Wrought-Iron Shelving

Flooring Introduction

Floating Vanity Cabinets

Limestone Flooring

Elegant Master Suite

Radiant Flooring

Warm Up Your Bathroom Floor

Radiant flooring is a heating system that goes underneath the floor covering but over the subfloor. Not only does it heat the floor, but also the air as the heat rises. Not all flooring materials will work with radiant heat, so make sure to check with your flooring manufacturer before installing it.

How it works
There are two types of radiant flooring that heat the floor in two different ways:

Electric radiant flooring
This type of system uses electricity for heating and consists either of loose wires or of mats with attached or embedded wires. These systems are connected to thermostats.  

• Matted radiant flooring comes in rolls and can be placed over the subfloor. It’s best for square and rectangular rooms.
  
  
• For rooms with an irregular shape, loose wire allows you to customize the layout of your radiant flooring. The electrical wire is taped to the ground and flooring can then be laid over it.

Hydronic radiant flooring
Hydronic radiant flooring uses heated water running through tubes. The tubing is usually PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) piping, which is used because of its flexibility and ability to handle extreme temperatures. As with electric radiant heat, the temperature can be controlled through a thermostat.

Electric vs. Hydronic
For bathrooms, electric radiant flooring is generally used. Compared to a hydronic system, an electric radiant system is easier and cheaper to install. It can even be a DIY project.

Hydronic systems usually deliver more heat at lower operating costs, and are preferred when heating a significant amount of square feet. But the initial cost is more expensive than electric radiant systems, and because hydronic systems must be connected to a hot water heater, it will usually need professional installation. Also, the lower operating costs will not be as significant if you are heating a small area.

So if your bathroom is extremely large, like over 250 square feet, a hydronic system might be your best bet. But for normal-size bathrooms, electric radiant systems will provide plenty of heat with a lower short-run cost than hydronic heat, while also being easier to install. The operating costs might be slightly higher than hydronic heating, but not so much where it negates the cheaper installation costs.

Price
Radiant heating costs vary depending on installation fees and the cost of accessories like thermostats. For just the wiring or tubing, expect to pay between $1 and $10 to cover one square foot of your bathroom.