Conservatory Started.

[Rich Midge]

@Paul C. You've now fitted more heat mats than me and I've been tiling over 20 years. In fact I think I've only tiled over about 3, can't stand them, loose wire system for me every time.

 

[SJPurdy]

Nice set of stage by stage photos Paul.
To anyone following this example try to plan the wires and floor sensor conduit so that they do not cross. keep bends in the conduit to a wide radius and minimise them so that should the sensor fail it can be withdrawn from the conduit and a new one can be passed down with confidence that the sensor will be between wires and not adjacent to/under a wire. (that said I've never had to replace one but spares are available presumably because sometimes they do fail!).
Also be carefull working on top of marmox, wedi etc boards as it is easy to dent/damage the surface with knees, toe caps, tools etc. On one job I had to replace the board by the kitchen sink as the customer had ruined the top surface by standing on it with heels while washing the dishes over night!

 

[Old Mod]

I had to replace the board by the kitchen sink as the customer had ruined the top surface by standing on it with heels while washing the dishes over night!

😀 That conjures up an image Steve! 😉

 

[Dan]

Not easy this prep lark. Guess speed comes with practise. Was hoping to get the slc down but my mixer makes a racket that i don't think the neighbours would like at this time of night. Job for tomorrow.

At least i got my first ever heating mat down. Yeah, self adhesive mesh, my arse! After a good trample down maybe. And i ran out of gorilla tape.

View attachment 83103 View attachment 83104

Your probe isn't going under the heating mat there is it?

 

[Time's Ran Out]

........as the customer had ruined the top surface by standing on it with heels while washing the dishes over night![/QUOTE]
I hope you told him off!

 

[Tile Shop]

Your probe isn't going under the heating mat there is it?

Ummmmm.... Kinda.

Because I'd never done it before, the way I had planned it was that I needed a 1.4m section, 200mm wide before laying the full width bits (going round the furniture and her bean bags!). So I pulled the wire off the mesh and laid it loose, sticking down with gorilla tape. But, I pulled a little bit too much off the mesh, hence the curly bit where one wire is going over the conduit. Getting confused and not thinking about it properly, had already channelled the floor. Had to cut the mesh to access and make an adjustment to the probe so that it was dead centre of the two wires where it currently sits.

Now the wires are down, I have put the spirit level down to see how much height I have to play with up against the kick plate of the door........... To allow for the adhesive and tiles above, my SLC can be no more than 1mm above the mat.

The thermostat is going on the kitchen wall next to the light switch, but being brick, rather than channel, there will be a single hole drilled for the cable to go through. So I think the neatest way to do this, would be to make a small bit of boxing out of the marmox I still have left to cover where the conduit and cold cable will come up through the SLC, as it won't be flat enough to tile over it and will look naff if I cut a tile round it. I should be able to keep this at skirting height so it all sits level.

A near flat conservatory floor. How hard can it be? Right? nope. I was wrong! It's certainly a harder education than I was expecting but a fun one at the same time and I'm really glad I took it on. Once finished, I'm sure it will be one hell of an improvement on what we had. At least if I ever have to lay any heating again in the future (next project, bathroom). I'll know what to do different.

 

[Dan]

I don't think the cable can run over conduit. The cable gets quite hot. And it's only due to the fact it disperses heat through a solid that it ends up heating around 20 + degrees.

Directly touching plastic (or tape then plastic) that isn't designed for heat isn't wise.

You need to either redirect the heating cable or redirect the conduit.

 

[Tile Shop]

I don't think the cable can run over conduit. The cable gets quite hot. And it's only due to the fact it disperses heat through a solid that it ends up heating around 20 + degrees.

Directly touching plastic (or tape then plastic) that isn't designed for heat isn't wise.

You need to either redirect the heating cable or redirect the conduit.

Thanks for pointing that bit out. I will have a look when I get home. I could lift some of it up and put the probe between the two loose wires.

Prompted me to call thermonet and check though. They said it was fine, but as an extra precaution, try and leave a small gap between the two of a few of mm so they are not directly touching, which is how they are. This will enable the SLC to surround it and distribute some of the heat away.

Another lesson learned 🙂

 

[Dan]

I was under the impression it got too hot for conduit which isn't tested the same way the wire sheath is.

If thermomet didn't even ask what conduit type and bs rating it complied with they're just guessing and that's not good enough for my floor.

I'd also keep it nearer the edge so it's easier to pull out and replace.

 

[Tile Shop]

The conduit is the thermonet one that came in the box with the probe. If I leave it like it is, I have the call recorded telling me its ok if it ever went ****-up. 😉

But just to be safe, think it wouldn't be too difficult to channel out a bit more floor between the other wires.

Thanks for the tips 🙂