Underfloor heating: a good idea?
UNDERFLOOR HEATING, ALSO KNOWN AS « RADIANT FLOOR HEATING », IS ON ALMOST ALL OUR CUSTOMERS’ WISH LISTS FOR THEIR NEXT HOME. WHAT A COMFORT TO ALWAYS HAVE WARM FEET! BUT IS IT WORTH THE INVESTMENT? IN FACT, UNDERFLOOR HEATING IS PROBABLY THE MOST EXPENSIVE HEATING TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE. HERE’S SOME INFORMATION TO GET YOU THINKING.
How much does it cost?
Radiant floor heating costs between $5.00 and $10.00 per square foot, depending on whether it’s hydronic or electric. This is much more expensive than using electric baseboards, convectors or a forced-air system. We believe that this type of heating is well worth the cost if it’s installed in your main living areas and you’ll enjoy it every day. We’re thinking here of spaces such as the living room, kitchen, dining room or bathroom. With warm feet, you’ll enjoy the added comfort of this type of heater. In the case of a bedroom, the comfort won’t be much different than if it were heated with electric baseboard heaters, but you’ll be investing a lot more money.
Hydronic underfloor heating
With this type of radiant floor, the floor is heated by a tubular network in which a mixture of water and glycol circulates. This tubular network is covered with concrete, which can then be polished or covered with the floor covering of your choice (engineered wood or ceramic). The temperature of the water/glycol solution rises gradually in the tubes, raising the floor and room temperatures. This type of underfloor heating is the one we recommend for large surfaces, such as an entire floor of a house, because in this situation it’s less expensive per sq. ft. than electric ones. Radiant floor heating costs between $5.00 and $6.50 per square foot, depending on the surface to be heated.
Electric underfloor heating
Electric floor heating systems are powered by electric cables. The heating wires are covered with a lightweight concrete over which ceramic or engineered wood flooring is installed. Comfort is identical to that of hydronic underfloor heating. It’s preferred for small, restricted areas such as bathrooms or kitchens, because even though its cost per square foot is higher, this type of underfloor heating doesn’t require a kettle and valves in the mechanical room. This radiant floor costs around $10.00 per sq. ft.
Hydronic underfloor heating on the first floor - it's possible!
With more steep land many of our Laurentian homes are built on two or three storeys: a garden level (or basement) with one or two storeys above. These floors are made of wood joists, and living spaces are usually located on the first floor. When the plan calls for it, a 1 1/2″ concrete slab can be poured and the tubular network for the hydronic floor heating passed through it. We’ve done this on several of our projects. On the budget side, in this situation, you’ll need to factor in an additional cost for the stronger floor joists and for the concrete and its installation.
Slab house with underfloor heating
If you have a flat plot of land and are planning a basement-less construction son a concrete slab, then installing a hydronic radiant floor makes perfect sense. Concrete is cold, and with our harsh winter climate, it’s an investment that will bring you unrivalled comfort.
The advantages of underfloor heating
The well-known advantage is comfort: unlike other conventional systems, such as electric baseboards, which only heat the air, it’s the floor that becomes warmer than the air, radiating heat waves to the walls and ceiling. This makes the floor very comfortable. The air in the house is less dry. In addition to great comfort, underfloor heating offers aesthetic advantages. Since everything is integrated into the floor and there’s nothing on the walls, it’s discreet and leaves more room for interior design flexibility. Another significant advantage is that this type of heating is as invisible as it is inaudible. In fact, you’ll never hear any noise coming from your underfloor heating system. This silence is much appreciated, as there are no motors or air propulsion. Last but not least, this heating system is renowned for its .