There are many reasons to use tile for your flooring, as its durability and affordability make it rather appealing. However, a common concern is how cold tile can feel. This must mean that tile makes a room colder, right?
Floor tiles do not make a room colder. This is a common misconception, as the coldness is due to a direct heat transfer caused by the room itself. Check for the condition of the air circulation, drafts, and air leaks to find the cause of the cold. Either cover up the solution or purchase an alternative way of specifically heating the room.
Tile, like any other flooring, has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. While it is heavy, it is also easy to clean. Its installation may not be as easy as wood or vinyl, but it can be a cheaper option.
Do Floor Tiles Make a Room Colder?
In short, no. While floor tiles don’t make a room colder, they feel much cooler on your feet than wood or carpet. There can be multiple reasons for this, but the tile itself is not one of them.
Does the Type of Tile Matter?
No, the type of tile does not impact the warmth of a room. In the end, tile does not make a room colder, so the difference in tile won’t play a part in that at all. There is no tile that is warmer or colder than the others.
Is Tile Colder Than Wood?
Tile is actually not colder than wood. The reason tile feels colder is due to how much better tile is as a heat conductor. Wood is rather weak when it comes to absorbing heat, while tile is much stronger.
When your feet make contact with tile, a feeling of coolness comes instantly. This is because the heat in your body is being absorbed by the tile at a very fast rate. Wood does not do this, leading many people to believe that wood is warmer when it is not.
Why Does Floor Tile Feel Cold?
There are a number of reasons for your tile flooring feeling colder than any other part of your home.
1. Un Uneven HVAC
Before inspecting your home for possible sources, check the condition of your HVAC unit first. If your HVAC unit is unbalanced, then airflow is going to be unevenly distributed throughout the house. Should this be the case, the only thing to do is call a professional to resolve this issue for you. Or if you have a home warranty with HVAC coverage, you’ll have immediate access to affordable services from a licensed technician near you.
2. Covered Vents
This one is rather easy to understand, paired with an easy solution. If the air vent in the cold room is covered, simply move what is covering that vent. This can allow the warmer air to flow through that room, clearing away the coldness.
3. Air Leaks
These can be rather difficult to identify, as their source may not be very easy to find. However, there are many places you could begin to look at:
- Electrical outlets
- Vents and fans
- Attic hatches
- Fireplace dampers
- Baseboards
These are only some of the many places an air leak can find its way into your home. Should you check for as many entrances as you can think of and still not find the source, you can always hire a professional to inspect your home for any sort of air leak.
4. Drafts
Another rather simple reason, but sometimes the cause can be a bit harder to identify. The obvious source would be an open door or window, but sometimes the cause can be a bit more complicated.
5. Leaky Windows
A window can sometimes have little holes or crevices from which air can find its way in and out from. These should be rather easy to identify, as well as having an easy fix. Simply caulk or seal off the leaks with foam sealant to keep air steady.
6. Weak Glass
If there are no spots around the window where the air comes in from, the source could be the glass itself. This can sometimes be harder to identify, as there is no clear indication for this being the cause of heat loss.
TIP: Very easy solution to this problem is installing drapes or blinds, creating a barrier to add extra strength to aid weaker windows.
How Can I Make My Room Warmer?
Outside of resolving the reasons for the coolness, to begin with, there are other immediate things you can do to warm up a room.
1. Raise the Temperature via Thermostat
While an extremely simple solution, this could be all you need to warm up a room. After all, this is exactly what a thermostat is for.
2. Use Slippers or Socks
Perhaps a little too simple, but these certainly do the trick if the tile is the only issue. Simply protect your feet from having the heat sapped from them by putting a barrier of cloth between you and the floor.
3. Install Underfloor Heating
Underfloor heating is an added layer that can be placed directly under the flooring for added heat. The two main underfloor heat layers you can install are electric heating systems and water heating systems.
4. Electric Heating Systems
Electric systems are heating mats powered by electricity, making for an easy installation process. Thanks to this ease of installation, they are ideal for awkward room layouts such as bathrooms.
5. Water Heating Systems
While not as easy to install as electric systems, this type is much more variable in its installation and utility. Water systems can be managed individually, allowing for changes in temperature should it be required. Thanks to their overall output, these systems are ideal for insulated rooms like kitchens.
Related Questions
Can I Use a Heated Rug on my Floor Tiles to make my room warmer?
This is an acceptable solution to making any room feel warmer. If a floor heating system happens to be too costly for your, this can be a preferable solution.
Can I Replace My Windows to Fix Window Drafts?
Yes, this can be another way to fix the issue. While this could end up costing more, it would certainly be a much more permanent solution.
