Install a heated tile floor

Add a touch of warm luxury to your bath

By Deanna Dority

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Radiant floor resources

Most residential radiant floor heating systems are either electric or hydronic (water). Although both electric and hydronic installations are possible for DIYers to install, hydronic is typically more complex, as it requires a separate heat source, such as a boiler, to heat the water, as well as a system of valves and manifolds. The hot water is pumped through a looped circuit of specially designed tubing laid under or within the flooring (which can be tile, carpeting, vinyl or wood). Hydronic systems-popular as a primary heating source in new-home construction-can be installed either “wet” or “dry.” Wet installations require embedding the tubing in concrete, whereas the tubing in dry installations is either suspended beneath a subfloor between joists or sandwiched between two layers of subfloor.

For new construction or renovations, electric radiant floors are ideal for localized areas or individual rooms such as a bathroom, as was the case here. Optimal floor coverings are generally ceramic tile, marble, slate or stone.

Consult with a professional to determine which system (or whether a combination of the two) is best for your situation. And keep your own DIY skill level in mind. The following companies either ship throughout Canada or can provide you with agents in your area:

Electric

Hydronic


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