Heated floor underlayment

[andyvh1959]

My house is a trilevel built in 1973, and the lower level den/office area is on the slab. Here in Wisconsin means that floor can get pretty cold in the winter months. I need to replace the old carpeting in that area, and I'm likely going to some type of interlocking vynil planking flooring material. May also spend the bucks to put this product on the slab before laying down the planking:

https://www.menards.com/main/flooring-rugs/tile-stone/under-floor-heating/quiet-warmth-reg-underlayment-electric-in-floor-heat-panel/6210055/p-1444441184165-c-6331.htm

Anyone have experience with this type of product or something similar? Since the areas of the lower level are heated this would just be a supplement to take the chill off the floor. Being that the house was built in 1973 its almost certain there is no insulation under the slab whatsoever. The soil here is pretty sandy many feet down so the slab was likely poured directly over tamped down soil/sand with maybe a vapor barrier at most.

 

[duneslider]

Here is my take, if you really walk around with barefeet on the bare flooring then this will make the floor feel warmer. I spent the money to put it in my bathroom cause the wife had to have it. Then she put rugs down everywhere she stands and pretty much never has barefeet...so I haven't turned the heated floor on in 4 years...

All that stuff is made to do is warm the floor up so your feet think the floor isn't cold to the touch.

 

[Rusted Nut]

Check to see if whatever flooring you use is compatible with the heat mat. Not sure vinyl plank would work. I’ve used similar products with tile, works well. It won’t heat the room much if at all.

 

[andyvh1959]

Good idea, and I agree it on't do much of anything to heat the room, just for comfort under foot. Right now in my office area, on the slab the floor temperature is 60F (Thermalmaster Thor camera). So even if the under flooring heat pad was set at 68F to 70F it would be a noticeable improvement.

 

[Rc_Guy]

Our son did that Menards stuff in his bathroom, they like it.

Our whole house and garage has in-floor heat, have carpet in about 2/3 of house.

It is very nice.

 

[dscheidt]

Check to see if whatever flooring you use is compatible with the heat mat. Not sure vinyl plank would work. I’ve used similar products with tile, works well. It won’t heat the room much if at all.

Depends on the room, and what gets installed. They provide 10 to 15 W per square foot, if installed per instructions (some people install less cable in a wider pattern, for lower cost and output.). In a well insulated house, that’s enough heat to raise the temperature, if you want it to.

 

[Max93]

Many LVP floor manufacturers will want the heating wire buried in 1/2” of self leveling underlayment.