manifold sizes and locations out ahead of time. (We’ll help you with all of this of course) This way, when/if you choose to add more rooms, you can reduce future costs as much as possible.
Thanks for your questions. Give us a call to discuss in more detail. 877.338.5493 Happy New Year!