A kitchen renovation is one of the most significant home improvement projects that you can take on. Depending on the size of your kitchen and the scope of the project, this can be a major financial commitment — but it also offers high investment returns. Generally speaking, a kitchen remodel will increase the value of your home and will make it more appealing to any potential seller, so the time and resources that you commit to the project will be worthwhile.
As you consider the type of countertops that you want for your kitchen and the finish for your new cabinets, you also should think about adding heated floors in your kitchen. A remodel is the perfect time to enhance your kitchen with this innovative and sustainable feature.
What is Underfloor Heating?
Underfloor heating is a heating solution that can be installed underneath the floorboards in your home. Traditionally, underfloor heating has been considered a luxurious upgrade — one that makes rooms, such as bathrooms, more comfortable and enjoyable. However, today’s innovative underfloor heating systems can actually be used as a primary source of heat, allowing you to maximize your comfort and increase the sustainability of your home. As a result, many homeowners are finding that radiant flooring is a worthwhile upgrade in the most commonly used rooms in their home, including the kitchen.
While some radiant flooring systems rely on water in order to heat the coils that are installed beneath the floor boards, the most efficient and reliable solutions utilize electricity. Low-voltage electric floor heating solutions are not only safe and effective, but they also are the most eco-friendly and efficient option for your home.
The Benefits of Heating Your Kitchen Floors
For most people, the primary reason for choosing heated kitchen floors is to increase their comfort in the busiest room in their house. Typically, kitchens have hard, cold flooring materials, such as tile or wood, and heated floors add a sense of warmth and comfort to the room. However, this innovative heating solution offers more than just a unique way to keep your toes feeling toasty.
These are a few of the additional benefits that you will enjoy when you invest in radiant floor heating for your kitchen:
- This type of heating system will improve the air quality in your kitchen. Unlike an HVAC system that recirculates air throughout the room and allows dust, dirt and dander to travel freely, an underfloor heating solution generates heat using electricity. You will find your kitchen is a cleaner, healthier space when you invest in radiant floor heating.
- Underfloor heating in your kitchen is more affordable than you might expect. The idea of heating your floors probably sounds very luxurious — and like it would be a significant financial investment — but its cost might surprise you. The exact cost will vary based on the size of your kitchen and the scope of your project, but your underfloor heating solution could cost as little as $5 per square foot.
- This is one of the most flexible heating solutions available to consumers today. Depending on the number of exterior walls in your kitchen, you may find that this heating solution is an ideal supplemental heat source. It also can be used as a primary heat source, minimizing your reliance on a traditional heat source, such as a furnace or radiator.
- Radiant floor heating is more efficient than traditional heating solutions, such as a forced air system. By relying on low-voltage electricity, radiant floor heating will heat your room up to its desired temperature in a shorter amount of time, and it will retain that temperature for longer. The cost of operating underfloor heating is much less than running a furnace to heat your entire home.
Heated floors are a valuable investment that you can make in your kitchen. Not only will underfloor heating allow you to enjoy a higher quality of life in your own home, but it also will make your property more marketable. Should you decide to list your home on the market in the future, prospective buyers will be impressed with your heated floors, and you will likely enjoy a significant return on the investment that you made when renovating your kitchen.
Choosing Materials for Heated Kitchen Floors
Once you have decided to add underfloor heating to your kitchen renovation project, the next step is determining which types of flooring materials will work best for your space. Fortunately, you have a lot of flexibility when it comes to choosing flooring materials for your heated kitchen floors, and you will not have to compromise when it comes to style, color or price.
These are the best materials to consider for your heated kitchen floors:
- Wood — Natural flooring materials, such as wood, are often the perfect choice for heated kitchen floors. Not only will wood floors complement the style and design of your renovated kitchen, but they also heat up quickly and retain the heat. Keep in mind that some natural woods are affected by humidity, and they can warp if they are exposed to too much moisture. For the most part, this isn’t an issue in kitchens, but it may be something to consider depending on the location and size of your home.
- Tile — Tile is another wonderful choice if you are considering underfloor heating in your kitchen. With so many styles and color combinations, tile is often a preferred design option — but it also has the highest thermal conductivity rating. This flooring material will often heat up the quickest and retain the heat the longest, and beyond that, the heat makes the tile floors much more comfortable to step on.
- Composite Flooring — Composite flooring can be a viable option for heated floors, but you will want to involve your radiant floor contractor in the process. There are some composite flooring options that may have a maximum surface temperature, and you will want to verify that these floors will work well with the underfloor heating system that you are considering.
It is important to work closely with your heated floor contractor when deciding on your flooring materials. Your contractor can help you determine the best flooring types for your particular kitchen.
Radiant Floor Heating Installation
While it is possible for radiant floor heating to be retrofitted to your existing floors, the best time to have this solution installed is during a renovation project. Radiant floor heating installation is surprisingly quick and easy, particularly when you work with an experienced and trusted contractor, such as Green Wave Distribution.
Here are a few things that you need to know about the installation process:
- Before the installation begins, you should review the underfloor heating plan with your contractor. Be sure that the room has been measured and that the specs for the system have been verified by the contractor. It is best to address any issues with the plan prior to beginning the installation process.
- Know that the installation typically takes one business day to complete — and sometimes less. The contractors will work to clean the subfloor of your kitchen, roll out the heating elements for the radiant floor and install the thermostat that will control the temperature of the floors.
- Your radiant floor heating contractor is not going to install your flooring materials. However, your contractor will test the radiant floor heating system before the flooring materials are installed. This allows you to rest easy, knowing that your new heating solution will work properly once your kitchen floors are complete.
- Keep in mind that the exact installation process could vary based on the flooring materials that you choose. For example, there are different techniques that are used for tile and stone flooring versus wood flooring. Your contractor can provide you with detailed information about the installation process for your specific project.
When you work with the right contractor, your heated floor installation will move forward smoothly and without issue. A qualified contractor is going to make sure to install everything properly while respecting your space and ensuring that there is no damage done to your property.
The Cost of Heated Kitchen Floors
It is difficult to estimate the average cost of heated kitchen floors, largely because there are many variables that determine the final price of this innovative heating solution.
These are just a few factors that will impact the total cost of your heated kitchen floors:
- The size of your kitchen — Naturally, it is going to cost more to design and install an underfloor heating solution for a larger kitchen than a smaller kitchen.
- The heating elements that you select — As you work with your contractor, you will find that there are various heating elements to consider for your radiant flooring. For instance, you may pay more if you decide to go with a custom heating mat rather than a standard heating mat.
- The components that control the radiant floor heating system — The cost of required components as well as optional accessories will need to be factored into your final cost. You may need to pay for a thermostat as well as other accessories that help control and maintain your radiant floors.
- The cost of installation — Some people opt to install their own radiant floors, which can reduce the overall cost. However, when you invest in professional installation, you can be confident knowing that your system will operate safely and effectively for many years to come.
Rest assured, that regardless of the final cost of your heated kitchen floors, this upgrade will be a valuable investment in your home. This is an efficient and sustainable heating solution, and the operating costs are often much lower than those associated with a forced air system.
Partnering with the Best Contractor for Your Radiant Floors
At Green Wave Distribution, we specialize in underfloor heating solutions for our clients. Our innovative STEP Heat system is the best in its class, offering our clients not only an effective heating solution but also giving them an opportunity to live a more sustainable life. Using self-regulating carbon polymer heating technology, our STEP HEAT radiant flooring solution is safe, efficient, durable and sustainable.
For more information about how Green Wave Distribution can help improve your kitchen renovation with underfloor heating solutions, contact us today.
