Warm and Toasty: Kitchen & Bathroom Flooring
As homeowners in Pittsburgh, PA prepare for chillier temperatures, imagine the feeling of stepping out of bed onto a warm and toasty floor. Radiant heat is one of the most luxurious and appreciated features of new baths and kitchen remodels among homeowners in Pittsburgh, PA and almost always is a wow factor to help sell a home.
Not only does radiant heating enhance the quality of a home, but it also has functional value by counteracting the negative effects caused by the fact that hot air rises and heating overhead areas where heat is not needed. Radiant heat slowly emerges from the floor gradually allowing for more efficient and better heat distribution than conventional forced air systems. When your feet are warm, you don’t need as much heat in the rest of your home to feel comfortable.This is particularly important in open floor plan homes with high ceilings. Radiant heating systems allow homeowners in Pittsburgh, PA to use their heat and energy more efficiently by heating the lower half of a space more and the top half less. The difference is seen in lower monthly utility bills, which is more than welcomed in today’s era of high energy costs.
A question many homeowners in Pittsburgh, PA have is where should a radiant-heating systems be installed? We generally recommend bathrooms, especially the primary bath, the kitchen, and other bedrooms and spaces that are not carpeted. These include entryways, mudrooms, and foyers. Imagine coming home on a snowy day and removing your shoes to find a heated floor that immediately takes the chill off.
Another creative radiant heating application is for countertops. Imagine the impact on family and guests dining on your new island that automatically warms plates, soup bowls or coffee cups?
The two most popular radiant heating systems found in homes in Pittsburgh, PA are hydronic and electric. Hydronic systems are the more efficient option, because they use hot water to heat the floor through a network of tubes embedded in concrete slabs or in a layer underneath tile, stone, wood or other floorcovering material. Electric radiant heating systems may be a more efficient option depending on the cost of electricity during non-peak hours. There are also heated matts that can target specific areas such as around the toilet or in front of the vanity if a whole home or floor option is not viable.
Give us a call at 412-922-1200 to learn more about Jacob Evans Kitchen and Bath.
