Yeah! We got all the styrofoam down on the floor. The concrete contractor added the wire that reinforces the slab. Next, we marked off the walls that will form the rooms.We used spray paint very lightly because the paint sort of melts the styrofoam.
Solid walls, dotted pex
We’re putting radiant floor heat in the house, but the basement slab is the only part where the tubes are set in the concrete. The pex-a tubing is laid out so there are not hot and cold spots. By running some of the beginning tubing (which has water straight off the heater) alongside tubing that is returning to be re-heated, the slab should be heated uniformly.
Then we sprayed dotted lines in 2 different colors to designate where the pex tubing will go. There are two separate runs which keep the water from cooling down too much before returning to the heat exchanger for re-heating. This is called a closed system because the water in the floor tubes does not mix with the domestic hot water.
Orange run is 150 ft, black 200ft
We laid the tubing on the dotted lines and connected them to the wire with plastic zip ties. This is definitely a two person job. One person unwinds the tubing and keeps it from twisting and crimping while the other lays it out on the lines and fastens with the ties. The pex is put under pressure to check for leaks. It will remain pressurized while the concrete slab is poured over it. This will determine if it is damaged during the pour.
For reference when nailing into the floor
As an added precaution, we took pictures of the layout. We put a tape measure from critical points so we don’t forget where the tubes are and nail through them.
The basement has a den, a kitchen, a full bath and the mechanical room.
The bucket
In one of the pictures, you’ll notice an upturned bucket. That’s where the shower drain goes. The bucket adds a slight amount of flexibility just in case the shower drain doesn’t exactly line up with the floor drain. Once the final placement is determined, the bucket is cut off evenly with the floor. The void inside the bucket can then be filled with concrete or spray foam.
Egress walls are braced and ready for concrete
We passed the inspection on this latest work today (Wednesday) and the concrete trucks will pour again tomorrow. The slab and the basement egress walls will be done! Yes!