In-Floor Heating

We are proud to be the leading installers of in-floor heating systems in the Kansas City, Mo area. With years of experience behind us, we have established a set of best practices that ensures every job is completed properly, efficiently, and to our customer’s satisfaction. We use only high-quality products on our installation projects, so that you get the absolute best results possible. Our aim is to not only leave you with a floor that looks wonderful, but also feels fantastic under your toes.

How Does Underfloor Heating Work?

Most commonly, underfloor heating, otherwise known as radiant floor heating, works by way of electrical heat. Electric radiant floors operate by putting down heat-conducting plastic mats into the mortar bed of a floor. These mats contain electrical coils that heat up, and the heat produced by these coils then radiates up into your floors. The air closest to the floor is also warmed by this process, and rises to warm up the rest of the room.

Ric Ginn Electric’s Process for In-Floor Heating Installation

Our in-floor heating installations follow a series of steps to ensure your system works effectively and efficiently.

Here’s an overview of our process:

1. Planning and preparation: We first assess your space so we can design your floor heating system. We’ll make sure your electrical system has the capacity to handle your new floor, add insulation if necessary to minimize heat loss, and apply for permits if required.
2. Heating mat or cable installation: Depending on your heating plan, we’ll roll out the heating mats or lay cables. We’ll then fasten these to the subfloor. At this stage, we’ll also test the system before the heating elements are encased.
3. Encase the mats or cables: We’ll apply thinset or a self-leveling compound over your mats or cables to encase them and let it cure. The choice between the two is determined largely by the flooring material.
4. Flooring installation: Once the thinset or self-leveling compound has fully cured, we install your chosen flooring material on top.
5. Testing and walkthrough: We test the system and calibrate the thermostat to make sure it meets our and your standards. We’ll also answer any questions you have and show you how to operate your new heated floors.

Radiant Floor Heating Options

Ric Ginn Electric heated floors are compatible with the majority of flooring options, and there are various kinds of flooring selections that are available to go on top of heated floors in your Kansas City, Mo home. Generally, for best results it is suggested not to use heated flooring under hardwood, as it will heat the wood thereby drying the wood out, and can result in a lot of shrinking and cracking in the wood. For best results we suggest the following flooring options:

• Ceramic tile
• Low-pile carpet
• Laminate

• Natural stone
• Vinyl

Why Choose In-Floor Heating?

Underfloor heating is not only a great option because it keeps your feet warm in the colder seasons. It is also a cost and energy efficient way of heating your home. In-floor heating provides evenly dispersed heat throughout a room virtually eliminating any and all cold spots within your home. Because of the even distribution of heat it is more efficient than conventional baseboard or radiator heating systems. In-floor heating can also be a great option for people who suffer acutely from airborne allergens, as radiant heat does not circulate allergens the same way that forced air systems do.

Key Benefits of In-Floor Heating

While heated flooring has a tendency to be viewed as a luxury item, it is surprisingly affordable. As it is so economical there is no reason why you cannot have it in your own home. In addition to affordability, there are so many other reasons why installing a heated floor in your Kansas City, Mo area home is a great option. In-floor heating is:

• Comfortable
• Concealed from sight
• Strengthens property value
• Clean and dust-free
• Safe

• Maintenance free
• Noiseless
• Easy to adjust
• Compatible with most existing heating systems

Which Rooms Can You Install Radiant Floor Heating In?

You can install heated floors in whichever room you choose. Bathroom heated floors are especially popular for their ability to create a luxurious comfort as you step in and out of the shower. They’re also often the first room you go to when you wake up, so a heated floor makes the process more comfortable.

Basements tend to be colder than the rest of the home, so basement in-floor heating is also popular. It makes the lower level far more livable and enables you to take full advantage of your space.

Kitchens and bedrooms are areas where you tend to spend a lot of time, and are good candidates for heated floors, letting you go about your day in full comfort. Kitchens, in particular, are popular because their messy nature means you can’t really put down carpets for added warmth. These spaces, however, are usually bigger and require a more extensive system.

Other possibilities include front halls and garages. These floors can get cold when temperatures drop and are the first places you step when you get home. Installing heated floors gives you a warm welcome when you get home. Garage floor heating can also add overall warmth to this usually unheated space.

Can You Retrofit Underfloor Heating?

Absolutely. We frequently install underfloor heating in existing rooms. The process isn’t too different from installing heated floors in new builds, but it has the added step of needing to remove the old flooring.

There are some limitations, however. Heated floors can add some height to your floors. This is often minimal, but if your ceilings are already low, it’s worth considering.

Electrical capacity and flooring material are also important factors. We’ll need to check that your electrical system can handle a heated floor, and we may need to upgrade it if it can’t. You’ll likely also need to select a new flooring material if the room was originally built with hardwood or thick carpets.