By Victoria Hale, WarmlyYours

Floor heating was among the top 10 features most wanted by homeowners in a 2008 study by Residential Design & Build magazine. Floor heating can be the extra feature that helps close the deal if you’re selling your home in this buyer’s market. Even if you aren’t in the market to sell your home, you can reap the daily benefits of warm floors in your kitchen or bathroom while increasing your property value. Many families congregate in the kitchen, and heated floors keep those gathered comfy and cozy. There’s also nothing like a warm bathroom floor on a chilly autumn morning to start the day off on a positive note.

Measuring less than 1/8-inch thick and simple enough for the do-it-yourself homeowner to install, these new systems, such as those from WarmlyYours, come in fiberglass mesh-backed rolls and mats that are embedded directly into the same thinset cement used to set tile or stone. No special tools are required to complete this project, and most novice or first-time flooring installers can tackle it with ease with the help of an electrician for final thermostat hookup. There are 5 basic steps in the installation process:

  • Lay out the floor heating rolls according to the installation plan* by cutting and turning the panels to complete the heating grid layout.
  • Staple or glue the panels to the sub-floor, and install the floor sensor.
  • Apply a 1/8” layer of thinset cement or flooring adhesive over the top of the system.
  • Install the floor tiles over the embedded system using an additional layer of thinset.
  • Wire the system to the home electrical system and install the thermostat in a standard wall box.

*Make sure your manufacturer includes a custom installation plan with your order.

The floor heating system is now ready for your use and enjoyment. Floor heating isn’t the only affordable luxury available to you. You can also create the ultimate bathroom spa by adding a towel warmer and mirror defogger to your bathroom. Both are available in a wide variety of styles and price ranges to fit your budget.

Make this recession work for you by improving your home and your quality of life.

Victoria Hale is the Loyalty Marketing Manager for WarmlyYours, a radiant electric floor heating manufacturer based in Long Grove, Illinois, a northwest suburb of Chicago. WarmlyYours has been featured on both HGTV and in the New York Times. For more information, call (800) 875-5285 or visit www.WarmlyYours.com.