[Strawbale] concrete floor vs. wood floor

[Corwyn]

On Oct 16, 2007, at 00:42, Shody Ryon wrote:

> Hi Kathy and list,
> I thought that radiant heat worked well under wood
> floors as well as concrete.

It can be made to work, but not as easily.

>  I was planning on
> installing radiant floors in the bathrooms and perhaps
> the kitchen but not in the bedrooms because I like to
> sleep in the cold. Because we want to have air
> circulating to prevent stale air and moisture build
> up, we will be installing air circulating cleaning and
> ventilation system,

In a well insulated house, with a ventilation system and radiant heat, 
I don't think you will be able to achieve too much of a temperature 
differential.

>  Either way, the wood floor will use less
> energy to heat than than a concrete one of the same
> size, if I understand Laren's post.

Well that's one way of looking at it.  But for a heating system 
component you WANT more energy to be required to heat it.

> So the wood floors
> would be better insulated and more energy efficient,
> kind of like SB walls are; better insulated than 2x4
> walls with fiberglass bats.

I would hope there is insulation other than the floor surface between 
it and the outside.  It doesn't help to insulate your heating system 
from your living space, sort of defeats the purpose in fact.


Thank You Kindly,

Corwyn

-- 
Corwyn
Kermit didn't know the half of it...
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corwyn at greenfret.com