The crisp, cool weather is here, and it’s only going to get colder. If you’re considering new natural stone flooring and are tired of the cold ceramic or porcelain tile floors in your bathroom, now is the time to make a change. Along with an upgrade to your beautiful new stone flooring, you can also add radiant heat.
If your stone or tile needs attention first, our restoration team can fix chips, cracks, stains, and uneven spots before you upgrade.
With this addition, you won’t have to rely on bath rugs to avoid cringing when your feet touch the floor on very chilly mornings. If you’re ready to make your natural stone even more elegant and comfortable with each step, keep reading to learn more about how radiant heat can change the game.
What is Radiant Floor Heating?
Even in a relatively warm part of the house, tile floors can be substantially colder than other types of flooring. However, this feeling of cold beneath your feet isn’t because tile is inherently colder than other flooring types. What you’re experiencing is thermal conductivity. Tile floors, especially natural stone, have high thermal conductivity, allowing heat to pass through them very quickly.
As you walk across this type of flooring, the heat from your body is rapidly drawn out and through the tile floor, giving the illusion of cold floors. Carpet and wood floors have low thermal activity, which makes them seem warmer if you walk across them barefoot.
Keeping thermal conductivity in mind, since tile floors have such high thermal conductivity, adding radiant flooring can help make this type of flooring feel warm when you walk across it barefoot. Thin electric cables run underneath tile floors, which heat the floors so you don’t have to be shocked by the cold tile when stepping out of the shower. Another option is to run plastic tubing beneath the flooring, creating a hydronic rather than an electrical system.
What Types of Natural Stone Match with Radiant Heating?
Nearly all natural stone tiles will pair well with radiant floor heating. The beauty and comfort that this pairing brings are indescribable. Nothing beats walking across natural stone floors that aren’t shockingly cold, especially in winter.
Granite
If you’re considering granite flooring, it’s the best choice because it has very high thermal conductivity, quickly transferring heat through the tiles. This type of flooring will warm up rapidly on those cold winter mornings.
Marble
Another good choice to pair with radiant flooring is marble. Not only is this one of the most elegant natural stone options, but it also holds warmth very well, like granite.
Slate
If you want cozy toesies when you step out of your shower, another great option is slate. This type of flooring not only pairs well with radiant flooring but can also be a great choice in slippery areas such as the bathroom.
Travertine
Another great option to pair with radiant heat flooring is travertine. Unlike marble, slate, and granite, this natural stone has a relatively low thermal conductivity. Therefore, it will take longer to warm these floors with radiant flooring, but this is still a solid option.
Trusted Stone Floor Restoration in Brighton
If you have stone floors or tile surfaces that need a deep cleaning, Restore-A-Floor in Brighton can help. For more than 20 years, we’ve been restoring all types of stone and tile—bringing dull, worn surfaces back to life with proven techniques and meticulous workmanship. Homeowners and businesses choose us for dependable service, expert restoration, and beautiful results achieved without harsh, damaging methods.
See what professional stone floor restoration can do for your floors – call today!