Heated Tile Flooring - An Affordable Luxury

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.

How Elite Tile Colorado Produces A Superior Tile Installation

Having over 25 years of tile experience sets Elite Tile apart for quality work, but we still look for the latest technology to continue to find ways to improve installation. 

Several years back, we were introduced to Progress Profiles, a tile installation proleveling system. Initially, I thought it was a gimmick, a fad, or for people who didn't know how to set tile. 

But after talking to  Domenico Borrelli, the Vice President and CEO of Progress Profiles, over several days at a tile convention, he was able to address all my questions and concerns about the tile leveling system. He convinced me to give their system a try.

Borrelli said, "Our system can make a good tile setter great, and a great tile setter 'Michelangelo!'"

After the convention, I returned to continue work on a home, and when I compared the finished product after using the Progress Profiles proleveling system, I could see the difference.

We may not quite be on the caliber of "Michelangelo," but this system has taken our work to another level. The system is simple but elegant in design, and we wouldn't be without it now. This is especially true when working with large format tile, which is becoming very popular. Getting a perfectly level tile finish would be much more difficult without this system.

The blue caps that hold the tile in place are reusable, and the spacing system is made out of plastic that can be recycled, which we do. We use this leveling system on tile floors, on walls, and anywhere it might be difficult to hold tiles securely in place as they cure. 

Doing installation with Progress Profiles proleveling system provides a faster and superior installation that our customers love.

Finished bath after using Progress Profiles Proleveling System.

Interview with Domenico Borrelli, CEO of Progress Profiles

We were given the opportunity to speak again with our friend Domenico Borrelli about the Progress Profiles Proleveling System, who explains how it works. You'll also hear how Elite Tile Colorado was one of the first companies in North America to use this exceptional product. We've now been  using this product for over four years.

We apologize for the poor sound quality of this impromptu interview due to the convention noise.

Trends Gleaned from The International Surface Event 2016

We were pleased to attend the International Surface Event in Las Vegas in January this year. It is always a privilege to be able to attend a conference to see what the trends are in home surface design. Connecting with other professionals and companies that understand what you do and want to help you bring the best product to your customers gives a renewed passion and inspiration for our work.

It's tough to distill several days of information and products into a few words, but here are the  main takeaways:

The Big Trend: Large Format Tile

Tile pieces are getting bigger and bigger! Why?

Larger tile pieces can make smaller spaces feel more open and expansive. Larger tiles mean fewer grout lines and can provide a more contemporary look with more design options.

The textures and finishes we witnessed on large tiles at this conference were mind blowing. Weathered, antique, natural, or sleek and modern were looks that were all represented in fresh ways on large tile.

A small sampling of textures on large-format tile.

We're pleased to see that the wood look in large-format tile planks has come a long way over the last several years. The appearance and feel of wood floors can now be yours without the concerns of using wood in wet spaces. And with tile, you never have to worry about refinishing like you do with wood. 

Bigger Tile Requires Better Installation

There are several considerations when using larger pieces of tile in your home decor. A big piece of tile has more potential to crack if not installed properly because there are fewer joint spaces to accommodate shifting or movement in the structure.

Big tiles require meticulous surface preparation. If you don't have a qualified tile contractor who knows how to perfectly prepare the surfaces that will hold these heavy tiles, you will have problems.

If your contractor isn't familiar with the latest products that are designed to cut, place, hold, and accommodate these modern materials, the integrity of the tile structure is at stake. You may end up with cracked or broken tile, tile edges that aren't smooth, and the dreaded lippage (when tile edges don't line up to create a flat surface.)

Elite Tile Colorado has already been installing large-format tile for years and has worked hard to stay ahead of the trends. You can feel confident that the materials we use meet or exceed the industry standard.

In some cases, manufacturers have come to us for feedback on their installation products, and we were glad to reconnect with several of these companies at TISE 2016!