New home construction...looking for ideas on heating/insulation

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Definitely go with closed cell. Closed cell does not absorb or flow water. I did not know there was such a thing as open cell foam insulation.

[woxyroxme]

Originally Posted by tallpines

My builder thinks hot water baseboard is the way to go

That is what I would do.

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by woxyroxme

That is what I would do.

It is generally agreed that baseboard is much easier to install, and needs far less design work.

However it is also less efficient to operate and does not result in the same level of comfort.

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

Definitely go with closed cell. Closed cell does not absorb or flow water. I did not know there was such a thing as open cell foam insulation.

While both open-cell and closed-cell foams both exist.

I have only seen closed-cell when looking at spray-on foam insulation.

[Bigfish57]

If you want radiant heat then your plumber will install reflectors. To increase efficiency you should also consider using fiber glass batting in the joints to further isolate the basement. There are other considerations as to how well it will transfer hear. Tile and stone are wonderful wood and carpet not so much. I build a lot of homes and one this the home owner always seems to ignore my advice on when it comes to radian it they use regular hardwood flooring on top of it. The next spring they say man the floor has cracks between the boards every where I with I would have listened and used a laminate with hardwood veneer. Yes the flooring will swell back up in the spring but you can avoid this all together. I always recommend radiant in the kitchen (hard to put BB so it’s not in the way) and bathrooms (tile) and base board for the rest if they don’t mind the look. Base board is nice because you can turn it down during the day then back up when and where you want it. Radiant can need around 24 hours to heat up after a shut down.
Some areas in the state you can have NG delivered or a truck. If you have that option that is how I would go to heat your home, in combination with a hot water on demand appliance. A pellet stove/fire place can also look very nice in a living room and provide enough heat to keep you and your pipes warm if another ice storm kills power.

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by Bigfish57

... A pellet stove/fire place can also look very nice in a living room and provide enough heat to keep you and your pipes warm if another ice storm kills power.

A pellet stove in case power goes out?

Is that what you meant to say? I must assume you were typing fast, and will be back to correct that statement.

[gcberry]

keep in mind pellet stoves require electricity, so you'd better have a back-up generator if you are buying them "if another ice storm kills power"

[Bigfish57]

Haha, good point. I ment to type wood stove. A lot of the new ones are quite attractive.