Concrete is hard, but that's got nothing to do with the heat. You will definitely want something resilient on top. Laminate will work just fine.

The floor should not be DAMP at all. If your floor is damp once the concrete cures you have real problems.

With radiant heat in the slab, the floor won't be cold either. My lowest level is a concrete slab (as is the floor in my hangar), the upper two floors are gypcrete (a lightweight concrete). All are joys to walk on.

I have heard that living on a concrete slab is hard on joints even with flooring on it. I am assuming I would have the gypcrete as well. But once it is warmed and then you put flooring on it, is it still just as hard on joints? Or does the warmth fix that problem?

Radiant Heating has a lot of advantages, such as for people who suffer from allergies as it does not circulate allergens around, but the best part is simply the fact that it keeps your feet nice and warm. Similarly to using a heating pad on aching joints, a heated floor can have a more gentle feeling to the body rather than cold, hard concrete. I would recommend having a consultation with a local heating specialist.

I have a heated concrete slab on grade, I have been crippled even with the heat and gym mats all over the house, I am saving up for a subfloor of some sort that will withstand the heat but be softer on my joints... worst decision of the house was concrete slab.. heated or not. its sooo painful

I have a heated concrete slab on grade, I have been crippled even with the heat and gym mats all over the house.

Krista you may be suffering from a collagen deficiency. As the body ages it doesn't bounce back like it used to. I've had bouts with the same type of ailments (knee pain, lower back pain etc.) - still do but much less than I've had in the past due to changes I've made in my diet and the shoes I wear and how I sleep as much as possible. If your mattress is old, that also could be a source of your ailments.

Listen to what your body is telling you. Pain is like a check engine light on a car. This could be due to what you are putting in your body, as well as the aging process. (highly processed foods should come with a warning label for older people... If you can't read the words on the content label of the food you are consuming, you shouldn't eat it.)

I also live on a concrete slab floor, I work in hard, difficult and challenging locations on the body. I was forced to look at solutions from the shoes I wear, how I am sleeping ( yeah when you get older even sleeping can be dangerous to body pain) up to an including my diet.

Collagen is more so needed as you age. It's primarily in the grissly part of meat like chicken as an example. I eat alot of chicken now including the skin. I wear comfortable shoes and slight notice of pain from my shoes they are gone, if I buy a new pair of shoes --- there is no break in period for me. If they produce any pain in my feet they are gone.

My preference isn't to take supplements. My preference is to take natural sources from the food I eat. Currently I am not on any supplement. I eat alot of eggs, beef, chicken, bacon and occasionally fish. All of these are good natural sources of collagen.

I am not a doctor. I am merely telling you what has worked for me. Here is a link to another source. Not to fat shame you but weight also can have an effect on joints. Keeping my weight in check has been a life long thing for me. The more weight you carry around the harder it will be on your joints. I walk 4 miles everyday... exercise is a part of it.

Currently I have been experimenting with Keto diet / Carnivore diet. I think I am more suited for Keto than carnivore but I have my carnivore type days too. I find it's a balancing act mostly, keeping weight in check and getting the nutrients you need as you age.

Collagen Diet Information

Wear a pair of good supportive slippers or shoes or flip flops while in the house.