I while back a gentleman from Canada, through this forum, recommended that I construct a radiant wall (pex tubing between the studs and filled with concrete) to heat a newly finished playroom in the basement.  The subfloor consists of roofing cement with tarpaper rolled into it. 2×4 pressure treated sleepers that are power nailed into the concrete ans glued to the tar paper with construction adhesive with 3/4 inch plywood that is glued and screwed to the sleepers.  I know that this is overkill but I don’t want the kids to have cold toes.  Quarter sawn 2 1/4 inch read oak with american walnut borders will be installed but have NOT been yet.

In speaking with a friend last evening who happens to be a HVAC contractor out of state he suggested I scrap the radiant wall plan and  install panels over the subfloor to accept the PEX tubing and install the hardwood over that.  A good plan but the room will be  a comfortable 7’6″ and I really dont want to reduce the ceiling any more.  Besides this I have already installed all of the doors and I would either have to cut them all or rehang them.

My idea is to rout 1/2″ grouves (to accept 3/8 tubing) into the plywood that is already laid and put the pex in there and cover this with the hardwood. ANY SUGGESTIONS?????

Another question.  If I do this or the prerouted panels then how do you nail the hardwood when the wood changes direction around the borders or when the tubing turns to come back.  The field I see is easy, Just avoid the tubing.  My only thought is that I’ll have to be either VERY careful, use glue at the ends, or a combination of the two.  If glue is the case, I use Gorilla glue for everything, will this work for this situation?

Sorry for the long question bu the background info was necessary so that you’d have specifics in mind when answering.

Thanks,

Anthony Rich, NY