Tag Archives: Heating hardwood floors

Articles

Baltimore Residents Turning to Radiant Floor Heat

Many Baltimore area homeowners have turned to radiant heated floors, either for their primary home heating or to supplement the existing home heating system. And as many owners of radiant floor heating systems will attest, nothing is finer than walking on warm floors during a cold winter day.

Warmzone offers a variety of electric radiant floor heating systems, as well as hydronic heated floors for homeowners in Baltimore and surrounding areas. And because Warmzone manufactures and carries the industry’s most trusted floor heating systems, our experts can determine the system that will be the most effective for heating your specific floor type.

When it comes to heating your floors, it is important to know that no single floor heating system is ideal for every type of flooring. That’s why it’s so critical to speak with an unbiased radiant heating expert who can offer you a wide selection of distinct floor heating options to choose from. Don’t be talked into purchasing a floor heating system simply because it’s the only system that the provider offers. Deal with an industry leader that can show you a wide selection of radiant floor heating solutions and explain the benefits and traits of each one.

Heating Tile Floors
The most proven system for heating tile floors is the ComfortTile floor heating system. ComfortTile features thin 1/8 to 3/16-inch diameter heat cable that is available on spools or pre-spaced on flexible fiberglass mesh backing with adhesive so it can be rolled out and then secured to the subfloor for easy installation. ComfortTile heat cable is also one of the most versatile floor heating systems.

Radiant heated tile floor

ComfortTile heat cable can also be used in conjunction with the Prodeso underlayment membrane. The Prodeso heat membrane is installed over the entire subfloor as an uncoupling, crack isolating and waterproofing membrane. The heating cable is then inserted into the grooves of the membrane, and the flooring is then installed over the cable.

Heating Hardwood and Laminate Floors
Many homes in the Baltimore area feature hardwood or laminate flooring. Warmzone offers several choices for heating hardwood and laminate, but the most popular solution is the low-voltage FloorHeat STEP system.

This unique floor heating system features a self-regulating, semi-conductive polyethylene heating element. The flexible heating element is so thin that it will not affect the floor buildup, weight loads, or flooring choices.

The unique attributes of FloorHeat STEP make this versatile heating element a popular choice for heating roofs as well. RoofHeat STEP is one of the most trusted roof heating systems available.

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More information for heating hardwood floors.
General Tips for Installing Heated Floors

Heating Concrete Underfloor Slabs
The In-Slab radiant floor heating cable is designed for installation in new concrete slab applications. The heat cable is embedded at least ½-inch below the floor’s surface. In-Slab cable uses the concrete slab to efficiently store and distribute heat evenly throughout the intended area. The cable is affordable and can be installed to warm any type of flooring, including hardwood, carpet, tile, and more.

Heating Existing Floors
Warmzone also carries RetroHeat, a thin “film” heating element that can be stapled up between floor joists to heat existing floors. The paper-thin heating element can be cut on site and is then stapled up between the floor joists and common batt insulation is then installed over the heating panel. This directs all the heat upwards to warm the existing floor.

These are just some of the choices Baltimore residents have to heat their floors. Whether you’re looking to heat carpet, tile, marble, hardwood or any other type of floor, you won’t go wrong dealing with Warmzone.

In addition to Warmzone’s industry leading products, Warmzone provides unparalleled customer services, which include professional system design, free installation training courses, and personal installation support. Call a radiant heat expert today at 888.488.9276 to discuss your floor heating options.

Articles

Radiant Heat for Hardwood and Laminate Flooring

The Ins and Outs of Electric Radiant Heat for Hardwood and Laminate Flooring

The growing trend in wood and laminate flooring installation is radiant heat. Affordable, efficient and comfortable, radiant heated floors are a welcome way to spend the winter months, and roll up your area rugs too. If you’re looking to heat hardwood or laminate flooring, or add some warmth to your existing wood floors, be prepared to do a little homework.

Heated hardwood floor

Find the right flooring for the job. Wood and laminate flooring can be safely installed over radiant heat, as long as you are careful to choose suitable products. It’s not the heat produced by the radiant heat source that’s a concern. It’s the humidity in your home. All wood products expand and contract with humidity, and over time, this process can create gaps between your floor boards. Unsuitable materials or a poorly constructed floor greatly accelerates damage caused by humidity over time.

Styles of wood flooring that are best for radiant heat installation include:

  • Laminated wood flooring
  • Floating floors, laminated/engineered or solid wood floors
  • Certain species of wood including American Cherry, American Walnut, Mesquite and Teak
  • Quarter sawn or rift sawn wood flooring

Some types of wood floors make better candidates for radiant heat than others, so it’s best to go with the manufacturer’s recommendation for suitable types of wood over radiant heat. Quarter sawn or rift-sawn flooring is more dimensionally stable than plain sawn wood flooring. Strip flooring is also a better choice than plank flooring, because narrow boards expand and contract less (take up more movement) than wide boards do. Because of its inherent dimensional stability, laminated wood is also a great choice for radiant heated floors.

Once you’ve chosen the right flooring, it’s important to partner with a reliable radiant heat solutions provider, like Warmzone, to help you choose and install an electric radiant floor heating system under your wood or laminate flooring. At Warmzone, you’ll benefit from an impressive selection of radiant heat products designed specifically for your hardwood or laminate flooring.

For new or existing floors, self-regulating Warmzone FloorHeat is a unique, low-voltage heating element perfect for installation under hardwood and laminate flooring. This radiant heat system uses a self-regulating semi-conductive polyethylene heating element, and is ideal for both new construction and retrofit applications alike. It is also very thin, making it a great option for installation under laminate and wood, without additional floor build up. A safe low-voltage product, FloorHeat can also be nailed through without damaging the heating element. This flexibility makes FloorHeat a good choice for retrofitting existing floors.

If you can access your floor joists from below, you’re also a perfect candidate for the Warmzone RetroHeat floor heating system. The RetroHeat heating element is easy to install so it makes a great do-it-yourself project.  The two most highly recommended options for floors are RetroHeat and FloorHeat. Both systems are very affordable, and allow you to install radiant heat to your existing floors without extensive floor tear ups or remodeling.

To learn more about the ins and outs of electric radiant heat for your hardwood or laminate floors, be sure to contact Warmzone at 888.488.9276.

HOTNEWS

ComfortTile Radiant Heated Floors

Radiant Floor Heat – Give Your Bathroom Floor the “Spa” Treatment

Want the spa treatment without ever leaving home? It’s the perfect time to take the chill out of your bathroom floor with ComfortTile radiant floor heating systems. Easily installed directly under tile, natural stone other surfaces, ComfortTile radiant heat provides comfortable, even floor temperatures, in your bathroom, kitchen, or entryway. Just about anywhere there’s a tiled surface is a great place for the comfort of ComfortTile heated floor mats or cable. And with a low 3/16-inch (3 mm) profile, ComfortTile is a non-evasive project ideal for bathroom renovations.

So how do ComfortTile floor heating systems work? ComfortTile heated floor mats and cable are a form of electric radiant heat. The mats are essentially pre-spaced heat cable woven into an adhesive-backed fiberglass mesh that can be rolled out and installed under the subfloor of any tiled surface. They are connected to an electric power source and, like forced air systems, are controlled by a thermostat. Once activated, ComfortTile heated floors radiate heat from the floor and up through objects in a given room to deliver warm, even temperatures quickly and efficiently.

ComfortTile floor heating mat, cable and thermostat

This efficiency isn’t limited to the time it takes to activate an electric radiant heat system. By installing electric radiant heated floors, you can watch a small investment grow substantially. Radiant heat delivers higher levels of comfort at lower temperatures than conventional forced air systems, without a reliance on natural gas. There are no vents involved, so air pollutants, as well as the costs of duct cleaning and filter changing associated with forced air systems are virtually eliminated.

The good news, of course, is that while their appeal is high, the initial cost of ComfortTile heated floor mat installation is relatively low, so they’re a great way to build equity in your home. Unlike forced air heat, radiant heat installation isn’t an “all-or-nothing” proposition for homeowners either. You have the freedom to install ComfortTile floor mats in one room, or several. The mats are pre-terminated for use with 120 and 240 volts, and are available in various lengths of 24-inch widths to accommodate any layout, making them a flexible, easy-to-install proposition for do-it-yourselfers everywhere.

Warmzone ComfortTile electronic thermostats are specifically designed to control electric radiant floor heating systems for maximum comfort while minimizing power consumption. With Warmzone ComfortTile radiant heated floors, you can heat one room, or heat them all at the same time, if you wish. The system can be coordinated with your habits, so you get heat where you are, when you need it, without being subjected to drafts, dramatic fluctuations in temperature, and large heating bills.

It’s never too late to benefit from the warmth and luxury of a ComfortTile radiant heated floor. Call Warmzone today at 888.488.9276 to find out how Warmzone can partner with you to reach your home improvement objectives.

Warming Your Hardwood Floors

Add Warmth and Luxury to your Wood Floors with FloorHeat
Considering a wall-to-wall carpet to wood floor conversion in your home? When it comes time to choose an electric radiant heat product, don’t forget to include Warmzone’s FloorHeat in your remodeling plans. This state-of-the-art radiant heat technology features an extremely low-profile heating element designed to distribute heat safely, evenly and efficiently. Because of its efficiency, affordability and ease of installation, homeowners are increasingly turning to FloorHeat for use in a wide variety of electric radiant heat applications.

Heated hardwood floor

Just how does it work? FloorHeat is a self-regulating, semi-conductive polyethylene heating element. It coordinates with a thermostat and sensors placed below the subfloor of any hardwood or laminate surface. The best part, of course, is the heat itself—FloorHeat systems radiate heat up through the floor and objects in a room to evenly warm a room, maintaining comfort at temperatures a few degrees lower that those required by a conventional forced-air system. It’s flexible enough to be installed under a variety of surfaces, in a variety of applications.

Available in 9- or 12-inch-wide rolls, FloorHeat is an ultra-thin, flexible heating element that’s very easy to install. It is a very non-evasive application that does not require elaborate duct work or vent installation, making it a safe bet for the do-it-yourselfer. And as true for every Warmzone purchase, it comes with the wisdom and experience of a knowledgeable team of radiant heat experts. They’ll be there every step of the way, from helping you choose the best system for your radiant heat needs and budget, to providing the support you’ll need to successfully install your FloorHeat in your home.

So you’ve already installed wood floors throughout your home, and you’re realizing that even with all of those nice wool throw rugs you’ve purchased, there’s a considerable difference in comfort where wool meets the floor. No need to tear up and start over. You can easily retrofit your floor with FloorHeat radiant heat. RetroHeat panels can be cut to the desired length and safely stapled in between floor joists. After stapling, simply connecting the electrical system, and install batt insulation underneath the panels to direct heat up through the floor.

It’s never too late to benefit from the warmth and luxury of a FloorHeat radiant heated floor. Call Warmzone today at 888.488.9276 to find out how Warmzone can partner with you to reach your home improvement objectives.