All-Day Comfort: A Radiant Heated Home Office in Whitchurch-Stouffville, ON

Project Information:

When their family grew, homeowners Laura and Scott Saunders needed to create a new home office in their chilly basement. To transform the space into a comfortable and productive work-from-home hub, they turned to WarmlyYours. By installing a TempZone™ radiant floor heating system, they created a consistently warm and inviting dual-purpose office and guest room, adding significant comfort, efficiency, and value to their home.

Project Details

• Location: Whitchurch-Stouffville, ON
• Heated Space Type: Basement Bedroom/Office
• Square Footage: 176 sq. ft. (129 sq. ft. heated)
• Watts, Volts, Amps: 1,934 W, 240 V, 8.1 A
• Operating Cost Per Hour: $0.09/hour → $0.72 per 8-hour workday → ~$21.60/month
• Products Used:
  • TempZone™ Flex Roll
  • nSpire Touch Programmable Thermostat
  • Circuit Check

The Story

For Laura and Scott Saunders, a second child brought joy—and a space crunch. Their top-floor office had to be converted into a new bedroom, leaving them in search of a quiet, dedicated workspace. The solution was to finish their basement, but they faced a common challenge: the persistent, bone-chilling cold of a subterranean room, which is far from ideal for an office used eight hours a day. They knew that to make the space truly functional and comfortable, they had to address the cold floors first.

The Saunders' chose a WarmlyYours TempZone™ Flex Roll system to provide luxurious and consistent warmth. The system was installed over a Cerazorb underlayment and embedded in self-leveling cement before the final Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) flooring was laid. This combination ensures optimal heat distribution and energy efficiency, gently radiating heat upwards to warm the entire room from the ground up. The easy-to-install roll format made for a smooth and efficient installation process.

The result is a warm, cozy home office that fuels focus, creativity, and productivity. The space now serves as the hub of Laura’s professional work life, feeling separate and peaceful from the daily family hustle. The radiant floor heating completely transformed the basement from a cold, uninviting area into a premium, dual-purpose workspace and guest room, proving that even a basement can become one of the most comfortable rooms in the house.

Featured Products

TempZone™ Flex Roll The TempZone™ Flex Roll was the perfect solution for this rectangular basement office. These easy-to-install rolls feature electric heating cable already affixed to a mesh backing, allowing for quick and simple rollout installation. It provides 15 watts per square foot of power, ensuring the floor heats up quickly and provides powerful, even warmth ideal for combatting chilly basement floors.

nSpire Touch Programmable Thermostat To control their new floor heating system, the homeowners chose the nSpire Touch Thermostat. This programmable thermostat features a sleek touchscreen interface, Class A GFCI protection, and an integrated floor sensor for the most accurate temperature control. By setting a schedule, Laura and Scott can ensure the office is warm and ready for the workday while maximizing energy efficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How much does it cost to run heated floors in a basement office? A: The operating cost for this specific 129 sq. ft. basement office in Ontario is just $0.09 per hour. Costs vary based on room size, insulation, usage patterns, and local electricity rates, but electric radiant heating is a surprisingly affordable luxury.

Q: Can radiant heating be the primary heat source for a basement? A: Yes, in a well-insulated space like a finished basement, electric radiant floor heating can often serve as the sole source of heat. It provides consistent, even warmth that eliminates cold spots far more effectively than traditional forced-air systems. A heat loss calculation can help determine if it's sufficient for your specific room.

Q: What type of flooring works best with this heated floor system? A: This project successfully used Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT), which is an excellent choice for radiant heating. Other highly compatible flooring types include ceramic tile, porcelain tile, natural stone, and engineered wood. Always check the flooring manufacturer's specifications to ensure it's approved for use with in-floor heating.

Q: Is electric radiant floor heating energy efficient? A: Absolutely. Radiant heating is very energy efficient because it heats people and objects directly from the floor up, rather than wasting energy heating the air in the room. When paired with a programmable thermostat like the nSpire Touch, you can schedule heating only when needed, preventing wasted energy and lowering your utility bills.