I’m starting to seriously plan a shop type building for all my crap…. I mean stuff. Thinking 30x40 with a porch. My question is does anyone here have a steel shop type building with a heated concrete floor? What do you think of it? Pros, cons, good, bad, all input is appreciated.
I don’t have one myself, but when I used to do concrete full time, we installed a few in both homes and shop floors. My employer put in floor radiant heat in his shop and loves it. High up front cost, but once it’s done and in use, it’s more cost effective. The best part to me is that you can open garage doors when it’s 0 out and it’s warm again just as soon as you shut them. would you do a wood fired boiler or gas? I think it’d be neat to have both but even more expensive.
The only one (2 actually) at the same owner, uses a propane water heater with pex tubing in the concrete. I delivered some of the concrete on both of the construction projects. The first one was a smaller building maybe 16x24 and the second was pretty good sized with a house on one end and garage in the rest. Living area of the second was split up into different zones to regulate the temperature in different rooms. Smaller one was built a couple years before the second, when we was pouring concrete on the second he told me it only cost $ 100 a winter to heat the little one. But he is not the kind of guy that I would take his word as gospel without asking questions. it would have to be propane, no natural gas around here. if this happens eventually maybe you could come assist
I've had shops and open bay carwash floors heated, doors up and water spraying on them, the cheapest option is a wood boiler, they are great for working on in the winter, but it is expensive up front. If done right with 2" of rigid Styrofoam under the slab it will hold its heat for a long time if the building is insulated. If I was to build a new shop here I'd do a heated slab, but I'd had 4" of rigid Styrofoam under mine because of where I live.
Heated floors are like heated seats and steering wheels.. Once you had them you wonder why you waited so long… just my opinion..
Have it in my shop, wouldn't change a thing, warm feet always! 5/8" pex spaced 12" apart, wood boiler, 4" underslab foam Downside is its slow to react to drastic changes in weather, but not bad Radiant slabs are very common around here
Our architect in Colorado with very soft water loved his floor heating. A house across the road here went into foreclosure in 2014, she had it put all the way through a large house and the hard water here ruined the lines despite the water softener system. NOTE, she dug a well and our aquifers here are as hard as ocean water. Just something to consider.
Yup, shop and (attached) house radiant. Wood fired boiler once it's cold enough to want heat in the shop, if it's borderline I can use oil for the house. I don't want to "spend" the oil for the shop but it will run it. Any particular questions?
I will add that I knew zero about radiant heating and seeing that 90% of mine is in concrete where you only get one "shot" at it, I hired a radiant design company. They were within 40 miles of me and the design fees were subtracted from any materials or equipment that I bought from them. The big bonus was professional CAD drawings and a guy who was available on the phone to nurse me through the installation that I met in person. I'm comfortable with reading drawings and can sweat a pipe, but absolutely no plumber! Periodically I'd check his invoices online @ Supply house.com and he was right inline. Having done the complete installation and as a result fully understanding the operation is a huge comfort to me not to mention a plumbing contractor that I didn't pay.
Their water was not treated properly then...that it boiler 101...floor heat or not. Many OWB companies void their warranty if you don't send them a water sample every year.
All the systems I helped my brother install were closed loop, 50/50 glycol mix. Not a lot of make up water involved.
“…had 4" of rigid Styrofoam under mine because of where I live.” “…4" underslab foam…” Excellent choice, men But (in no way aimed at you two)… I thought heat rises?
I'm sure you know more about this than I do. It took me several readings to try to figure out if I was missing a joke. I'm still not sure.
You're not missing anything. Heat rises is contextual. Stripped of context the statement doesn't make much sense. One or two people think that's humerus. Unlike speeling errors.
I have been in two places with heated floors. Both will make your feet sweat and it takes a day or two to react to temp change. The space will be too cold/hot during weather changes. I'd prefer a cool floor and radiant heat.
