Couldn’t agree more about the insulation making or breaking it. I did a reno last year and splurged on the proper insulation for the ensuite, but tried to save a few bucks in the laundry. Big mistake. The ensuite floor is toasty, but the laundry barely feels any different unless you crank it for hours. Honestly, if you’re gonna do underfloor heating, don’t cheap out on that part.
And yeah, I wouldn’t bother with it in bedrooms or living rooms either—feels like overkill. But for bathrooms? Total game changer, especially when you’re half awake and stepping out of the shower. The install was a headache (my dog tracked grout everywhere), but once it’s done, you forget about the hassle pretty quick... except for the random leftover bits you keep finding months later. Still worth it in the right spots, just gotta plan ahead.
Honestly, I’m still kicking myself for not double-checking the insulation in our bathroom before the tiles went down. Like you said,
I tried to save a bit and now there are cold spots near the door—super annoying. Also, had a minor scare with a loose wire (installer’s fault), so I’d say don’t just plan ahead, but really vet whoever’s doing the work. For me, worth it in the bathroom but nowhere else. Safety and warmth both matter!if you’re gonna do underfloor heating, don’t cheap out on that part.
Totally get where you’re coming from—those little details can make or break the whole experience.
- Skimping on insulation is one of those things that seems minor until you’re stepping on a cold patch every morning. Been there, regretted that.
- Vetting installers is huge. I once had a guy wire a thermostat wrong and it tripped the breaker every time the floor warmed up. Not fun, and honestly, a bit scary.
- For me, underfloor heating’s only worth it in small spaces like bathrooms or maybe an entryway. Whole-house setups just seem like overkill unless you’re building new and can plan everything perfectly.
- Safety’s always my top concern too. I’d rather pay a bit more upfront than deal with electrical headaches (or worse) down the line.
You’re not alone in second-guessing these choices. At least you caught the issues early and can warn others. Live and learn, right?
Insulation’s a huge factor, no doubt. I’ve seen tenants complain about cold spots even with brand-new systems—turns out the builder skimped on the subfloor prep. Out of curiosity, did you go with electric or hydronic? I’ve found hydronic setups are a bit more forgiving but trickier to retrofit.
Hydronic’s definitely more forgiving in terms of heat distribution, but yeah, retrofitting can be a pain—especially in older places with uneven subfloors. I’ve seen electric systems go in faster, but they’re less forgiving if the prep isn’t spot on. Did you run into any issues with floor height or thresholds when you installed? That’s tripped up a few projects I’ve worked on.
