Home Services Guidelines and Best Practices
Radiant Floor Installation
Radiant Floor Installation guidelines, FAQs and unit pricing information
January 2017
Are you looking for independent, trustworthy advice about Radiant Floor Installation? Do you need to understand common installation options? If your project calls for Radiant Floor Installation work, the following guidelines and best practices will help you understand: Is a subcontractor really necessary for Radiant Floor Installation work? Will a permit be required? What are common problem areas? How much will Radiant Floor Installation labor cost? What are the important Radiant Floor Installation quality checks that should be included in the work requirements?
Radiant Floor Installation - Frequently Asked Questions
| What is a fair price for Radiant Floor Installation? | Costs vary with project size, job quality and time of year. For typical Radiant Floor Installation expect to pay between $1.60 to $23.96 per square foot. Additional fees are typically charged for small projects or rush jobs. |
| Is a permit needed for Radiant Floor Installation work? | Your Radiant Floor Installation project may require design approval and/or permits from your local building authority. Verify requirements with your local building department before any Radiant Floor Installation work starts, particularly for ay structural or systems (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) projects. |
| Is it worth using a professional to perform Radiant Floor Installation work? | The operation and performance of the radiant electric floor heating may be adversely affected by inexperience or poor installation techniques. Hire service providers for Radiant Floor Installation carefully and be sure to tie payment milestones to appropriate quality checks (from the list below). |
| Is Radiant Floor Installation something that I can do myself? | The typical Radiant Floor Installation project involves tasks that are best performed by experienced professionals. Good quality Radiant Floor Installation requires considerable experience, skill and attention to detail. Do it yourself mistakes are noticeable, may be difficulty to remedy and may actually reduce the market value of the project and your home. |
| How many days are typically required to complete the Radiant Floor Installation work? | Normally, this work can be completed in 1 day. |
Radiant Floor Installation - Options, Quality Checks and Important Details
Use the list below to document your expectations for level of detail and finish quality for Radiant Floor Installation. Make sure that relevant information is included in any written contracts or work orders on your project. Before any Radiant Floor Installation work begins, review the checklist with the service provider. Tie payments to satisfactory completion of this checklist.
- The layout, location, style and finish appearance of ALL materials used in Radiant Floor Installation will be approved by owner, before any work begins
- A detailed radiant heating layout - showing material placement and all joints/seams - will be reviewed and approved before work begins
- The installed radiant heating height will be within 1/4 inch of the height of adjacent finished flooring
- Installed radiant heating surface variations along a 4 foot straight edge will not exceed 1/8 inch - from any location along any direction
- Installed radiant electric floor heating will be level to within 1/64 inch in any 2 foot direction
- Locate and secure wiring in straight, clean runs along framing, so that wiring is protected from damage
- All connections will be made with a single continuous length of wiring; there will be no splice along any connection
- Finished radiant heating will feel uniformly solid and rigid under pressure
- All work must meet or exceed local code requirements
- The radiant electric floor heating will operate without noise, excessive heat generation or degradation of other circuit components
Radiant Floor Installation - Work Milestones and Project Reminders
The following list summarizes work tasks commonly performed during Radiant Floor Installation. These tasks help ensure proper completion of the radiant electric floor heating work and compliance with common manufacturer and vendor warranty requirements. Make sure that either you or your service provider takes responsibility for each of these tasks. All service provider task responsiblities should be clearly called out in the written contract or work orders.
- Determine if permit is required for Radiant Floor Installation by local building authority, before any work begins
- Review and approve detailed layout / plan that shows location, orientation and placement of radiant electric floor heating, before any work begins
- Review material choices for Radiant Floor Installation with the homeowner before work begins - consider toxic exposure, allergic risks and environmental factors; purchase construction materials only after approval
- Select, specify and order radiant electric floor heating; verify that type, grade, finish, size, color, any options, and quantity are clearly identified in the order; make sure that delivery date, terms and damage provisions are included in the order
- Prepare area for safe, efficient work; move items that restrict work access or are vulnerable to damage; cover and protect items that cannot be moved
- Install heating elements embedded in level mortar bed using manufacturer specified materials and methods
- Inspect Radiant Floor Installation and verify that all quality requirements and punch list items are completed correctly
- Remove debris, dirt and dust from all work areas; unless otherwise agreed, all demolition debris and construction waste will be removed from the site within 24 hours
- Install trim plates or pieces
- Submit final payment; pay with a check to ensure expense can be verified for tax purposes
