Our home’s slab foundation and radiant heating system began to take shape during two concrete pours.  Ron Gamble of RG Specialties and his crew prepared the concrete forms and footings which were placed along the exterior walls and other structural stress points.  Once the first pour was complete and the concrete had set up, the foundation was back filled with gravel and the plumbing was roughed in.  Perlite, which is a naturally occurring inert, lightweight siliceous rock, was then incorporated into the slab.  The Perlite has a high R-value and acts as a non-toxic rot and vermin proof insulator that redirects heat away from the ground and into the house.  In most typical construction situations, plumbing and heating concerns at this early stage are unusual because there is normally a raised foundation which allows those systems to go in at a later stage.  However, pre planning our system was vital because any changes after the slab was poured would require a jack hammer.