A Chicago couple building a log cabin vacation home in the Michigan woods wanted to keep their cabin’s vaulted ceilings uncluttered by ductwork, yet warm enough to withstand Michigan winters. Just as important, the husband is manager of energy for a major manufacturer, charged with controlling costs of natural gas for the company’s plants, and was quite conscious of cost- and time-saving products.
     The wife, who works for an upscale, Italian-based women’s clothing store, was concerned about the log cabin’s design. She wanted to maintain the open feel of the two-story, 3,300-square-foot cabin, and have the option of using both wood and tile flooring in different areas of the home.
     The answer: Radiant heat flooring and LEVELROCK® Brand Floor Underlayment RH (Radiant Heat) throughout the cabin.

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    “LEVELROCK RH underlayment afforded me two things,” said the husband and homeowner, who oversaw the project. “The first one was time. The system is stronger than competitive products, and we were able to pour the floor before the drywall was installed. Second, LEVELROCK RH underlayment is rated at 2,500 psi, so it’s harder than competitive underlayment products. We poured it to 2 inches and didn’t have to put down a high-strength ceramic tile backer board.”
    The homeowners installed tile, which was used in the kitchen, dining room, foyer and bathrooms, directly on top of the underlayment. In addition, the underlayment’s high strength eliminated the need for a crack isolation membrane.
    “With a competitive product, we would have had to put cement board on top of that, and then glued the tile down,” added the homeowner. “LEVELROCK underlayment is economical and dries quickly, so you can get in and out fast.”
    Royal Radiant Heat of Holland, Mich., installed the RH system in two days. A crew of five from S & S Poured Floors, Millersburg, Ind., poured three pallets of underlayment in just five hours over the tubing, providing a thermal mass substrate that boosts the heating system’s efficiency.
    Douglas fir flooring covered the system in the bedrooms, upstairs loft area and great room. The cozy home was designed by Rocky Mountain Log Homes of Hamilton, Mont., and took about 13 months to build.
   LEVELROCK RH underlayment also proved to be ideal for locking the radiant heat tubes in place during construction. The non-shrinking nature of the underlayment prevents noise and tube chafing. In addition, its special formulation prevents damage and deterioration that is often associated with the high temperatures of radiant heat flooring.