Heating a Glass Mountain Home at −50°C

How Ultra-Fin® delivered comfortable radiant heating in one of Canada’s most demanding climates

Project Overview

Located in the Canadian mountains, this contemporary home presented an exceptional heating challenge. Its dramatic architecture featured extensive floor-to-ceiling glass, large open spaces and outdoor design temperatures reaching as low as −50°C.

Several heating companies considered the project too demanding and chose not to proceed. The combination of extreme winter conditions and large areas of glazing created substantial heat loss, requiring a system that could deliver dependable comfort without compromising the home’s architecture.

Ultra-Fin accepted the challenge.

The Challenge: Extensive Glass in an Extreme Climate

Floor-to-ceiling windows create beautiful views and abundant natural light, but they also increase heat loss—particularly when outdoor temperatures fall far below freezing.

In a conventional home, walls help contain heat. In this project, much of that insulated wall area was replaced by glass. The heating system therefore needed to respond effectively during the coldest conditions while maintaining comfortable and consistent temperatures throughout the home.

The system also had to work discreetly. Large radiators or other visible heating equipment would have interfered with the clean architectural design and obstructed the views.

The objective was clear:

• Heat the home reliably at a −50°C design temperature
• Address the increased heat loss caused by extensive glazing
• Maintain even temperatures across large, open rooms
• Preserve the home’s interior design and unobstructed views
• Provide individual room-by-room zoning and control

A Radiant System Designed for the Home

Ultra-Fin designed a complete radiant floor heating system specifically around the building’s construction, heat loss and extreme climatic conditions.

Unlike conventional radiant systems that may require tubing embedded in concrete or screed, Ultra-Fin is installed within the floor structure. Tubing and aluminium Ultra-Fin heat emitters warm the joist cavity, allowing heat to spread evenly through the floor above.

The floor then becomes a large, gentle radiant surface.

This approach provided comfortable heating without visible radiators, added floor height or unnecessary structural weight. It also allowed the heating system to follow the home’s architecture rather than requiring the architecture to be redesigned around the heating system.

Installed by Conquer Plumbing and Heating

The system was expertly installed by Conquer Plumbing and Heating, translating the Ultra-Fin design into a carefully executed hydronic heating installation.

Accurate tubing routes, heat-emitter placement and system commissioning were particularly important because of the home’s demanding heat load. The finished installation provides extensive radiant coverage while remaining completely concealed within the floor structure.

The result is a clean installation that preserves the appearance of the home while delivering heat where it is needed.

Fully Zoned With Cross-Ultra™ Manifolds

The complete system is zoned and controlled using Cross-Ultra™ manifolds.

With large areas of glazing and rooms experiencing different levels of heat loss and solar gain, individual zone control was an important part of the design. Cross-Ultra allows the heating system to respond to the requirements of each room rather than treating the entire home as a single heating zone.

The manifold system controls water flow according to individual thermostat demand, providing precise room-by-room comfort while simplifying the overall zoning arrangement.

This gives the homeowner:

• Individual temperature control for separate rooms and areas
• Consistent comfort throughout the home
• A clean, centralized manifold installation
• Reliable zone operation
• Simple integration with the complete hydronic system

Comfortable Heat Without Compromising the Architecture

Radiant floor heating is particularly effective in highly glazed spaces because it warms the floor and surrounding surfaces instead of relying solely on heated air.

Rather than creating concentrated hot areas near radiators or noticeable drafts from forced-air outlets, Ultra-Fin distributes heat across the floor. This helps create a more stable and comfortable indoor environment, even when the temperature outside reaches extreme winter conditions.

Because the system is concealed within the floor, the interior

‍