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Cutting a Rug: Year-Round Cabins May Require New Floor Coverings
by Craig Friesen
Refacing Cabinets Columnist
When you decide to convert your summer cabin to a year-round getaway, give some careful thought to your choice of floor covering. The needs of a summer cabin are quite different from an all-season retreat. Radiant floor heating is eco-friendly, easy to maintain and can help keep your cabin warm in winter.
What is Radiant Floor Heating?
Radiant floor heating is a very pleasant form of climate control for homes and cottages. The surface of the floor is warmed with a certain type of heat conductor, and heat from the toasty floor rises and heats the room. There are three kinds of heat conductors: hydronic, electric, and air. The most common is hydronic, where hot water is circulated through tubes beneath the floor. Installing radiant floor heating will allow you to keep your low-maintenance laminate or tile floor covering without sacrificing warmth for your feet in winter.
What about Other Types of Floor Covering?
Making the change to an all-season cabin is bound to tempt you to switch at least some areas away from laminate flooring or tile to carpet. When deciding what flooring will best accommodate winter use, evaluate the areas where you will be most likely to expose bare feet to chilly floors. Although areas such as bedrooms are good candidates for plush floor covering choices, high-traffic areas like bathrooms and kitchens demand more durable flooring. Radiant floor heating allows you to transform cold but long-lasting tile and laminate into welcoming surfaces.
Above all, remember that wise choices of floor covering can keep your cottage much more comfortable through all seasons, without raising your heating bill too much.
Source
About the Author
Craig Friesen is a freelance writer and self-employed entrepreneur living in Abbotsford, British Columbia.
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