Week 12: How to pour basement concrete with in-floor heating

For the last 12 weeks we have been building our own house, acting as our own general contractors. Last week our contractors finished pouring the concrete slab in the basement. Before that was done though there was quite a bit of prep work, which included dumping more gravel into the basement, and leveling it off.

Amvic Insulated Panel

Then we laid down Styrofoam insulation on top of the gravel. We used the Amvic insulated panel for radiant heating. All the foam pieces link together to make a flat insulated surface for the entire basement. There are nubs in the shape of a mushroom every few inches. When the pipe for in-floor heating is laid out, the mushroom shapes holds the pipe firmly inside. When the concrete is poured it surrounds the entire pipe.

The pipe that is used for the radiant in-floor heating is a different kind than that used for regular plumbing.  It has a special oxygen barrier that is supposed to prevent corrosion in the heating system. And of course it is more expensive than regular pex.

Pour Basement Concrete

Here is a picture with almost half of the concrete poured. We rented a power screed that made it so much easier and faster to screed all the concrete.

And here is another picture of the wet concrete after it had all been poured and screeded.

We also rented a power trowel. Concrete is not the most fun job, so any tool that can make it easier and quicker was well worth it. The weather never seems to go our way for big jobs like this; it was also another record breaking hot day and the concrete dried a little faster than expected. I did feel sorry for the guys as I was sitting in my pool with my cold drink.

And here is the final concrete slab after a day of drying.

Now you know how to pour basement concrete! Now we can bring all the kids riding toys and tricycles down here and they can entertain themselves while Tony and I work!

See the final house tour, and more information for owner builders!