Thermalboard Compared to Grooved Plywood
Brand Names: Heatply, RHT
Grooved plywood, either routed on site or grooved in a factory, is sometimes employed in radiant systems with the idea that the radiant system can be cheaper to install. In the short term, grooved radiant heat subfloor plywood is somewhat cheaper, however in the long term, it is far more expensive.
You Get What You Pay For: Why Performance Matters
Plain grooved plywood used by Heatply has poor heat transfer characteristics. Thermalboard uses aluminum — a key ingredient in any quality radiant heating design because aluminum is 1,500 times more conductive than wood. Our boards provide comfortable, even heat and efficient performance at a great price.
Benefits of Thermalboard Radiant Floor Heating
- Cost Effective
- Low Profile (5/8″)
- Easy Installation
- Factory Direct
- DIY Friendly
- High Performance
- Layout Design
- Remodel Friendly
- Light Weight
Thermalboard offers a wide range of performance and installation benefits that make it a standout solution for radiant heating systems, especially when compared to traditional grooved radiant floor heating plywood panels.
Cost Effective
Thermalboard provides long-term energy savings due to its superior heat transfer properties. The use of aluminum on the surface ensures more efficient thermal conductivity, which means lower water temperatures are required to achieve room comfort, ultimately reducing energy bills for the life of the building.
Low Profile (5/8″)
With a thin profile of just 5/8″, Thermalboard is ideal for remodeling projects where floor height is a constraint. This low profile makes it compatible with existing flooring systems without requiring extensive structural adjustments.
Easy Installation
The panelized format and lightweight composition make Thermalboard easy to handle and install. Whether it’s a new construction or retrofit, the process is straightforward, reducing both labor time and complexity. This is especially helpful when compared to heavier and more labor-intensive radiant heating subfloor systems.
Factory Direct
Thermalboard is available factory-direct, reducing costs and simplifying the supply chain. Contractors and homeowners benefit from direct access, improved delivery timelines, and personalized support.
DIY Friendly
The intuitive layout design and manageable panel size make Thermalboard a popular choice for DIYers. Clear guides and video tutorials ensure that homeowners can confidently tackle their own installations with minimal assistance.
High Performance
Featuring a surface aluminum layer, Thermalboard significantly outperforms basic subfloor radiant heat systems. The enhanced thermal conductivity ensures quick response times and consistent warmth across the floor surface, without the hot/cold striping common in grooved plywood.
Layout Design
Each system includes professional layout services that help optimize tubing routes and heat output. This ensures consistent temperature distribution and eliminates guesswork during installation—an essential advantage for both homeowners and contractors.
Remodel Friendly
Thermalboard’s low height and ease of integration make it especially suitable for renovation projects. It can be installed over existing subfloors or slabs without needing to raise door thresholds or transition strips.
Light Weight
Compared to traditional concrete or heavy radiant panels, Thermalboard’s lightweight composition simplifies handling, shipping, and installation. This makes it an ideal solution for second-story or attic applications where structural load is a concern.
How Heatply Compares to Thermalboard
Heatply somehow publishes far better steady state efficiency than Uponor Quik Trak, another bare board product that has the performance advantage over Heatply of an aluminum plate on the underside of the panel. Uponor is a very large and conservative manufacturer with a large engineering staff. Their data is rock solid in our industry. Heatply’s claims do not hold up to scrutiny. Heatply claims performance equal to Thermalboard, a denser board product with aluminum on the surface. These claims simply defy physics and comparative analysis.
However, with the right configuration and material enhancements, radiant heat subfloor plywood systems like Heatply can still serve as a cost-effective solution in appropriate scenarios.
Grooved Plywood Has Longer Response Time
Poor steady state efficiency can be expected with plain grooved plywood. Due to the poor conductivity of wood, higher water temperatures are required to meet the heat load of a room than a more efficient product such as Thermalboard. Higher water temperatures required for Heatply directly equate to significantly higher fuel bills…for the life of the building.
This is why many builders prefer upgraded radiant heat subfloor plywood products that incorporate conductive layers, enhancing performance while retaining the benefits of a plywood-based system.
Grooved Plywood Stripping
The higher water temperatures required by a plain grooved plywood system can result in hot/cold stripes on the floor on cold days, particularly with tile or stone flooring goods.
Where Thermalboard Shines: Ideal Applications for Radiant Heat Subfloor Plywood
Thermalboard’s innovative design and superior materials make it an exceptional choice for a variety of radiant heating applications. Below are the key scenarios where Thermalboard radiant heat subfloor plywood excels:
1. Remodels and Retrofits
Seamless Integration into Existing Structures
With its low profile of just 5/8″, Thermalboard is specifically engineered to integrate seamlessly into existing homes without necessitating significant alterations to floor heights or door thresholds. This makes it an ideal solution for remodeling projects where maintaining the existing structure is paramount. The lightweight nature of Thermalboard also simplifies the installation process, reducing labor time and costs.
Key Benefits:
- Minimal impact on existing floor elevations.
- Quick and easy installation process.
- Enhanced energy efficiency leading to long-term savings.
- Heating Help: The Wall
2. Over Concrete Installations
Efficient Heat Transfer Without Additional Layers
Installing radiant heating over concrete slabs can be challenging due to the thermal mass and potential moisture issues. Thermalboard addresses these challenges by providing efficient heat transfer directly over concrete surfaces without the need for additional layers. Its design ensures rapid heat-up times and consistent warmth, making it an excellent choice for basements, garages, and ground-level rooms.
Key Benefits:
- Direct installation over concrete surfaces.
- Rapid and uniform heat distribution.
- Moisture-resistant properties enhance durability.
- Thermalboard Radiant Floor Heating
3. Walls and Ceilings
Versatile Applications Beyond Floors
Thermalboard’s adaptability extends beyond traditional floor installations. It can be effectively used on walls and ceilings to provide radiant heating in spaces where floor installations are impractical or to supplement existing heating systems. This versatility allows for innovative heating solutions in various architectural designs.
Key Benefits:
- Expands heating options beyond the floor.
- Ideal for spaces with limited floor space.
- Enhances overall thermal comfort in the room.
4. Sustainable Building Projects
Eco-Friendly Choice for Green Construction
Thermalboard is committed to sustainability, making it an excellent choice for environmentally conscious building projects. Composed of 92% pre-consumer recycled content, it meets LEED® v4 criteria and contains zero formaldehyde and no volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This ensures a healthier indoor environment and contributes to green building certifications.
Key Benefits:
- High recycled content supports sustainability goals.
- Zero formaldehyde and no VOCs promote healthier indoor air quality.
- Contributes to LEED® certification and other green building standards.
By choosing Thermalboard radiant heat subfloor plywood, you invest in a versatile, efficient, and sustainable heating solution suitable for a wide range of applications.
Installation Videos
Thermalboard Retrofit
See the installation of a Thermalboard licensed product in an existing home.
Easy Installation with Thermalboard
See the installation of a Thermalboard licensed product in a major remodel.
Radiant Wall: How to Make a Heated Wall
See a Thermalboard licensed product installed in the wall!
Get Your Free Project Estimate
Delivered Factory Direct to your Jobsite
Call Doug at (888) 490–4122 8am-5pm central time for more information