Heating bathroom flooring is a smart investment. It’s also a nice feature to wake up every morning to. Many people wish they had heated bathroom flooring when the outside temperature drops.
There are two types of heated flooring available:
* Radiant heat from electric heating An electrical current is applied to a heating element.
* Hydronic heating Uses heated water distributed through complex tubing systems.
Ortega states that both systems have their pros and cons depending on the number of areas you plan to install them. He says that if you are renovating your entire home, a hydronic system would be a great solution. But, if you’re adding the feature to one bathroom, an electrical system would be the best choice. It’s cheaper and requires less work.
Here, we’ll be focusing exclusively on electric radiant heat.
Installation.
An electrician and a tiler are required to install electric radiant heating. They will work together to lay heating cables interlaced with mesh mats. “The heating system is sandwiched between layers made of thinset, and then covered with ceramic, porcelain, or natural stone tile. Cables are so thin, there is an indiscernible height gap between floors with and without the system.
Floor materials.
Ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone heated tiles for bathroom are the best materials to cover electric radiant heated systems. They are great temperature conductors. Ortega states that wood doesn’t react as fast to temperature changes so it is not the best choice.
Temperature control
An electronic control that includes a thermostat is connected to the heating system. Brand-specific controls may vary. He says that some brands offer features like a programmable alarm, which can be useful in the winter months when it’s hard to imagine getting out of bed and going into a cold bathroom.
Safety.
Ortega quickly points out that heated floors in bathrooms require a dedicated 20-amp GFCI protected circuit due to the constant exposure of water. However, you don’t need to be concerned about your feet getting burned. Each heating system has features to prevent the floor from getting too hot.
Cost.
You should consider two costs: the cost of the system and the cost of your utility bill. Consumers have the advantage of new products that are cheaper in both these areas. Ortega states that radiant heated flooring used to be considered a luxury product. He says that prices have fallen significantly because of the increased competition among manufacturers.
You won’t have to heat your entire home just to heat the bathroom. You can save money by limiting heat to one bathroom.
Although system prices can vary by brand, Ortega estimates that you will spend between $900 and $1,500 to install heating systems in 100-square feet. This is the average size of a bathroom.
Ortega states that heating costs can be reduced if your floor’s thermostat is set to turn on at the beginning of each morning. Ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone tiles retain heat well into the night, so they keep warm even after the system has been turned off.
Considerations.
Although a heated bathroom floor sounds great, there are some drawbacks to it that you should consider before you make the investment. Ortega breaks them down.
- In order to install a system, you will need to remove your floor. This can be painful for a newly built home.
- To meet manufacturer requirements, older houses may require extensive electrical work.
- You may need to take sections out of the floor if you have to repair the issue.
