Cosy homes come from good designs using clever material choices for active and passive heating. Porcelain tiles and solid stone are great for both. During winter, tiled floors absorb the heat from the sun during the day and release it as the temperature falls at night. Think of it as a massive sponge for all that free heat.
What about active heating solutions? Those involved in building and renovation projects often don’t realise that Underfloor heating (UFH) systems are one of the most efficient and cost-effective methods to heat a home. In fact, underfloor heating systems can be the most inexpensive compared to some other heating alternatives.
They are also one of the most comfortable as a quality system and will ensure the heat is evenly distributed and rises from below, recreating the ideal vertical temperature gradient. Conventional forced-warm-air methods tend to produce heating results that are too local and from the top down. Just as you wouldn’t stand underneath a fan/radiant heater to feel warmth, underfloor heating gives you warmth whilst providing an overall cosy home.
Whilst it is true that different materials work with UFH, careful considerations must be made on the flooring materials used. For example, timber flooring requires specialist systems and runs the risk of warping, cupping, and other problems. Carpets must adhere to certain thermal resistance ratings before even being considered suitable. The selection, therefore, becomes rather limited and usually always points towards Tiles. Aside from this is the all-important fact that the most efficient, effective, and stable surface to heat is tile and stone flooring.
How do we know this? Without getting too scientific, let’s avoid the physics lessons. Tiles are much more efficient to heat than other flooring materials due to their thermal conductivity. In other words, porcelain tiles are approximately 10 times better than timber at transferring heat and 20 times that of carpet*. What this means is that the warmth is felt much sooner by tiles hence heating your room more quickly.
As previously mentioned, under-tile heating eliminates any cold spots in a room because the heat rises evenly from the floor. Apart from the obvious thermal comforts, under-tile heating ensures damp areas stay dry, prevents mould from growing, and remains out of sight. It is a beautiful solution to heating any room, anywhere in your home, and particularly useful in living rooms.
So, when planning for your next renovation or new build, think hassle-free underfloor heating and tiles….they’re far more economical than most people realise. For cooler, winter days, you can put away those extra layers, kick off your shoes and enjoy comfortable living! At Tile Warehouse, we have so many warm and cosy-look tiles from on-trend timber tile and large format series, perfect for living and bedroom spaces, so come in and see us or visit us online. Let us take the hassle out of your interior design process.
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*Figures based on average thermal conductivity of: Porcelain 1.05W/m.K Wool felt 0.04W/m.K , Timber 0.10~0.12W/m.K. Young, Hugh D., University Physics, 7th Ed., Addison Wesley, 1992.
