The high conductivity of Warmboard provides many benefits, not the least of which is greater comfort through consistent floor temperatures. Our wide tubing spacing lowers materials costs with less tubing, manifolds and controls, while also reducing the labor to install all of these components, which ensures greater reliability. Warmboard’s superior conductivity also lowers the required supply water temperature which will save a significant amount on your heating bill for decades to come. This is why we say that in radiant floors, conductivity is king, whether we are talking about tubing spacing, comfort or energy savings.
With a radiant floor heating system, the tubing beneath the floor emanates the heat. This heat radiates out across the floor, keeping the the surface warm. But understandably, the further you get from the tubing, the less intense the heat becomes. This difference in temperatures across the surface of the floor is called “striping”.
To measure the amount of striping, we compare the temperature directly over the tube and temperature half way between two tubes.
With Warmboard, the temperature varies by about 2ºF. Meanwhile, with thin slab and the same 12″ tubing spacing, the temperature varies by 5-10ºF. Even with tubing every 6 inches (twice the amount), thin slab can not equal Warmboard’s performance.
Why does this matter? There are a couple reasons. For one, human skin can distinguish temperature variations over 3ºF. If the striping is too high, you will be able to feel some areas that are warmer than others, which isn’t great. Additionally, uneven surface temperatures can have negative effects on flooring. Hardwood for example, expands and contracts with heat. Over time, excess striping has the potential to damage the floor as the wood planks expand and contract inconsistently.
