All posts by Proline Editor

NEWS

ProLine Radiant Adds Prodeso to its Line of Premium Quality Floor Heating Solutions

The quality and choices of flooring options available to consumers – especially tile – has improved considerably in the past few decades. Stunning new colors and materials, larger format, thinner tiles and digital printing have all contributed to a steady growth of ceramic tile being used as a flooring surface. When compared to other flooring options such as hardwood and carpet, ceramic tile is particularly attractive because tile is easy to clean, resilient, and hygienic. Unfortunately ceramic tile and natural stone, if not installed properly, are also subject to cracking and delaminating, and are cold to the touch. Use of electrical floor heating can minimize the cold, but in some cases may submit the tile assembly to additional stress that can lead to cracking and delaminating.

Prodeso floor heating membrane
A roll of the Prodeso floor heating membrane.

Traditionally most electric floor heating, and anti-fracturing membrane manufacturers have recommended covering the electrical heating cables with a self-leveling cement layer or a thin-set layer followed by an uncoupling crack isolating membrane prior to installing the tiles. This process is fairly time consuming and best done by a professional. Needless to say, this can also significantly increase the complexity and time of installation, as well as affect height differentials, weight, and cost of the overall installation.

Prodeso floor heating membrane and heat cable
Prodeso® floor heating membrane with heat cable placed in the channels.

In keeping with ProLine’s commitment to offering the finest and latest radiant heat technologies, ProLine is now offering Prodeso® membrane floor heating systems. The Prodeso membrane is a polypropylene uncoupling, crack isolation, waterproofing membrane, with rounded square shaped reliefs. These reliefs form channels that are specially designed to embed and hold ProLine heat cable. When combined with ProLine floor heating cable, this solution is an excellent choice for heating tile floors, but can also be used to heat a variety of other floor surfaces.

The Prodeso membrane can be quickly laid out to speed up the installation process. After the membrane is placed over the subfloor, the cable is installed in the channels of the membrane and the floor surface can be immediately installed over the membrane and cable. There is no need to use self-leveling cement to cover and protect the heat cable before starting a tile installation. This leads to a significant savings of material, time, cost and overall weight. The floor surface can be immediately installed over the membrane and cable.

ProLine floor heating cable
ProLine floor heating cable can be easily and accurately placed in the channels of the Prodeso membrane.

The versatile membrane features a polypropylene thermo welded woven underneath to increase the bond between the subfloor and the membrane and is safe under all conditions and weather. It even waterproofs the substrate in the case of overlaying on cracked or imperfectly cured floors with a risk of vapour stress. The design of the membrane provides an innovative uncoupling and waterproofing system for heating floors and other surfaces without movement or expansion joints in the screed.

The advantages of this unique floor heating system are many. To learn more, call and speak with a ProLine radiant heat expert today at 866.676.9276.

Prodeso floor heating membrane and heat cable under tile.
Illustration of Prodeso floor heating membrane and heat cable under ceramic tile.
NEWS

Take the Road Less Traveled . . . Install Radiant Heat in the Spring

Even though spring is just waking up, now is a great time to purchase and install a radiant heat system. Early bird discounts may apply to roof deicing systems as well as ProLine heated driveways and snow melting systems.

Installing a heated driveway or snow melting system in early spring puts you at a distinct advantage versus installing it later in the year. As you know, during the summer “construction season”, most contractors are frantically trying to complete as many of their projects as possible before the winter weather hits. Consequently, when fall comes, builders compete to purchase the necessary products to complete their projects. Oftentimes, materials are short, and the pressure to finish the open jobs can be stressful, to say the least. And sometimes it’s difficult for general contractors to find qualified radiant heat installers at the last minute. As successful contractors know, doing the job right, the first time is crucial to those serious about staying in business.

Heated driveway with brick pavers

When it comes to finding experienced installers for your radiant heat project, ProLine Radiant keeps track of those installers who have installed radiant heat systems and received favorable reviews from customers. And keep in mind, radiant heat applications are extremely flexible and adaptable, offering homeowners many options to achieve their goals, so don’t be discouraged by small budgets. Radiant heat systems can be easily customized to meet customers’ snow melting needs as well as their budgets.

Whether you’re pouring new concrete or repairing existing pavement, radiant heat installation is an excellent investment for homeowners that not only preserves and protects their residences, but also helps to prevent litigation from slip and fall accidents at business locations. For safety reasons alone, installing radiant heat makes sense. Snow melting systems can save time and eliminate the added expense of hiring a snow removal professional to plow driveways and parking areas. With radiant heated driveways and walkways, you get fully automated snow removal to ensure safe driveways and walks all year round. And the maintenance-free systems operate silently on renewable energy.

In addition to providing industry leading snow melting, roof deicing and floor heating solutions, ProLine’s customer services are unmatched. Each radiant heat solution purchased from ProLine comes with a professional consultation, including an AutoCAD system design, so you’ll know the proper layout and materials, proper load calculations, breaker sizes, number of breakers, and performance expectations for your project prior to installation. Technical support is also extended to your installers.

Additionally, free installation training courses are also provided by ProLine Radiant. These services are second to none in the industry, and are included for each ProLine Radiant customer. For more information about radiant heat systems, contact a friendly expert today at 866.676.9276.

NEWS

The Advantages of Selling ProLine Radiant Heat and Snow Melting Systems

If the steady snowfall we’ve experienced this season is any indication of future winter events, it’s a great time to offer radiant heat solutions to your customers. Radiant heat is a growing trend among home and business owners for top-down heating and snow removal solutions. Efficient, environmentally friendly and very versatile, ProLine residential and commercial radiant heat systems offer you the chance to expand your offerings and win repeat business.

What makes this trend in heating so attractive to home and business owners alike? As you might expect, radiant heat works exactly as it sounds—it radiates through surfaces (think sidewalks, driveways and wood floors) to warm a specific area of a residence or commercial property quickly and efficiently. ProLine offers several choices for radiant heat systems; the two most common being:

  • Electric radiant heat—uses electric heat cable configured beneath a floor or driveway to warm it up
  • Hydronic radiant heat—relies on hot water delivered through a network of pipes underneath an indoor or outdoor surface to heat it

ProLine radiant heat solutions are designed to deliver consistent, even heat and can be easily configured according to client-specific preferences. Indoors, radiant heat generates a feeling comparable to the warm, enveloping heat of a stove or fireplace. These systems depend largely on heat transfer from one object to another, eliminating the draftiness and duct loss associated with traditional forced air, making them much more efficient.

A switch from forced air to radiant heat also improves air quality within a home, eliminating the constant blowing and belching of air ridden with dirt, dust and allergens that can compromise indoor environments. These clean systems are also very green options in more ways than one. Thermostats can be programmed heat to heat an entire home, or timed to heat specific areas, from kitchen, to living room and bedroom, conserving energy for pennies on the dollar. They’re also flexible enough to install under a variety of surfaces, including wood, laminate, tile and carpet.

Heated pavers outdoor mall

Of course this same science works wonders outside to keep snow and ice away from residences and commercial properties. ProLine offers several easily-configurable options, from electric cable right off the spool, to preconfigured mats or RauPanels (hydronic systems), depending on client preferences and overall needs. Electric cable, for example, is great for smaller, hard to reach or unusually shaped areas, while the demands of a larger commercial footprint may be better served with hydronics because of the possibility of lower operating costs. Either way, these applications mitigate risk by keeping pavement clear and dry, before snow and ice can accumulate. And they’re equally effective under brick pavers and stone as well as concrete and asphalt pours or overlays.

Fortunately, whatever client demands come your way, ProLine offers radiant heat professionals on-demand installation services, and an extensive inventory of products to match every job. We can walk you through a project from conception to completion. When you do business with ProLine, you’ll appreciate not only access to the pros, but free installation training and our vast library of materials, including articles and schematics to help you along the way. To learn more about ProLine products and services, including how to become a preferred ProLine professional, please contact us at 1-866-676-9276.

NEWS

Installation Tips – Installing a Heated Paver Driveway

Installing a Snowmelt System under Pavers

Always check the element resistance and the insulation resistance of the heating cable upon receipt and during the installation:

  1. Upon receipt: Test the cables out of the box and write the values on the warranty card.
  2. Test the cables after laying them out over the area to be heated. Write the values on the warranty card.
  3. Test the cables after the embedment. Write the values on the warranty card.
  4. Record your readings in the installation manual.

Heating cable installed for heated paver driveway

Prior to laying out the heat cable, lay down thin wire mesh over the area to be heated. The wire mesh should be secured to the ground (with landscaping staples or pins) so it will not move during the embedment process. The mesh is used to secure the cable and help ensure proper cable spacing.

Begin the cable installation as close as possible to the contactor panel / electrical source.

Roll out the heating cable or mat and secure it to the wire mesh or grid using plastic zip ties. Heating cables should be securely fastened so they do not move or shift while applying the paver sand and pavers.

DO NOT cut or alter the heating cable. The white binding tape of the heating mats may be cut in order to make turns with the mats, but the heat cable must never be cut or altered.

Maintain proper cable spacing
Heating cable being properly spaced and secured to remesh prior to a concrete pour.

When laying out the cable, DO NOT allow the heating cables to touch, cross, overlap or get bunched up. The cable must maintain a minimum spacing of 2 inches and a maximum of 4 inches.

The minimum spacing for the heating cable is no less than 2-inches center-to-center and no more than 4-inches center-to-center. Make sure cable from adjacent mats also follows the proper spacing guidelines. After securing the heat cable, double check the spacing one last time before adding the top surface of paver sand or dust.

Check with the paver or block manufacturer to determine the proper depth of sand or dust needed for ideal paver installation.

Embed all of the heating cable and the splice in a minimum of 1-inch (½-inch above and ½-inch below) of compacted material such as paver dust or sand. (This may vary depending on the pavers used. Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for proper embedment depth.) The cable and splice to the cold lead must be completely embedded. Make sure there are no air gaps around the cable or splice. IMPORTANT NOTE: The gauge of the paver sand, stone dust or base material must be fine enough to completely encapsulate the cable.

Be careful handling the pavers after the cable is laid out. Do NOT drop a brick or stone paver directly on the cable. This can damage the insulation and cause the cable to fail. If a paver is dropped onto a cable, immediately stop the installation and check the integrity of the cable with an ohm reading.

Handle the heating cables carefully. Exercise caution when using tools such as shovels, rakes and wheel barrels so that you do not damage the cables.

Consistently verify the cable integrity by checking the resistance during various stages of the installation.

Heated paver driveway

It is important that this equipment be installed by a licensed and qualified electrician and in accordance with local laws, codes, regulation and in accordance with NEC guidelines.

If installing in permeable pavers or with pavers or blocks greater than 3-inches thick, contact ProLine BEFORE installing.

* This list is intended as a general quick reference guide. It is NOT a substitution for proper training and following the installation manual. Always read and follow the installation manual. Web-based training is available on request.

For more information about installing heated driveways and paver snowmelt systems, visit ProLine’s installation videos web page, or call a ProLine representative today at 866.676.9276.

NEWS

ProLine’s 12-step Program for Contractors Addicted to the Status Quo

Don’t get Mired in the Tar Pit of Stagnant Business

Because We Care

STEP 1: Mark Twain once said, “Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt.”  Avoid the waters of “denial” and recognize that there may be a problem in maintaining the status quo. Acknowledge the positive that can be achieved by changing simple behaviors to increase your earning potential. Accept that there may be additional options available for you to achieve your financial goals. Stop denying yourself opportunities for growth.

STEP 2: Forgive yourself and let go of missed business opportunities. Understand that you are not a bad construction professional. Look to the future with optimism.

STEP 3: Accept radiant heat into your life and bask in its warmth. Envision the benefits―such as increased profits―of snow melting system installations.

Heated paver walkway at outdoor mall.

STEP 4: Recognize that you can enhance your services and build your business without investing additional capital.

STEP 5: Commit yourself to include a snow melting option on all of your future bids.

STEP 6: Understand that you are not alone and that professionals are on hand to support you. Take the unnecessary weight off your shoulders by accepting that you don’t have to be a snow melting system expert. Be positive and embrace the peace of mind that comes from knowing there are radiant heat professionals who are eager to assist you and provide you with all the tools you need to succeed.

STEP 7: Accept new friends and envision the potential benefits of offering radiant heat. Picture a future of sustained growth alongside a dedicated team of professionals who work with you to assist with all the aspects of a snowmelt system installation and ensure your success. You will be empowered by a wealth of resources to install heated driveways, heated floors, roof deicing systems and more. Rest assured that ProLine will work tirelessly with you and take care of the legwork associated with radiant heat installations.

STEP 8: Believe in yourself. Build confidence by consulting freely with snow melting system professionals and completing the free installation training with ProLine Radiant. Use the tools available to boost your confidence and gain faith in your abilities.

STEP 9: Thoughtfully watch the informative “how-to” videos online, and ponder the greater good that can result from gaining wisdom over your competitors.

STEP 10: Understand that your competitors are not evil – just ignorant. Focus on your own brilliance rather than the demise of the competition.

STEP 11: Always seek enlightenment through ProLine’s free services, including consulting, quotes, system design, installation training, and technical support. Use the resources that are available to you.

STEP 12: Share the enlightening message of the 12 Steps with your employees/coworkers and encourage them take the free training courses to ensure a brighter future for you and your company.

Remember, the road to success is always under construction, but finding ways to keep moving forward is the key. This not only keeps you from being run over, but elevates you over your competition. And remember, the professionals at ProLine stand ready and eager to help you succeed – because we care.