Floors
Radiant heat (low mass). While concrete floors have historically been used for radiant heat because of their high mass, it does take a great deal of energy to bring them up to temperature. Low-mass radiant floors, such as the one seen here, are an efficient alternative. Combining the subfloor and radiant system in one structural panel and facing it with an aluminum skin distributes the heat evenly beneath the finished floor. A low-mass radiant floor comes up to temperature quickly using a lower water temperature than its high-mass or staple-up counterparts. As you’d expect, the panels are more expensive than a traditional subfloor, but the labor savings on the heating side help offset this.
Polished concrete. The concept can be applied to floor surfaces too. Durable enough for commercial use and humble enough for the home, polished concrete has a depth and a patina of wear that builds over time that I love. It’s the perfect substrate for myriad activities and uses. It does stain, but that’s part of the life of a home, and it’s somehow easier to embrace, even expect, with concrete. It’s also an excellent thermal mass to use to collect solar energy during the day and radiate it back in the evening.
love the look of polished concrete floors in kitchens, but concrete — along with other nonresilient floor surfaces, such as stone, ceramic and porcelain tile — can take a toll on your joints. I've heard complaints from many homeowners who regret putting in a hard flooring material in their kitchen because of the subsequent knee, hip or back pain they feel after standing or walking on it for a long period. Fortunately there are plenty of softer, resilient kitchen flooring types available that are as functional as they are good-looking. Bamboo, cork,
cork
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