Warding Off Winter Woes, Mulmur Township, Ontario, Canada
RETROFIT TEAM
BUILDER: Profile Custom Homes
ARCHITECT: David Small Designs
MECHANICAL CONTRACTOR: AK Mechanical, (226) 338-0697
DISTRIBUTOR: Hydronic Solutions
MATERIALS
With floor-to-ceiling glass windows and soaring ceilings, the homeowners knew it would be a challenge to evenly heat the home. AK Mechanical Owner Adis Kardumovic chose REHAU RAUPEX O2 barrier pipe and PRO-BALANCE manifolds for the radiant and snow and ice melting project because he has 10 years’ experience with these pipes and manifolds. To achieve the homeowners’ goal of personalized comfort in nearly 7,000 square feet of heated space, Kardumovic zoned the entire house, including the three-car garage, with a thermostat in each room. Nearly 10,000 feet of 1/2-inch RAUPEX O2 barrier pipe was installed in circuits, ranging from 250 feet to 300 feet.
Kardumovic laid the pipe with 9-inch spacing between the circuits. To prevent heat loss near the windows, Kardumovic tightened the spacing to 6 inches. The pipe was fastened using the 1/2-inch RAILFIX fixing rail from REHAU, allowing Kardumovic to easily clip the pipe into the slots and move on to laying the next circuit.
The circuits were connected to 1-inch REHAU PRO-BALANCE manifolds via 1-inch RAUPEX O2 barrier supply and return piping. To accommodate the multiple zones throughout the home, the main level, second level and basement each have two manifolds and the garage has one. PRO-BALANCE manifolds allow for a visual check of flow rates and provide ease of flow regulation using a key for circuit adjustments. A four-wire manifold valve actuator provides flow control of each circuit, allowing the valves to be opened and closed as needed. Additionally, PRO-BALANCE manifolds offer the ability to visually monitor temperature. The circuits were encased with a concrete overpour, followed by the installation of hardwood floors throughout the home.
To safely welcome family and friends to their home during the winter months, the homeowners decided to include a snow and ice melting system in the hilly driveway and walkway leading up to the front door. The 4,000-square-foot system has one zone with 12 circuits that include nearly 5,500 feet of 5/8-inch RAUPEX O2 barrier pipe. The flow is regulated by a 1 1/4-inch PRO-BALANCE manifold. The concrete driveway is reinforced with rebar. The rebar was suspended 2 inches above the insulation, with RAUPEX pipe laid on top and secured with zip ties. Circuits were spaced 9-inches apart and covered with 8 inches of concrete. REHAU slab sensors and controls were programmed to use Wi-Fi to pick up inputs from the weather forecast.
Two Viessmann 285,000-Btu boilers power the radiant and snow and ice melting systems.
RADIANT AND SNOW AND ICE MELTING SYSTEM: RAUPEX O2 barrier pipe, PRO-BALANCE manifolds and RAILFIX fixing rail from REHAU
BOILERS: Viessmann
THE RETROFIT
An hour northwest of Toronto, the rolling hills of Mulmur Township span across acres of green farm fields and towering forests. Nearly 4,000 residents inhabit charming hamlets and hidden-away homes. After years of city living, a Toronto family was ready to trade in the constant crowds and traffic for the spacious serenity of Mulmur Township. In 2007, the family purchased a small seasonal vacation home in the rural township. After a decade of enjoying the vacation home and the surrounding area, the family decided it was time to transform the property into their dream home.
The homeowners and project team worked side-by-side to expand the 1,800-square-foot cottage into an 8,000-square-foot modern country farmhouse. The three-floor home is arranged around a 3-acre pond within 200 acres of woods that provide the family with panoramic views of the area’s natural beauty.
PHOTOS: Profile Custom Homes