Climate Control: Floor Heating
Who would have ever thought it was so easy to have heated floors in your house? Growing up with tile flooring and no carpet really makes me appreciate the concept of heated floors. I never knew it was possible to step out of the shower onto an 85-degree floor, or to sit in the basement without having to wear a coat.
Two Options for Floor Heating
When looking to install radiant heating into your house you may want to consider two different heating methods. The first method is called Zmesh and the other technology is called Tuff Cable. Both of these technologies will work fine but a few factors need to be looked at before you make your decision.
Zmesh is a nine or twelve-inch bronze heating element that can be placed underneath any style of flooring you so desire. This type of material can be placed under roofs, ramps, basement rugs, etc. It is very low profile, and when you install this material all you need to do is staple or nail it to the floor and then put your floor on top.
The other material you may want to keep in mind is Tuff Cable. This material is a 10-gage, coated, copper cable that is chemical and gasoline resistant. This heating element is different than Zmesh because it is designed to be installed into concrete, asphalt, mortar bed, pavers or thin set. It can be used in the house, but it may take more work to lay it underneath your current flooring.