flooringstory: November 2009

Benefits of Under Floor Heating Systems

People who live in the parts where temperatures are extremely low during winters can't do without under floor heating systems. Bearing the chill without these is humanly impossible. According to researchers, the average temperature of the floors must range between twenty to twenty five degrees. Earlier, to keep the place warm, the practice of lighting a fire using wood was very popular. Fireplaces were an indispensable part of the houses. As technology advances these natural fireplaces have been replaced by electric ones. These, though, are not so efficient and do not warm the house to one's wish. Electric under floor heating is the deal of the day. These systems are centralized warming systems that heat the entire floor uniformly.

Types of Heaters Used:

Two types of heaters are being used today. One is based on the theory of convection while the other employs principle of radiation. In the former, the surrounding air gets warmed up and the latter heats the floor. The convection principle has been used since centuries and today is being implemented in the form of blowers.

The radiation concept evolved later and electric under floor heating utilizes the same. These heaters are technologically more sound and efficient. These are also of many types.

The first is the air type. In this case, interconnected pipes are placed under the entire floor of the house. The air is heated by using a central radiator. This is then circulated with the help of these pipes. Such heaters can't remain heated for longer periods of time and so can pose inconvenience.

Next is the water type

It also employs the same mechanism of laying piping throughout. In place of air, water is passed through these. A boiler is responsible for heating the water to the required temperature. A furnace can also be used but it is better to replace it by boilers as they are safe and efficacious. Their drawback is that the formation of air bubbles takes place and there is disruption of water flow. Moreover it is a daunting task to remove these air bubbles.

The most advanced and safest method is the electric type. There is no need of laying pipelines in this case. Coils that conduct electricity are used for radiation of heat. When electricity is passed the coils get heated and emit cozy heat. These electric under floor heating systems are faster and more expedient than the other available systems.

Again there is one major drawback that you have to face a lot of difficulty to get them repaired. Proper installation by skilled professionals is also necessary. If there is any mistake during installation, it may prove to be dangerous for the residents. So getting a reputed company for fixing this system is mandatory.

For any help on electrical under floor heating, check out the info available online; these will help you learn to find the under floor heating systems!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Allen_S._Border

Radiant Bathroom Floor Heating - An Economical and Practical Luxury

It's hard enough to push yourself out of bed on a cold, dark morning, but when you follow that action by stepping onto an ice cold tile bathroom floor, you're actually punishing yourself. Few things can be more miserable, and the experience is likely to cause you to jump back into bed again just to warm your feet. There are fairly simple ways you can treat yourself better when it comes to cold floors. You could invest in plushy slippers or bathmats that will warm up after awhile, or you could add radiant heat underneath your tile. If you're doing a bathroom remodel anyway, you can add thin heating elements that run under your tile in order to give you warm, toasty floors.

Although tile is one of the coldest flooring materials in your home, it would also feel nice to warm other types of flooring, and you can do so with radiant bathroom floor heating. You can also install radiant heat under glass, porcelain, slate, ceramic, stone, marble, and granite floors as well as hardwood and carpeting. One of the good things about installing it during a remodel is that it doesn't raise the floor very much so that doors are still going to open and close over it without needing to be cut off. You can choose between radiant heat that will use hot water, steam pipes, or electricity to warm the floors. Whichever you choose, it's sure to be a treat for your feet.

Many people like to keep their bedrooms cool for sleeping, but then they want to get up to a warm, cozy bathroom. Radiant bathroom floor heating can give you that luxury for a very affordable price. A small master bathroom floor of about 200-square-feet might require a $200 expenditure for radiant mats and another $1300 for installation.

The way this flooring system works is that you have a contractor make a template of your bathroom floor which he then sends to the manufacturer who will custom-make a heating mat to exactly fit your floor. Once it has been constructed, it will need to be installed by an electrician. It's economical to run, because it operates on a 110-volt circuit. Thermostats and timers provided with the mat allow you to heat the floor to the temperature you want and only have it come on when you program it to do so.

For example, you might decide to have it come on at 5 a.m. and then switch itself off again at 7.

Once the mat has been installed, your tile contractor can just mud over the top of it in order to put down your flooring, and no one will know the difference - until they step on the floor! Radiant bathroom floor heating is an excellent choice for small areas. It will actually keep you warmer than forced-air heat, because it warms your feet. When your feet are warm, your whole body feels warm.

For more info on bathroom floor heating including tips on replacing bathroom floor, visit http://www.betterbathroomfloors.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_W_Smith

The Unique Advantages of Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Many people are turning to the choice of engineered hardwood flooring, due to its lower price ticket and larger versatility and resistance to moisture which make it a sensible choice for many applications.

This veneer layer can be oak, pine, ash, teak, or bamboo and gives the flooring the same lovely look of solid hardwoods. The veneer is applied to a core layer made of more cost-effective woods as well as woods that can be re-grown quickly, unlike hardwoods, making this flooring a much "greener" option.

Most flooring makers make flooring with three layers.

You'd think that natural hardwoods would be in a position to take all sorts of weather and have the power to resist any conditions, but it can't. Actually, natural hardwoods can expand and contract such a lot that they cause warping and buckling of a floor. This doesn't occur with engineered hardwoods. The core layers are able to adjust to weather conditions and expand and contract without damaging the floor.

Additionally, engineered floors can be laid right on top of glowing heat without being susceptible to buckling, cupping, or shrinking like natural hardwoods would do.

You may use engineered hardwood flooring to install what is sometimes known as a floating floor which can be installed over any surface without the employment of nails and adhesives. The way it is installed means that you can have a floor with no openings between the hardwood panels, but you'll have to lay down a vapor barrier on the surface you're covering prior to installing the floor.

The construction technology that permits engineered hardwoods to be installed as floating floors is called tongue-and-groove. This is the easiest kind of flooring to install and can be done quite quickly . It's also easy to take apart and reload if you happen to need to take it with you when you move to a new home. A third merit of tongue-and-groove flooring is if one of the planks gets damaged, it's relatively straightforward to take it out and replace it with a new board.

Hire yourself a professional who knows the simplest way to make your floor look as new again.

You know you want hardwood floors - visit RefinishedHardwood.com for more tips on refinishing hardwood floors and Bruce hardwood floors and make have the floor you've always wanted.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_W_Smith