Floor Heating Installation for a Yurt Wilderness Retreat

Hey, come on in. Ta-da! As you can see, all of our flooring features WarmlyYours radiant heating, and it's fantastic. We find ourselves barefoot all the time, enjoying a nice room temperature. We installed the heating throughout the kitchen, being mindful to elevate our cabinets and other furniture to ensure that the concentrated heat beneath them was not compromised. This is our entryway into the yurt, which opens up to our deck. We installed the thermostat right here, set to 67 degrees, a comfortable temperature for us. This thermostat acts as the motherboard for controlling our climate here in New York.

I want to share a bit about the installation process. We are now a year into living in this incredible climate bubble, thanks to WarmlyYours. The flooring installation was definitely a process. We built the entire yurt with the support of many friends who taught us various infrastructure and carpentry skills. However, when it came to the floor, we really collaborated with WarmlyYours. Out of all the steps, the flooring installation felt the most rewarding, as it came together surprisingly quickly. We knew from the start that we wanted to install radiant floor heating across the entire 705 square feet of our yurt. This was a tricky task, considering the furniture layout and the overall design of our small space. We aimed to be intentional about our choices and maximize our available area.

When it was time to install the floor, we had most of our plans mapped out. We provided our dimensions to the WarmlyYours team, who created an excellent blueprint and diagram for us, detailing where each section of the heating mats would go. The installation began with a plywood base, which served as the platform for our yurt since the yurt framing sits directly on the plywood. After laying the plywood, we applied primer to prepare the surface for rolling out the mats and pouring self-leveling concrete, which I highly recommend. It was our first experience pouring concrete, and the process went smoothly.

Once the primer dried, we proceeded to roll out the mats, using the provided diagrams as our guide. We utilized scissors and the adhesive properties of the mats to anchor them securely to the plywood and primer. During this process, we had to get creative to ensure the mats stayed level and flat, employing various methods to weigh them down effectively. After securing the mats, we began the concrete pour, which was a fast-paced task. We divided the area into sections, including a separate room for the bathroom, and framed each section with two-by-twos to contain the concrete for each pour. This framing allowed us to achieve a seamless finish that matched up perfectly across the different sections.

After pouring the concrete, we moved on to installing our luxury vinyl planking. This step was challenging due to our varying design visions. Initially, we considered tile but ultimately opted for a more hardwood-like appearance for durability. As avid outdoor enthusiasts with a dog, we received excellent recommendations from family and friends about using luxury vinyl planking. We chose a bamboo-style floor, which was quick to install. We laid the planks down rapidly, ensuring to make unique cuts for a more natural and random appearance, avoiding a continuous line.

Now, I’ll let John share a bit about what we truly enjoy about our radiant heating system. One of my favorite aspects of the WarmlyYours installation is the ability to throw down a yoga mat and practice yoga anytime I want. It feels like hot yoga, with the warm floor nicely heating the mat and my joints, creating a wonderful lifestyle. Another benefit we quickly realized after the installation is how effective the heated floor is for drying our ski clothes. After a day on the slopes, we used to hang our gear up, but now we simply lay it on the floor, and it dries out automatically. The transition from skiing to relaxing is incredibly quick. Plus, I love cuddling with our pup on the warm floor.