Best option to fix cracks in ceiling with radiant heat. Another thing common to radiant ceiling heat is ghosting of joist and the radiant elements through the drywall or plaster. Ceiling mounted systems can be set up in any number of ways. What are some common problems with radiant electric ceiling heat. Radiant ceiling heat interior inspections internachi. In fact, the temperature variant from ceiling to floor is only about 1 c 2 f. Walls and ceilings sheetrock sagging on ceiling radiant heat i. It was installed over gypsum lath the gypsum plaster was applied over that. I did an insurance job a about 4 years ago, where water came in through the roof and the entire ceiling, blueboard, electric wires and plaster, all fell to the floor.
The thermostats on radiant ceiling heaters operate differently than with central heating systems. Depending on the size of the ceiling i would remove all the plaster, insulate the ceiling and hang new board. The wires are typically 112 inches apart and are often, but not always, installed in an. Modern radiant ceiling heat panels are much more convenient. After tracing out the radiant heat path, and locating the ceiling joists using new technology studfinders, i used a 118 forstner bit to slightly cut into the ripple finish of the plaster ceiling, drilling up every 6 inches or so within the dropped section.
The house has electric radiant ceiling heat which is not common in this area. Radiant heat in the ceiling was very popular in my area. Retrofitting flexiro radint wall heating with plugin drywall system. Ceiling repair radiant heat in ceiling jlconline forums.
Plastered ceiling wradiant heat told ya the mesh guys would snap,lol the thing about this radiant heat cieling is the cracks are occuring from heating and cooling of the cieling in a rapid manner, not from structual movement, that is why the crack will stay behind the paper tape. In older construction, radiant ceiling heat often consisted of wires sandwiched between a layer of drywall and a layer of plaster. Plastered ceiling wradiant heat drywall contractor talk. Plaster ceiling repair how to address cracks in plaster in a. Residents who drive screws carelessly into the ceiling sometimes damage the elements.
The problem is that its not just a regular drywall ceiling. Broan 1,250watt surfacemount fanforced ceiling heater. Radiant heating systems are typically located in ceilings and in floors. Electric radiant heating the ashi reporter inspection.
Here, youll discover ceiling options for your next project. Ive also been involved with radiant electric heat for 20 plus years from the ceiling but not radiant hot water. Homeowners have found that radiant heating systems are as much as 20% more efficient to operate than electric baseboard units because all of the heating energy is directed to the living space, not heating air along the walls. The design and construction of your ceiling can make a room. Ceiling radiant heat electrician talk professional. The easy way to hang and attach drywall ceiling boards duration. I have radiant heat in my plaster ceiling and over the past 23 months of digging, major on going excavation, building destruction and construction four feet from my property line the ceilings have cracked in a number of rooms.
Jun 25, 2019 radiant ceiling panels typically consist of a highdensity fiberglass insulation board, a heating element, and a textured surface coating mounted in a frame. I used radex a form of electric drywall heat 20 plus years ago. The walls and ceilings are plaster on lath boards, 2x8 gypsum board. I had a plaster ceiling with radiant heat in it that developed a crack at least 8 feet long, and on one side it sagged at least 2 inches below the other side. Plastered ceiling w radiant heat kg when the heat is called for the plaster will exspans then when it cools it contracts. Jun 19, 2007 heat cables would not cause structural issues in plaster or drywall. Electric radiant ceiling heating systems thermaray. The wires are stapled onto a base coat and then embedded in a final coat. In the older form, electric heating elements are sandwiched between a layer of drywall and a layer of plaster. Radiant ceiling heat usgs diamond plaster is recommended by the manufaturer for electric radiant heat ceilings.
Just the time taken to heat extra thermal mass will take a little bit more. For others this may seem like a scene out of a highend and high tech house, but in reality even ordinary households can. Im looking for advice on the best methods to repair cracks in plastered ceilings with radiant heat. With radiant ceiling heat that can be a big difference. I was repeating if you want me to do the following. How do i repair radiant heating cracks in our ceiling.
Repairing small cracks in plaster is easy compared to plastering a whole room. Cracks appear in some of the ceilings along what i presume to be the edges of the underlaying lath boards. Some are wires that are plastered into place using special plaster. Caloriques radiant ceiling heating system is extremely energy efficient. Old radiant heat ceiling not cooperating, looking for ways to. The typical install is 38 drywall, heat wires applied with a special t50 staple variant, then 1438 of plaster applied over top. Bubbles in the plaster surrounding the wires allow them to overheat and burn out. Have a pro check your ceiling before installing radiant heat. Radiant ceiling vs radiant floor heating from above. In older construction, a drywall ceiling may eventually crack and sag due to moisture or excessive load.
Our house is heated with electric radiant heat in the ceilings. Radiant heat can dry plaster or ceiling tiles, causing them to crack and peel. A putty knife and patience are in order to clean a plaster ceiling, while a stiffbristle brush or shop vacuum may be the only tool required to remove flakes from drywall or another smooth surface. Radiant ceiling heat general drywall discussion drywall talk. The most practical thing for homeowner is to use radiant heaters to heat the ceiling mounts.
The clue is line voltage thermostats on the wall, but no baseboard heaters. We did not have any ceiling cracks, but skim coating or texturing the ceiling if you avoid screwing anything in should work fine, based on the experiences of others in our complex. On top of that, the building was built in the 60s and from what i read, these old radiant heat ceilings are a pain to deal with. When these wires burn out, it is very difficult to repair the system without tearing out most of the ceiling. Drywall that sags and cracks may result in breaks in the heating element.
The plaster is calcining and that is only part of the problem. Iam assuming you mean radiant floor heating in the floor above. Our electric radiant ceiling heating system also eliminates cold and hot spots throughout the environment. Ceiling has radiant heat encased in cement which expandscontracts causing plaster to crack. How to fix cracking ceiling with radiant heating wires. Overheating can also damage plumbing running above your ceiling, which can result in expensive plumbing work. Thermostat for radiant ceiling heat greenbuildingtalk. Is there a way to somewhat replicate that feeling of getting warmth coming from the sun, and for this case the warming happens inside a room.
The best way for one to reduce their energy consumption is to use electric radiant ceiling heat. Fix cracks and respray entire ceiling with texture. The house is a two story and is in metro boston, ma area. Electric radiant ceiling heat is an aesthetically pleasing heat generator. Ho tells me that his ceilings have a radiant heating system water coils in his. Get shopping advice from experts, friends and the community.
When the heat is turned on, the ceiling will dry first where its warmest, revealing the location of heated wires. Make sure there will be no cavity remain during applying mud otherwise the air gap will deteriorate the performance. My dad plastered acres of radiant heat and i asked him a while back what the plaster was like after 4050 years and he said it cracks. Although plaster can also crack, the problem doesnt seem to be as pronounced. I beleive this will make the existing heating less effective and i am also worried. Depending on the size of the ceiling i would remove all the plaster, insulate the. In the older types of radiant ceiling, air bubbles in the plaster can cause the heating element to burn out. Dayton, i have the utmost respect for all the radiant guys posting here. Ceiling repair radiant heat in ceiling hi folks thanks for the posts.
There is a layer of drywall, then radiant heating wires imbedded in something really hard, it seems. I owned a condo a few years ago with radiant ceiling heat, similar construction timeframe i guess warm air fell in the 70s. Electric radiant heating cities inspection service. In this video rory brennan, owner of big wallys plaster magic, examines cracks and other damage in a plaster ceiling in an old vermont home. If i had set it to 70 degrees it could swing upwards of 73 and that is hot for us. Radiant heat can dry plaster or ceiling tiles, causing them to crack. Radiant systems generally have wall thermostats to control each room. I live in the chicago area and ive never had the need for a back up heat source. Without air circulation from a forced air system, any soot collects on the colder joist.
Radiant ceiling heat was real popular here in the 1970s. Retrofit a drywall radiant wall heating this is how it works. You can obtain suitable gypsum plasterboards from diy stores or specialist. To repair small cracks in plaster, youll need patching compound, medium and finegrit sandpaper, a sanding block, a putty knife, a masonry chisel, a paintbrush, a rag, and a screwdriver. It is hot water radiant heat and it is still in use. Does anyone have knowledge of how radiant electric ceiling heat was. I have radiant heat in my plaster ceiling and over the past. Im not the original owner and i think at one point the temp was just too high. The best time to test heat cables is in the winter months. I have radiant heat tubing installed in the ceiling plaster. Radiant ceiling heat is a style of heating that is significantly different from the radiators or forced air ducts that you may be used to. Can the ceiling panels be repaired some are cracked an. If im going to repair ceilings that cracked from the radiant ceiling heat, the first thing i ask is if they stopped using the ceiling heat.
The thickness of these panels is usually a oneinch panel, ranging in size between 1 x 2 and 4 x 8, powered by 120 or 240volt current. Apr 02, 2014 i was saying that my ceiling radiant heat cable system is from the seventies. I have radiant heat in my plaster ceiling and over the. Radiant ceiling heat drywall falling again contractor talk. The hardware of this device is mounted over the head making it very practical for homeowner living in small houses. Electric radiant heating the ashi reporter inspection news. We are building a new house and want to install radiant ceiling heat but we can not find the plaster to cover the wires in the ceiling. I have seen in a couple of homes with radiant ceiling heat. What material should i use to permanantly repair this crack.
A direct transference of clean even heat from object to object without fans, pumps or hoses silent, motionless, and invisible. Oct 24, 2011 i have radiant heat in my plaster ceiling and over the past 23 months of digging, major on going excavation, building destruction and construction four feet from my property line the ceilings have cracked in a number of rooms. Finding a manual with the least amount of differential was important along with positive feed back from consumers since king electrics should have worked but failed miserable time and time again. Cracks in ceiling with radiant heat coil fine homebuilding. I understand that cracking is not unusual under the circumstances. With heat cables particularly the ones buried in the plaster can develop hairline cracks, andor ghosting.