Installation Guide

Every install starts with a good plan. Use this overview to set expectations before you order — every Solis kit ships with detailed manufacturer instructions specific to its components.

1. Measure and design

• Measure only the heatable floor area (no fixtures, no cabinets).
• Mark thermostat location — it must be on the heated zone's circuit and within reach of the floor sensor lead (typically 15 ft).
• Plan cable spacing: 3 in for standard comfort, 2 in for primary heat in cold rooms.

2. Prepare the substrate

• Subfloor must be flat (1/8 in over 10 ft) and clean.
• Apply unmodified thinset and embed the uncoupling membrane fleece-side down.
• Allow cure as specified before walking on the membrane.

3. Lay cable or mat

• Test cable resistance with the supplied cable tester before, during and after installation.
• Press cable firmly between membrane studs — never cut to length, only loop.
• Bring the cold lead and floor sensor up the wall to the thermostat box in conduit.

4. Tile over the system

• Use a modified or large-and-heavy-tile thinset rated for radiant heat.
• Comb thinset to fully encapsulate cable — no voids around or above it.
• Re-test cable resistance immediately after tiling. If it changed, stop and call.

5. Energize

• Wait the full mortar cure time — typically 14 days for thinset, 28 for self-leveling underlayment.
• Have a licensed electrician make the final 120V or 240V connection at the thermostat.
• Enable the system at low setpoint first, then ramp up over 24 hours.

Snow melt and roof de-icing systems follow a similar rhythm: layout, embedment, controller wiring, sensor placement, energize. See the manual that ships with your kit, and call us before you start if anything looks off.