With the days becoming shorter and the temperatures dropping, many folks are thinking about making their homes more comfortable and cozy. Thanks to advances in technology, heated flooring is becoming much more accessible to the average homeowner and isn't just for million-dollar homes.
Why should I choose heated tile flooring?
When choosing a remodel project or building your dream home, adding a heat mat under your tile or stone floor not only makes a room more comfortable in cooler climates; it also adds value to your home without adding much more to the bottom line of the renovation costs.
Many of our customers are able to turn down their thermostats because of their heated floors. The soft heat given off by a heated tile floor is quiet and less drying than forced air heating systems.
Heated floors systems are much more energy efficient than they used to be and are a great choice for both small and large tiled areas.
How do heated tile floors work?
At Elite Tile Colorado, we prefer to use Prodeso Heat Mat by Progress Profiles for a quality installation. The Prodeso heat membrane is a polypropylene uncoupling crack isolation waterproof membrane. In simple terms, this product separates the movement of the subfloor from the tile installation. In addition, this heat mat is an anti-fracture membrane. This is the only mat that is rated to protect against flexing of the floor between the floor joists. This translates into a more durable installation that lasts for years whether the heat is utilized or not.
The Prodeso Heat Mat secures the heating wire and prevents tile from cracking.
The heated wire is inserted snuggly between the square nobs of the mat to ensure proper spacing. The mat also helps protect the wire during installation by keeping the wire below the surface being tiled.
The floor is heated by the resistance that is created in the wire and can be controlled by a thermostat. Thermostats come in different varieties including programmable types. Some are even able to be controlled by smartphones.
The Prodeso heat membrane is designed to save time on installation which can save money and will have you enjoying your newly renovated space sooner.
A coordinated effort
A heated floor installation will have to be coordinated with a licensed electrical contractor with a dedicated power supply for the heating system. The electrician will also connect the power and install the thermostat to control the temperature of the floor.
Most heated flooring systems run on 110-volt or 220-volt power. This gives you the option to use what is available or to use a higher voltage which can be more cost-effective in the long run.
All photos and video courtesy of Progress Profiles.