Manual

SunTouch WarmWire Installation Manual 15
Tile/stone or laminate flooring
Tile/stone or laminate flooring
Heating cable
Mortar bed
Slab
Antifracture membrane or cork
underlayment, as needed
Latex-Portland cement mor-
tar bond coat
Insulation beneath slab
(per International Residential
Code, Chapter 11)
Concrete slab with rewire
or rebar
Heating cable
Self-leveling mortar bed
Insulation beneath slab
(per International Residential
Code, Chapter 11)
Latex-Portland cement
mortar bond coat
Antifracture membrane or cork
underlayment, as needed
Insulation beneath slab
(per International Residential
Code, Chapter 11)
Heating cable
Slab
Latex-Portland cement
mortar bond coat
Tile/stone
Thin-set mortar over slab
(Dry-set or latex cement on slab; TCA #RH115-03)
Thick-set mortar bed over slab
(Cement mortar bonded; TCA #F112-03)
Self-leveling mortar over slab on grade
Antifracture membrane or cork
underlayment, as needed
SLAB
Construction and Applications
The cross sections on these
pages depict types of construction
(slab vs. frame floor) and applica-
tions com-monly used in the instal-
lation of the cable. Choose the best
installation detail for the particular
construction and application.
Slab Construction and
Applications
Insulation. In new slab construc-
tion, it is highly recommended that
foam insulation be installed under
and around the slab to prevent loss
of radiant heat into the surrounding
soil.
In existing construction where
insulation under the slab is absent,
it is strongly recommended that
a layer of insulating material b e
attached to the slab prior to the
installation of the cable.
Cork, for example, possesses a
minimal R value that will help keep
the radiant heat at the floor surface.
Consult the cork manufacturer
regarding proper application and
attachment of the cork to the con-
crete slab. There are other options
for insulation as well.
Antifracture membrane. While
optional, it is recommended that an
antifracture membrane be installed
directly to the slab or the self-
leveling mortar layer underneath the
tile. This flexible layer reduces the
chance of minor stress and fractur-
ing in the slab from being transmit-
ted upward to the tile.
Reinforcement. To further
strengthen the floor, consider laying
a 1-1/4” to 2” mudbed, reinforced
with metal or plastic lath, directly
onto the optional antifracture mem-
brane. Then install the cable(s).
Framed Floor
Construction and
Applications
In framed-floor construction, the
two primary concerns are insulation
and floor rigidity. Without proper
insulation, radiant heat leaks into
the joist spaces. And unless the ply-
wood subfloor is properly reinforced,
stresses in the subflooring can cause
unsightly crack ing in the tile floor.
Insulation. The use of insula-
tion in the joist spaces dramatically
enhances the performance and effi-
ciency of the floor-warming system.
Insulation with an R value of 19 will
Appendix 1: Types of Construction and Applications