There are countless flooring options available on the market. However, tile remains a top choice for homeowners everywhere. In fact, in 2018, the tile industry saw a 4.57% gain in overall sales when all other flooring industries saw a reduction. Despite how long tiles have been a home flooring staple, they continue to gain momentum. And experts expect that tile’s popularity will continue to grow with time.
There are plenty of stellar reasons for the popularity of tile flooring. For one, it’s a cost-friendly flooring option. Secondly, the industry has adapted to provide a variety of different styles, materials, shapes, and more. There is even a market for tile that looks like hardwood. So aesthetically, tile is an excellent option that can fit virtually anyone’s interior design motif. Finally, tile is low maintenance. Unlike wood or natural stone, tile is resilient, easy to clean, and a breeze to maintain.
However, some people are still wary of going with tile flooring. For one, they can be slippery. However, that’s an easy problem to remedy with home handrails or a non-slip floor sealer. But the most significant downside to tile floors is that they can get incredibly cold. No one likes walking on unpleasantly freezing floors.
That’s where heated floors come in. Heated floors allow you to enjoy all the benefits of tile, without the apparent downside. If you already have tile, or if you’re considering tile, there are some other fantastic reasons to consider installing heated floors aside from just keeping your floors warm.
Here are three reasons to install heated floors if you have tile or are considering tile in the future.
Heated Floors are Energy Efficient
Standard forced-air heating systems are rough on energy efficiency. Standard heating units blow air around, and it quickly escapes outside. This means that you continuously have to crank up the heat to keep it warm. In a heated floor system, all the heat is produced and maintained within the floor. So, you can set the temperature of the floor, and it will stay warm.
Most heated floor systems have custom controls, where you can program each room to the temperature you want using programmable or Wi-Fi thermostats. This allows you to set the bathroom warmer than the kitchen. You can also turn off the floor heating for guest bedrooms or unused spaces, enabling you to decrease energy usage and costs. Traditional heating units generally have one thermostat that controls the whole house, leading to unnecessary energy usage.
Even if you only plan to install heated floors in one room, the ability to keep that room warm and comfortable keeps you from having to turn up the heat for the whole house. Ultimately, heated floors are more energy-efficient and can save you money on energy costs.
Heated Floors Improve Air Quality
If you don’t suffer from allergies or asthma, you might not put a lot of thought into the air quality of your home. However, traditional heating and air systems are notoriously bad for air quality. Forced air systems blow particles and dust around your home, disturbing the overall quality of the air.
In a heated floor system, there’s no air movement. The heat comes from the floor and stays in the floor. While we’re on the topic of pollutants, noise pollutants are also a nuisance with traditional systems. They’re noisy. They have the loud identifiable click of the furnace turning on, fans, vents, pumps, and ducts. Altogether, traditional heating systems are loud.
Heated flooring systems are noise-free. You don’t even notice they’re on, except for the cozy warmth they’re providing.
Heated Floors Are A Breeze to Install and Maintain
Contrary to what you might think, installing heated floors is relatively straightforward. If you’re a handyperson or avid DIYer, you might even be able to do it yourself. Heated floors come in rolls and allow you to cut them and fit them perfectly to every space. They’re sort of like solid surface counters in their ability to blend and fit virtually any crevice. However, there are benefits to hiring a skilled installer, and unlike some other home improvement projects, it’s not overly expensive to call in an expert.
Once they’re installed, the floors are a breeze to maintain. Unlike a traditional heating unit, there aren’t air filters to replace or any moving parts to worry about. You can install it, and it’s good to run without issues for around twenty-five years. Plus, because it’s beneath the flooring, you can clean and maintain the tile like you normally would. You don’t have to take any extra precautions or use any specific cleaning products for your heated floors.
If you do encounter any issues, it’s simple for a professional to come in and use a thermal imaging camera to find the problem quickly. There’s no need to rip up the entire floor to identify the issue.
Consider Heated Floors for Your Tile Floors
If you love the appearance, flexibility, and ease of tile flooring, but you hate how cold they are, heated floors are an incredible solution. Plus, heated floors also come with some pretty amazing benefits like energy-efficiency, increased air quality, and straightforward maintenance.
So, if you already have tile floors, or if you’re considering getting tile laid, put some thought into a heated flooring system, too. It just might be one of the best things you do for your house and comfort.
Matt Lee is the owner of the Innovative Building Materials blog and a content writer for the building materials industry. He is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that save money, improve energy efficiency, and increase property value.
