a job I looked at…
basement conversion…..lotsa walls going everywhere….
concrete floor…with infloor radiant heating.
What’s the good way to find the lines?
I can think of the bad way.
Any way to “map” out the layout before I start trying to fasten the bottom plates down? Some heat seaking lazer guided scanner I can rent?
Some guy in the phone book under…”We’ll find yer hidden pipes then spray paint a squigley line so ya don’t shoot into them…”?
If not…what’s a good way around that dilema?
First time I’ve run across this…gotta be a standard way to go.
Thanks,
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery…..While U Waite
Replies
Where is the grid map?
No help other wise.
You can scan the floor for any voids, pipes, rebar etc.
http://www.geomodel.com/
Gabe
infrared thermometer is less than a hundred bucks.
or crank up the heat and mop it with water. tube area will dry first.
infrared thermo...
that sounds promissing......$100 sounds very reasonable if it'd do the job....
plus..sounds like something that chicks would dig....
need more info....who/what/when/where?
Plumbing supply? Other sources?
I'm gonna dig out the grainger catalog right now.
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
ok...pages 1270 and 1271!
Now...which one do I want?
What should I be looking for to find my tubes thru concrete...
the laser beam sights sound like they'd make life easier....am I picturing this right....I walk along pointing the beam and have the helper duck walk and marh the line with a sharpie?
This could be very cool.....
Well worth the money......good size job.....I can price in the right stuff.....I'd spend $1000 if I could mark it then frame like normal.....
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
Get one with a laser beam. Plumbing supply store or auto parts store should have them. The ones in the Grainger catalog I am looking at for $189 can be bought most places for $99.
Here is the one I have. I paid 89.97 for it.
http://www.professionalequipment.com/xq/ASP/ProductID.565/id.22/qx/default.htm
Thanks.
This is fantastic......I knew there'd be a way.
On the plus side....I'll be able to find "hot" chicks too.......
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
uh huh. try that one on Cathy.
LOL
Jeff, I just did this in my plaster ceiling. I have radiant heat in the ceiling with copper tubing. Go to Radio Shack and they sell an IR thermo. for $50. Turn on the heat, let the floor warm up for about 15 minutes, then drag the thermo. over the floor, when the thermo reaches it's highest temp, there's the tube. I like to go back an forth slightly to the left and right of the tube to zero in on the max temp. I did this on my ceiling then drilled a hole with a masonry bit and the tube was smack in the middle. After finding a few you'll probably see a fairly consistent spacing so you'll know if your in the ballpark for the rest. Hope this helps. -Ed
no! don't assume the spacing is the same across a room!
and the laser model just makes it easier plus it's sexier.
WetHead, you're right, I should have finised by saying that a consistent pattern would get you in the ball park for your next thermo reading. I would never just assume that a tube was there without taking a reading.
With the laser model, is it accurate enough that the laser would pinpoint the center of a 1/2 inch tube? I'm not a fan of Radio Shack stuff but the thing I liked about that model was that the tip is about the size of a pencil point that really zeroed in on the tube.
-Ed
OK, thanks for clarifying.
All lower end models ($500 or less) measure in a cone shaped manner. Look for the ratio. 1:8 is common. For every 8" out the circle measured is 1" in diameter.
The laser simply points to the middle of that area.
If the RS model has a tighter ratio for that kind of money I must get one, laser or no laser!
If and when this job goes thru I'll get both models and do a taste test.
keep in mind...I'll be test a tool I didn't even know existed about a week ago.....
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
Jeff and WetHead,
One of the best finds for me, I'm covering my plaster ceiling with drywall and need to know where those tubes are hiding. It is time consuming but I was using a die grinder with a masonry bit to wear away the surface of the plaster to find those things. With the thermo I mark the tube at one wall then make a mark at the opposite wall, then snap a line. This really came in handy for laying out my can lights....... so I had to deal with the tubes and ceiling joists. Radiant is great, but remodeling around it is a real pain. -Ed
Studfinder might or might not help. With the right ultrasonic equipment this would be a snap, but a studfinder might not be the right one. Call Zircon (or whoever makes your U/S studfinder) and ask if they make something that will detect the differences you need. How close are the lines spaced, and how deep?
If you're looking in the Yellow Pages, try Nondestructive Testing or Nondestructive Examination. There are people who can measure the thickness of steel plate from one side, or (with limitations) map the condition of brick-lined kilns or furnaces and concrete silos. Concrete consulting engineers or a civil engineering firm would be able to point you in the right direction. Industrial or lab equipment rental centres might rent a handheld tool that will do it, and teach you how to use it.
Best of luck
Cheers, Chris.
you could glue the bottom plates...
with epoxy!
That was my first thought....
sorta plan B......
figured I may be missing something.
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite