If you are looking for a luxurious upgrade for your home, in-floor heating is one of the best additions to choose. This option is perfect for homes that have unusually cold areas or those who just want to add a unique feature. Heated floors help to heat the entire home, but before you decide to move forward, there are a few things Lions Den Construction wants you to consider.
Why Choose Radiant Heat?
Naturally, hot air rises to the top and spreads over the top parts of your home, but this doesn’t help with cold floors. Radiant heat rises from the floor in a slower more controlled fashion which helps it to distribute more evenly. This keeps your feet heated without using energy to warm the entire house.
What is the Best Heating System?
There are several types of floor heating systems available that provide radiant heat. Forced air pushes hot air through special channels in the floor. This type of system is not often used in residential settings. Hydronic uses hot water carried through tubes under the floor for heating which is highly efficient, but an often complicated set up. Electrical heating is the most common method of floor heating though it is less efficient. One of the advantages of electricity is that it can often be more affordable in terms of energy cost during off-peak times.
How Is Radiant Floor Heating Installed?
When it comes to installing radiant heat there two options: a dry install or a wet install. Dry installs are those that are layered either over or under the subfloor, but below your finished floors. Wet installs are that are completed when the home is built and place directly in the concrete. A layer of concrete can also be added specifically for heated flooring. Dry installs feature newer technology that is more effective in new homes and older homes alike.
When Should Radiant Heat Be Used?
The cost of radiant heating is on average $5 per square foot on top of the regular cost of flooring. This can increase costs quickly depending on the size of the space you plan to heat. Depending on the type of traditional flooring you plan to use, such as carpet, radiant heat may also be less effective. Our Toronto construction company recommends installing radiant heat in areas that have stone tile or ceramic for it to be most effective.
How Should I Tile Over Partial Heating
For rooms that will only have partial heating, it is a good idea to install a different type of tile over the treated area. If you use the same type of flooring over your whole floor, the heating system will be trapped forever. Using a different type of tile will also create a visual talking point for the room while allowing an easy way to access the system for repairs.
Do I Have to Heat A Whole Room?
Heated floors can get pretty costly quickly, but there is no reason to heat an entire room if you don’t wish. Many property owners will heat only specific areas of a room such as the areas near the tub or shower or common areas in a dressing room.
How We Can Help
Here at Lions Den Construction, we offer a wide range of home improvements such as under floor heating, basement renovations, custom built homes, and more. If you are interested in learning more about our radiant flooring installation packages, give us a call at (416) 893-8318.
