Will this work?
![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4eb4426e18ffe4386b3af87d9eb23c65?s=52&d=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.greenbuildingadvisor.com%2Fapp%2Favatars%2F200x200%2Fz.png&r=g)
I bought a house that has the electric radiant ceiling heat in it. Each room has its own control.
My problem is I am doing some remodeling so I need to move some light fixtures and add some lighting and you can’t just cut into the ceiling with this type of heating. Without writing a novel my real question is can I relocate my controller and the resistance wire to between floor joists under my main floor? (Ceiling in the basement)
Will this stuff work without having the resistance wire covered with plaster and basically just route it around like normal wiring or will it burn up?
GBA Detail Library
A collection of one thousand construction details organized by climate and house part
![](https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/app/themes/greenbuildingadvisor/dist/img/modules/detail-library/thumb1.png)
![](https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/app/themes/greenbuildingadvisor/dist/img/modules/detail-library/thumb2.png)
Replies
With enough wires, the heat density can be low enough that you don't need a more thermally conductive material like plaster to distribute the heat. But you should use a commercially sold and supported underfloor electric heating system.
Electric radiant heating is intended to be fast-acting and that means right up against the surface with insulation on the "other" side.
If you move your electric radiant heating to a cavity, not up against the surface, and without insulation, it will not work at all as it did in the ceiling.
Peter