Are heated floors worth the investment?

Comfort is often marked as the ultimate satisfaction for homeowners. Heated floors easily play into that equation. While not seen as a necessity, it is a functional (and comfort-inducing) expenditure – especially during the colder months of the year. However, many homeowners do ask us, “Are heated floors worth the investment?” In order to assess that, let’s quickly look into what they are and how they work.

An in-floor heating system, also known as radiant heat, is an effective way to distribute optimal heating and combat chilly floors. Whether you want to confine the heat in one particular room, or spread it throughout the home – its customizable nature ensures the choice is yours to make. Usually this particular feature is found in newer homes. Though this is not to say you cannot incorporate it into your existing home. In fact, it is an often-requested upgrade in order to increase the overall value of a house. 

Why? There are a plethora of reasons why heated floors are favourable. Here are some of the pros and cons:

 

Uniform Heating

 

This one is the easiest and best part of the installation; uniform heating. Imagine waking up in the morning and stepping onto the floors, only to be greeted with a comfortable, warming temperature. 

This applies not just to the floor, but since heat travels up, it’s great overall as well. The alternative – an HVAC – can disperse warm air, but it won’t be as evenly distributed as heated floors. No longer will you need slippers to keep those feet warm, you can truly relax anywhere you want, all within the comfort of your own home. 

 

Energy Efficiency

 

Since the heat is evenly distributed, radiant heat is known to provide an average savings of 15% on heating bills. Due to its efficiency, not only will you wake up to toasty floors, a warm and comfortable environment, but you will also save money in the long-run. That sounds like a win-win situation.

 

Resale Value Increase

 

As mentioned earlier, homes that have heated floors have a higher resale value than those that do not. Of course other factors matter, but this feature emulates a luxurious appeal. This is because while it is an accessible addition – it is not one many homes incorporate. So by including this within your home, you’re only going to generate profit. 

 

Additional Perks

 

There are so many other benefits to installing heated floors – the list is practically endless. The simple fact that heated floors work with all floor covers is a big one. You can add them under tile and stone flooring to carpet flooring. 

You can even have it under the usual wood, laminate, and vinyl floors. In addition, heated floors are a discreet addition to any home. They do not generate any kind of noise and are incredibly safe and maintenance-free to use.

 

Drawbacks

 

As with anything, there are certain drawbacks to consider as well. The installation process can be difficult. This depends on whether you are adding heated floors during the initial construction build of your home, or after the fact. Installing heated floors as an upgrade (a renovation) is a time-consuming process. This is mainly due to the fact that the existing flooring will need to be removed before it can be installed. 

Another concern is the repair process. While durable and maintenance-free, any kind of technology is susceptible to problems. In this case, you will need to call a licensed professional to help with the issue. Best case, the problem is detected with a thermal camera and it’s an easy fix. Worst case, your existing floors near the issue need to be removed in order to resolve the problem.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, a drawback might be its cost. We addressed this earlier – heated floors are not a necessity, rather a luxury addition to a home. Installing heating floors is not a cheap endeavour. However, it does reap benefits afterwards. So if you have the money to spend, you gain. If you do not, it’s a steep sell.  

 

Is It Worth it?

 

So perhaps, all things considered, heated flooring is a luxury investment. But does that fact really take away from its effectiveness or value? With the aforementioned pros and cons, the decision is yours. 

If you want to install this comforting feature to better accommodate your winter experience in Canada, look no further than our team at Flooring Liquidators. We have decades of experience under our belts and carry high quality selection of heating flooring products, as well as flooring products in general. Visit any of our 14 locations in Southern Ontario or give us a call at 1 (866) 473-7222 for more information.