Believe it or not, steam cleaning your flooring is still a very popular method of cleaning your hard surfaces. Unfortunately many people have not really taken the time to research the effect that it will have on your hardwood and laminate flooring. Don't fall for the infomercials! We have all the information you need to know right here.

Steam Cleaning a Laminate Floor

Sometimes we really don't want to choose hard surface flooring for comfort reasons. I mean let's face it, who doesn't love to shed their shoes when they come home from a long day at work. When compared to carpet most flooring options simply do not out shine it in the comfort department. This is mainly because hard surface flooring options can get down right cold! Especially now that the weather has been a bit all over the place, when you get out of bed you really don't know what to expect. So you get used to being prepared for the shock of the cold streaking up through your blanket warmed feet.

Today we will be discussing the advantages and disadvantages of Radiant Heated Flooring. Whether it be for hardwood flooring, ceramic tile, or laminate flooring, you really have the option to get the hard surface flooring of your dreams without compromising the floor itself.

The Advantages of Radiant Heated Flooring

Surprisingly enough radiant heat systems are incredibly durable, reliable and last so long that they can actually live longer than your homes furnace. If you care for your floor heating system there is no reason that it couldn't last for up to 35 years.

You can save a ton of money on heating your home given that you utilize the radiant heat systems, this is because you will not be forced to use your furnace nearly as much. The heat that is produced from a floor heating system actually radiates from the floor.

 Van Gogh - Karndean Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

Have you heard that warm air rises?

It absolutely does! Funny enough, warm air from the furnace can dissipate rather quickly, which isn't very economical. You will be happy to know that most people rarely have to use the furnace when using radiant heated flooring.

Have you ever been annoyed by the loudness of your furnace?

Well great news, because radiant heat doesn't require a blower to be functional, it is completely silent! Not to mention, no changing out filters once a month to cut down on allergies. No dust, dirt or pollen being pushed through your home from the outside!

And finally, you don't have to worry about blocking vents in your flooring, giving you the freedom to place furniture where you see fit!

The Disadvantages of Radiant Heat Flooring

All the previous sounds great, however there is always a downside to any investment, no matter how you see it. Let's start with the cost.

The Upfront cost of installing a heated flooring system can be quite staggering to some. The better systems such as hydronic systems tend to be more expensive. Not only is the actual product more expensive, but this is not a DIY project by any means. So be prepared to pay for professional installation as well.

Heating coils and pipes can be very tricky to find beneath flooring. So when a problem arises it can be incredibly hard to locate where the issue lies. This adds to costly repairs, especially if you have to remove a portion of your flooring to find the problem area.

American Hickory - Mannington Engineered Hardwood Flooring

You know how you get home sometimes and realize that the heat was left off and its freezing?

Radiant heating systems are designed to build heat slowly, this means it takes quite a bit longer to take your home from cold and chilly to warm and toasty. Expect a few hours if you have had it off. That being said though speaks volumes about its ability to stay warm by retaining heat longer when shut off, because it has a longer heat building time, it stays warm longer even after shut off. Finding the right timing to turn on and off the system will benefit you greatly as far as saving on the cost of energy in your home.