Heating Rubber Tiles

[igxqrrl]

Hi! I just had the concrete slab poured in my shop, and am now planning some finishing items.

The shop is ~40x37, and I have a ~10x12 foot corner that I'll be using as a bicycle workshop. Shop heat is propane furnace. I'm planning to use rubber tiles in the 120 sq ft bike shop, but I'd like to heat the tiles where I'll usually be standing, probably about 50 sq ft. I'm not particularly concerned about heat efficiency since i'll only turn on the heat for perhaps an hour or two per week in the wintertime and not at all in the summer. At the same time, while there are ready-made heated mats, I'd love to have something a bit more "integrated".

I'm considering using a product like this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005DMO2MC/?tag=atomicindus08-20
below the tiles but am concerned that high density rubber will take a long time to heat and I also don't really want to be heating the concrete pad instead of the tiles.

Has anybody successfully deployed something like what I describe above? I've been looking for a 'sandwich' with a high density cushion on the bottom, heat on top of that, and a thin protective layer on the heat but not yet found one...

Thanks!

 

[Armorpoxy]

Hi
We would have some concerns that 'under rubber' heat could soften rubber tiles too much, allowing them to get damaged easier than if they were 'cool'.

Our PVC www.supratile.com tiles are harder and have a higher durometer reading than rubber, and we have had many clients use them over radiant heat with no issues.

If you do use rubber, why not get an inexpensive electric overhead infrared heater which will quickly warm up both you and the floor? Just our 2 cents!

 

[RaceDeck1]

I would also be worried about 'gassing' from rubber tiles when heating. Many are made with all kinds of unknown additives in them and not sure if you want that in your home

 

[igxqrrl]

Thanks both for those insights. I wouldn't have thought of the gassing issue but it makes sense. I appreciate you pointing me in the right direction!

My desire for the heated floor comes largely from my bathroom floor, which feels so nice on a cold night. But the overhead infrared heater is probably a better idea for my purpose, thanks for the suggestion! I'l check out both racedeck and supratile, those might be a more durable option than rubber and still softer than concrete

Thanks!