Nemesis
Member
- Messages
- 9,402
- Location
- Planet Earth
The recycled glass stuff Ty Mawr sell may also be something to consider, if suitable.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Underfloor Heating.
- Thread starter tumbledown
- Start date
Penners
Member
- Messages
- 17,294
- Location
- Suffolk, England
Whoops - bit of a hiccup in your planet-friendly policies there, Biff.biffvernon said:You could use the LECA as an alternative to the sand and make it whatever thickness you have space for.
Leca is made in huge revolving fossil-fuel-fired kilns, rather like cement. Loads of embedded energy!
tumbledown
Member
- Messages
- 95
- Location
- Suffolk
I had a look at the Mike Wye and Ty Mawr sites and they seemed to be recomending an even thicker layer than with the hemp blocks (well, with there Limecrete anyway).
I've seem a site called Isonat ( its hemp and cotton fibres in a role) and they say that is suitable for laying in floors - looks a bit like Thermofleece. I'm still not sure what depth would be recomended anyway.
although I'm keen to cut down the depth, it would obviously be counter productive to cut it to such a point that I've reduced the efectiveness of the UFH so much that I might as well not bother with it.
I've seem a site called Isonat ( its hemp and cotton fibres in a role) and they say that is suitable for laying in floors - looks a bit like Thermofleece. I'm still not sure what depth would be recomended anyway.
although I'm keen to cut down the depth, it would obviously be counter productive to cut it to such a point that I've reduced the efectiveness of the UFH so much that I might as well not bother with it.
Gervase
Member
- Messages
- 1,500
- Location
- North London
Don't use LECA, it's bloomin' awful and hideously expensive. Being round, like maltesers, the stuff tends to make anything bedded in it (like soil pipes) sink to the bottom.
Better to use the expanded glass aggregate which Ty Mawr are now recommending - it's much tougher than LECA, which means you can use a Whacker to compact it, and stuff doesn't sink into it. It's also a lot lighter - which means that delivery charges are less. The only trouble is, my dog can't resist chewing it...
Better to use the expanded glass aggregate which Ty Mawr are now recommending - it's much tougher than LECA, which means you can use a Whacker to compact it, and stuff doesn't sink into it. It's also a lot lighter - which means that delivery charges are less. The only trouble is, my dog can't resist chewing it...
tumbledown
Member
- Messages
- 95
- Location
- Suffolk
Gervase, does expanded glass aggregate have very good insulation qualities - I wasn't clear about that?
Gervase
Member
- Messages
- 1,500
- Location
- North London
It's as good as LECA. Have a word with Tom at Ty Mawr - he's got all the U values to hand.
biffvernon
Member
- Messages
- 4,607
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Penners said:Whoops - bit of a hiccup in your planet-friendly policies there, Biff.
Leca is made in huge revolving fossil-fuel-fired kilns, rather like cement. Loads of embedded energy!
Well you've got to put the embedded energy against the energy saved over the buildings lifetime from using the insulation material. But I think Gervase is right about the glass being better here.
tumbledown
Member
- Messages
- 95
- Location
- Suffolk
I emailed Mark Womersley about my insulation for possible underfloor heating. He recommended LECA and didn't seem overly impressed with the expanded glass stuff. he said it was less user friendly and did not give as good insulation, although he confirmed it was cheaper.