Flooring

Reply to: We are installing hydronic underfloor heating in our build. We are combining it with Solar panels as well. We did not want to heat the bedrooms but in the end we have heat to just the main bedroom and bathroom as we are getting on a bitm and you never know. These individual rooms can be turned off while others are on. So we willhave flexibility. Will let you know how it is next winter in the Adelaide Hills.

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Reply to: langloy7 - we are in the process of renovating the bathroom & kitchen in our 1920's home with timber floor boards. Our builder has installed cement sheeting (4mm) over the floor boards. The under floor heating (Livella) will then be laid on top of the cement sheeting. The builder will then use a self-leveling compound (Laticrete) on top of the underfloor heating & our vinyl plank flooring (Karndean) will then be installed over the top. Manufacturers advise that underfloor heating cannot be increased higher than 26 degrees when using vinyl flooring. We only want to run at 20-22 degrees. I am not familiar with underfloor heating being installed under floor boards. Cheers.

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Reply to: I put in the DIY mesh when we were building and then put the screed and poured floor on top of that. It was easy to do, since it was the first time I did it. The cost was not high and the cost to keep it on is not high. About a 60w globe worth. We leave the door of the en suite open and it heats our room enough to not need other heating. We have found that t is cheaper to switch it on when the weather is cold enough and leave it on until the weather warms up. That way the concrete stays warm and the thermostat does not need to click on and off constantly to get the heat up again. We love the warm floor and were used to having this in New Zealand, so it was a requirement when we built our house in Perth.

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Reply to: We've recently installed floor heating in our main bathroom and LOVE it. We did it because we had major problems with mould in this room...not anymore. Our towels would never dry during winter...not a problem now. In fact, I place damp washing on an air dryer in there overnight to finish off. Works like a treat. If we'd realised, we'd have put it in our laundry too! Cost is minimal to run. You can program for times of day and for either floor temp and/or ambient air temp - easy to set up. During the week I only have it on in the morning for two hours and it manages to keep the room warm all day. By warm I mean at about 20 degrees, which is great. We live in the southwest of WA, so it can get pretty cold. Hope that helps :))

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Reply to: We are putting it out bathrooms. Running costs are pretty low compared to air conditioning. Look up the Reece products they say around 22 cents a day based on a 5m2 area with the floor on for one hour. You set them up to come on when you get up for a short period then switch off until the evening. It is standard in Europe now and the most efficient way to heat. Good Luck and happy heating!

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Reply to: Hi Gionne its definitely worth considering if you're renovating. I recommend it to all my bathroom renovation clients. You're right, it used to be a luxury item but technology advances have reduced its complexity and cost, like most things! Reece have it in a roll format and aside from getting your electrician to wire it in (they'll be there anyway during a Reno), it's very very easy to install and use. At around $600 for a 4m2 bathroom it's affordable warmth and luxury underfoot (without the price tag). As a designer I definitely be installing it wherever tiles will be laid (including the shower!) for my next renovation. It's a great product. Hope that helps. Good luck and have fun.

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