Electric resistance mats under carpet
Being a newbie, I read all the back posts I could find and none mentioned electric resistance heat under carpet. WarmlyYours.com has a new product called Environ II which can go under carpet or laminate floors, without a mud bed. We want warm floors in our bathroom, and I’d like to eventually change from carpet to laminate (more on that later!). Meanwhile we’d like a warm bathroom floor.
Has anyone used the Environ II product? I see lots of posts about electric resistance heat in a mud bed but none without. I’m sure carpet is less efficient than other flooring covers, but we want to try the mats and later re-do the carpet. We live in Oregon (relatively mild) and have a wooden floor over a crawl space which is insulated, both the stem wall and the floor.
Thanks to all who contribute to this great board!
Replies
I would be concerned that you would feel the wires through the carpet.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
I looked at the product, and it seems like it would work, but once you rip up the carpet so that you can put the radiant mat down, why not just put down a more appropriate bathroom floor? My own priorities would certainly put replacing carpet with tile or laminate or linoleum above radiant heat.
zak
Thanks to zak, FastEddie, and PeteVa for your thoughts. This is why I like this board!
I just don't like the idea of electric lines and wet/moist carpet being in contact.
I just don't like the idea of electric lines and wet/moist carpet being in contact.
Some of those heated mats are designed to be used in the BA, so are designed to be around water.
What I don't like is carpet in the BA at all. IMHO carpet doesn't belong in the BA or the kitchen. BA needs vinyl or tile.jt8
"Take your life in your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame." -- Erica Mann Jong
JohnT8,
I don't care for carpet either. I think I'd like laminate - I got a sample of Armstrong laminate and soaked it in water for a week. When I remembered, I checked it and it has had no changes, delamination, etc. It is now doing duty on the windowsill under my house plants.
Sooo... what do you think about laminate in a bathroom?
Sooo... what do you think about laminate in a bathroom?
From what point of view? From a pure utility point of view, I don't think you can beat vinyl in the BA. Fairly cheap to install and durable and in 'reasonable' sized BA's, it can be put in with few or no seams. And can be changed out every few years if the HO likes, or left for decades.
Granted, tile can outlast vinyl .... but how many styles will stay in fashion long enough for the tile's longevity to really pay off? Sure, that dirty-pink tile may have lasted for 60 years, but it has been out of fashion for the last 30-40 of them. :)
Laminate in the BA? I haven't tried it, so don't know how it holds up. Visually probably looks very nice. Utility wise...not only do I not know how it will hold up, but I'd worry about all those seams. Seams which water can wick down into every time junior slops some water on the floor.
The strange way my mind works: lets make the 'bones' of the house last hundreds of years. The counter, floor coverings, wall colors, et al can be changed out every 5-20 years. That lets the current HO feel like they're in a fashionable home.
So as long as the laminate doesn't let moisture down to ruin the bones of the house, I guess I could live with it in the BA.
jt8
"Take your life in your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame." -- Erica Mann Jong