Radiant

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  Radiant in a Box

  This unit is essentially a pre-assembled mechanical room that you can hang on the wall.

   
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  Floor Heat Cable

  WarmWire floor heat cable makes it easy to incorporate radiant heat into a kitchen or bath: You simply tape cable straps to each side of the subfloor, weave the cable between the straps, and cover with a cement-based or gypsum-based mortar.

   

• Expanding a Kitchen (Subscriber content)

  We were wrapping up the latest in a series of renovation projects on a suburban Maryland split-level home when I casually mentioned to the owner that her Thanksgiving family gatherings would be a lot more enjoyable if her small kitchen weren't separated from the dining and living areas by a wall.

   
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  Hydronic Heating for Low-Load Houses (Subscriber content)

  With the right hardware and layout, hot-water heating saves energy and makes ideal use of the sun.

   

• Q&A: Insulating a Radiant Slab

  Q: How much insulation is necessary under a typical basement radiant slab?

   

• Letters

  Protecting trees on site; radiant-heat claims revisited; unnecessary design regulations; pedal power; more

   

• Letters

  Another look at energy claims; feeling the financial squeeze

   
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  Expanding a Narrow Laundry Room (Subscriber content)

  Cantilevering the floor and using the existing roof overhang kept costs down.

   

• Q&A: Does Radiant-Barrier Paint Work?

  Q: My painting subcontractor is recommending Thermo-Tek, a paint the manufacturer says is a radiant barrier. What can you tell me about products like this one or similar coatings made with something called ceramic microspheres that claim to have thermal characteristics and promise significant...

   
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  A Close Look at Common Energy Claims

  Understanding energy consumption and moisture movement in the homes we build is hard enough; rampant half-truths and misconceptions only make it harder.