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Northern Comfort: Cozying Up a Mackinac Island Bathroom

Full Bath Remodel with Shower Heating & Towel Warmer

MACKINAC ISLAND, MI
Mackinac Island Bathroom Remodel  (4)
Size: 64 sq.ft. Voltage: 120V Wattage: 570 W Amps: 3 A Flooring: Tile, Marble or Stone Cost/hr *: $0.09

On Mackinac Island, MI, where winters are long and the winds off Lake Huron are biting, a cold bathroom floor isn't just an annoyance—it’s a daily shock to the system. This homeowner transformed their daily routine by installing electric floor heating not just on the main floor, but directly inside the shower. The result is a sanctuary of radiant warmth that turns a standard bathroom into a spa-level retreat, proving that true luxury is efficient, invisible, and incredibly comfortable.


Project Details

  • Location: Mackinac Island, MI
  • Room Type: Full Bathroom (with Shower)
  • Heated Area: 30 sq. ft. (Total Room: 64 sq. ft.)
  • Flooring: Tile, Marble, or Stone
  • System Voltage: 120V
  • Total Wattage: 570 Watts
  • Amperage: 3 Amps
  • Operating Cost: $0.09 per hour
  • Key Products: TempZone™ Easy Mats, TempZone™ Shower Mat, Malta Towel Warmer


Stepping Out of the Cold

The Problem: Cold Stone in a Frozen Climate

Stone and tile are beautiful, durable choices for bathrooms, but in a location like Mackinac Island, they act as heat sinks, holding onto the chill of the surrounding environment. For Robert Spitzer, the goal wasn't just aesthetic; it was about solving the physical discomfort of stepping onto freezing surfaces during Michigan’s harsh winters. Standard HVAC systems blow hot air that rises quickly, leaving the floor—the part of the room you actually touch—cold and uninviting.

The Solution: Complete Radiant Coverage

The installation utilized TempZone™ Easy Mats to cover the main traffic areas, but the real game-changer was the inclusion of a dedicated TempZone™ Shower Mat. By heating the shower floor, the warmth begins the moment the homeowner steps in, even before the water runs hot. To top off the experience, a hardwired Malta Towel Warmer was installed, ensuring that the comfort doesn't end when the shower does.

The Outcome: Efficient Luxury

This installation proves that you don't need a massive amount of power to achieve luxurious comfort. With a draw of only 3 Amps (less than a standard vacuum cleaner), this system provides targeted heat exactly where it is needed most. The homeowner now enjoys a warm, dry shower floor that reduces mold growth potential and a bathroom that feels like a warm embrace against the Mackinac chill.


Featured Products

  • TempZone™ Shower Mat (120V): specifically designed with an offset drain hole to fit standard shower pans perfectly. It ensures the luxury of in-floor heating extends right into the shower enclosure.
  • TempZone™ Easy Mats: These flexible mats allow for quick roll-out installation in the main bathroom area, simplifying the process for installers while ensuring even heat distribution under tile or stone.
  • Malta Towel Warmer(Black, Hardwired): A sleek, 11-bar architectural statement piece that warms two towels simultaneously, eliminating the "post-shower chill."

* At current local rates, the system costs approximately $0.09 per hour to operate. That means running your warm floors and towel warmer for a full 8-hour cycle costs just $0.68 per day—or roughly $20.50 per month.

Project Gallery

Quotes

These quotes are linked to this showcase and include the products used in this project or recommended for a similar-sized project.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, absolutely. The TempZone™ Shower Mats used in this project are specifically rated for wet locations. They are installed safely under the tile and thin-set, completely sealed from water, providing safe, luxurious warmth while you shower.
In many cases, yes. With 570 watts of power in a 64 sq. ft. room (roughly 9 watts per sq. ft. of total room size), this system produces significant heat output. For a bathroom of this size, radiant heating often serves as a highly efficient primary heat source, warming the objects in the room rather than just the air.
Tile, marble, and stone are actually the best flooring types for radiant heating. They have high thermal conductivity, meaning they transfer heat efficiently from the cable to your feet and hold that heat for a long time, making the system energy efficient.
Despite the cold climate, this specific system is incredibly efficient. At an operating cost of $0.04 per hour, it is a negligible addition to the utility bill compared to the immense value and comfort it adds to the home.

Featured Products

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