Under tile heating for your cold floors
Tile flooring is very popular now, but if you live in a northern clime, you may have already experienced the shock of stepping onto a lovely tile floor in your bare feet and feeling like you’ve stepped onto an ice rink. If you are considering tile floors in your home, for either new construction or a remodel, consider under tile heating to make that floor much more comfortable. Under tile heating is a cost-efficient, energy-efficient method of not only heating the space, but making the room much more aesthetically pleasing, as there is no radiator or ugly wall heater to break up the beauty of the space.
Generally, under tile heating is installed by cleaning and levelling the sub floor, and then either rolling out a flexible mat with electrical wires embedded within it, or by first installing a thin layer of insulation, like cork, and then rolling out the mat. The lead wire for the mat is connected to a thermostat, often one that can be programmed to turn on and off at specific times during the day.
If considering heating a room or area via this method, remember that radiant heating beneath any material, including tile, does take some time to reach the room as a whole. Under tile heating is a soft, gentle heat, and most people absolutely love it once installed. However, it’s not instant heat, and that’s where the programmable thermostat can play a large part in not only your energy usage, but your comfort.
If considering tile flooring, take a serious look at underfloor heating. Step on a warm tile and a cold tile, and the decision will almost be made for you.