Comfort: Let your bare feet soak up the warmth of soothing heat without the dust and noise associated with other heating sources. Enjoy evenly distributed heat throughout your home kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and basement.

Custom Designed: Whether for supplemental floor warming, or total space heating, every system is custom designed to fit all rooms independent of their shape or size. These systems will heat under any surface including marble, slate, carpet, hardwood and tile. The compact Control Box will hang on the wall of your garage or in a utility room. No heating vents or ducts will be seen, and no furnace or boiler is required.

Perfect for Remodeling and Additions: The simplicity of the low voltage heating element makes this system incredibly easy to install in your remodeling or room addition application. No floor buildup is necessary and no additional construction costs are incurred. The unique heating element can also be installed in between floor joists to heat an existing floor or room.

Safe: So safe, in fact that nails, water, and even touching the heating element during operation will have no harmful effect! You will have peace of mind while loved ones play as the systems are tested to UL standards and run on worry-free, low-voltage energy (8 to 32 V.).

Reliable: The solid-state heating systems are virtually maintenance free and the heating element is backed with a 25 year industry-leading warranty. With no moving parts and advanced self-diagnosing technology, there is no need for yearly maintenance or service checks.
Efficient: Radiant heat is the most efficient form of heat available. Significantly less operating time is required to maintain the desired warmth compared to furnaces and other radiant heat systems, keeping operational costs to a minimal. Low-voltage radiant heating systems run 98% to 100 % efficiency at any elevation as they evenly heat every area of the room.

Convenient: Our accurate thermostats allow you to easily adjust the floor or air temperature of your space heating or floor warming system. You also have the option of programming the exact time of day you want your system to operate. Simply relax, enjoy the comfort, and know that your system will work for decades to come.

So lets compare to other heating applications. Radiant Heat versus other applications:

Radiant Heat vs. Hydronics at a Glance

Both electric and hydronic radiant heat systems have certain advantages for specific applications. The following highlights the advantages low voltage radiant heat systems have:

A Boiler Room is required to run a hydronic radiant heat system. A 17″x12″x7″ Control Unit is required to run low voltage radiant heat system.

Gypsum or concrete slab is required for installing a hydronic system. It is estimated that it costs approx. $4.00 or more per square foot to install a hydronic in-floor heating system than it does to install a in-floor heating system.

The ZMesh heating element is installed directly under the floor surface without any floor buildup. The 12″ wide ZMesh is rolled out over the area to be heated then nailed and/or stapled to the wood subfloor.
Electric radiant heat warms your floors evenly because it uses 100% of the system’s energy. A hydronic system, however, heats the floor less the further away the hot water gets from the boiler (see illustration below). Hydronic systems use only 65-85% of the system’s energy. At higher elevations, electric radiant heat still is 100% efficient, where as hydronic systems are even less effective than at sea level.

Radiant Heat vs. Forced Air at a Glance

A room with floor Radiant In-Floor space heat will have a very uniform temperature from the ceiling to the floor. Heating a basement floor is the ideal application for our radiant heat systems. If you’ve lived in a house with forced air, you can crank the heat up, but the basement floor is still chilled. Installing a floor warming system will add comfort and warmth to your lifestyle.

A room heated with a forced air furnace will have cold floors and the warmest air at the ceiling. Although the air may be heated, the floors will be chilled and uncomfortable, especially for children playing on the floor.
Radiant Heat: click for more information

http://www.heatizon.com

Tiledepot.US will sell and provide customer support services and tech support for Fin Pan’s complete line of Preformed Shower Pans, Preformed Niches, Preformed Seats, Preformed Curbs, Preformed Slopes, EZ Backer Board and Tile Backer Board including Customer support and tech support.

Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Motti Vaknin President of International Flooring Center, Inc. / www.tiledepot.us. Said: “We look forward to being Fin Pan Distributor. They have an excellent preformed product and backer board line with a full range of solutions for the tile industry, that can provide major advantages for our customers.”

Mr. Motti Vaknin, President of International Flooring Center, Inc. / www.tiledepot.us, said: “International Flooring Center, Inc./ www.tiledepot.us is pleased to represent Fin Pan Inc. in California. We are confident that this will be a successful relationship. Selling fin Pan product for over 4 years, we trust the product, and our customers love it, now we will be able to deliver our full line of Preformed product quickly to our customers.

With their Online Store International Flooring Center, Inc. / www.tiledepot.us. expands their local coverage thru out the united states including Canada and other countries.

About Fin Pan

Fin Pan, Inc. and it’s subsidiary, T Clear Corporation’s, innovative thinking have created a family of quality, long-lasting building products starting with concrete backer board and thin concrete extrusion technology combined with energy efficient polystyrene insulation to produce interior and exterior sustainable applications.

For more information abut Fin Pan, please visit www.finpan.net

For information: www.tiledepot.us or Contact: contact@tiledepot.us Phone: 877-880-8453

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If you’d like more information about our product, or to schedule an interview with Motti Vaknin, please call our office at 877-880-8453 or e-mail at contact@tiledepot.us

All of Heatizon Systems products are proudly made in the United States of America and carry a “Made in the USA” label. In order for Heatizon to provide its customers with the highest quality products possible it closely monitors and controls the materials and manufacturing processes used.

Tuff Cable and ZMesh heating elements come with a 25 Year Warranty against material defects and like all of Heatizon Systems products they carry industry leading and precedent setting warranties.

Heatizon Systems makes products that are used for each of the following applications:
-Radiant Snow Melting off of driveways, walkways, handicap ramps, parking lots, etc. in new or existing asphalt, concrete, or pavers.
-Radiant Floor Warming under all floor coverings including hardwood, tile, and carpet.
-Radiant In-Floor Space Heating for all residential and commercial projects.
-Radiant Roof Snow and Ice Melt designed to eliminate ice dams and icicles and manage snow loads under all types of roofing materials including metal.

By Steven D. Bench
Managing Member, Heatizon Systems

For additional information on Heatizon Systems products please visit www.heatizon.com

Plan which Tile

This step is often underestimated and sometimes even forgotten (can you believe it?). Planning your ceramic tile installation from A to Z is probably one of the most important steps for a smooth, easy going and problem free bathroom tile installation.

Some things to take in account are;

” Suitability of the tile
” Pattern /colour of the tile
” Size of the tile
” Size of the area to be tiled. (This is important data that will be vital to know how much tile, grout, etc, you have to buy)
” Adhesive, mortar or grout to suit your needs

Not all ceramic tile installations are the same, different tiling installations may require different mortar or grout. DO NOT feel shy about asking the suppliers for advice or help in calculating how much you need. They will gladly help you, as they are likely to make a sale.

Shop around if you want to save

This isn’t as difficult as the first step, however when the budget is tight it can be tricky to find the right tile for the ceramic tile installation you want. You are going to have to make some compromises and so don’t get carried away by the beauty of some of the ceramic tiles. Prices can vary a lot between different tiles, so some end up rather expensive for only a few square metres. Always shop around, it has never been easier. Just sit in front of the computer and use the Internet. Use local directories to find the suppliers close to you and pay them a visit.

Before making your final decision always check the chosen tile under different lights as the results can be surprisingly different.

Prepare the surface

Prepare the surface for a long lasting job before laying the ceramic tiles. The surface to be tiled (floor, wall or any other) will often need to be prepared, this can include work like filling, leveling, smoothing, priming and sometimes water proofing.

The right preparation will be directly affect the lifespan of the ceramic tile installation. Unless you want to be tiling again soon, you want to get this right from the start.

This is probably the most important point to ensure a long lasting tiling job. Don’t rush it.

Laying the ceramic tiles safely

The technique of laying ceramic tiles is not especially difficult. It only takes a little bit of practice before anyone can easily master it. Clearing the room to be tiled before starting will help you to do the job safer and easier. Don’t forget to wear your safety goggles when cutting or chipping tiles.

Laying ceramic tiles can also be a bit messy, if you don’t want dust all over the house we suggest sealing the room you want to tile whenever possible. A large piece of plastic tacked to the door frame will do the job quite well.

Try not to allow any adhesive to get on your skin and never forget to read the manufacturers directions before even opening the tin. If some ends up on you, just clean it with water as soon as possible. Even though tile adhesives aren’t usually abrasive, if you leave it for some time it may cause an allergic reaction.

Use a spirit level to help you with the depth & level of the tiles and spacers to maintain an even distance between them.

The finishing touches

Once the tile adhesive or mortar has cured (dried) and the tiles are firm and even, you can start with the finishing touches.

You’ll have to fill the spaces between tiles with grout making sure you don’t leave any gaps as these cause damp problems, in a shower for example.

The technique is very simple, use a rubber faced trowel to spread the grout and a cotton cloth to clean the excess grout from the tiles afterwards.

There are many different types of grouts; you’ll have to choose the right one depending on the surface and chosen tile.

Now that you have your ceramic tiles laid down, you only need to take care of them, usually manufacturers provide information on taking care of their tiles and only minimal effort is required. Most household cleaning products will do the job well, if some particular stain is stubborn, there are many commercial stain removers, just make sure you use the right product for the right tile.

You are now closer to discovering how satisfying it can be handling a tile installation yourself; just follow these 5 steps to get the best result.

By: Manuel Kupka

About the Author: Learn how to Tile a Bathroom YourSelf & Profit from insider tips that will help you complete secure and reliable tiling in 5-easy steps. Get the FREE report “27 Insider Tiling Tips you want to know” , visit us at http://www.bathroom-tile-installation.com

There have been many tragic ceramic floor tile installation disasters by using the wrong membranes or none at all. If the membranes and/or bonding mortars are not compatible your bond will be lost and problems will occur.

With a floor tile installation make sure your membranes meet current ANSI standards and that manufacturers instructions are followed properly.

With floor tile installations, membranes are used for a variety of reasons, each having a specific purpose, such as moisture vapor emission membranes, cork underlay, peel and stick membranes and liquid or trowel applied membranes.

A load bearing, bonded, uncoupling membrane is also a full coverage membrane, but it’s made of thicker material than the anti-fracture membrane. The air cavities that are pressed into its surface allow for lateral movement.

A cleavage membrane is not bonded to the concrete. The function of this membrane is to separate the tile assembly from the concrete and isolate the wire-reinforced mortar bed and the ceramic floor tile installation from any instability in the wood or concrete sub-floor.

A crack isolation membrane is bonded to the sub-floor to cover existing shrinkage cracks and must cover three times the width of the floor tile used, with a minimum width of 6 inches.

An anti-fracture membrane is also bonded to the sub-floor, but this membrane needs to fully cover the sub-floor in order to protect against shrinkage, moisture and expansion and/or contraction of the concrete.

With a radiant heat system a moisture barrier is important in controlling moisture and stopping liquid from passing through. Always consider all of the options, because the improper use of a membrane may trap moisture and cause condensation.

Just remember that when you’re doing a ceramic floor tile installation make sure that you use the correct membrane especially if you have in-floor radiant heating otherwise you could end up with cracked tile and grout and an expensive repair bill.

By: Larry B Lang

About the Author: Larry Lang is the founder of Radiant Heating Disasters which specializes in consulting of hydronic in-floor radiant heating systems. Larry is also author of Radiant Heat – What You NEED to Know BEFORE You Sign That Contract. Copyright 2006 Larry Lang All rights Reservered Lang Enterprises Inc. http://www.radiantheatingdisasters.com

Ceramic tile flooring is considered one of the most durable and cost-effective flooring solutions. Ceramic tiles are basically pieces of clay that have been pressed, heated, shaped and glazed.

Ceramic tiles offer many advantages:
* Simple installation
* Large variety of styles
* Durable
* Easy maintenance
* Add value

And only a few drawbacks:
* Difficult to remove
* More expensive than some options

Ceramic tiles are made by a process in which clay is pressed, cut into shapes and fired in a kiln to create hard tiles. Most manufacturers also cover tiles with a glaze before firing to add to the tile’s hardness and functionality. Ceramic tiles that have been glazed are easier to clean and resist weather and moisture more effectively. Tiles that are unglazed can look stunning and some people prefer them because they are less slippery. If you plan on using unglazed ceramic tiles for your floors, however, you will want to make sure that they are covered with a protective sealant. This will help prevent stains and will protect your floors.

Ceramic tiles are quite durable. Most are grouped by a hardness scale based on their glaze. This scale is sometimes referred to as the Moh scale and is based on tests conducted by the Porcelain Enamel Institute. The scale is numbered from 0 to 5. Ceramic tiles that are ranked at 0 are decorative only and should not be used on floors at all. Ceramic tiles that are ranked at 5 are very durable. These tiles are specially glazed to be used for residential, commercial, and even industrial applications.

Historically, ceramic tile has been used extensively for both practical and decorative features. In ancient Rome, mosaic ceramic tile was used on floors and walls. In fact, when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, many of the ceramic tiles in nearby homes were not destroyed and can still be seen today.

Many people find that removing ceramic tile flooring, especially older flooring, can be a problem. If you want to remove only a few chipped or cracked tiles, for example, you may want to get expert help. Another small disadvantage of ceramic tiles is that glazed tiles can be very slippery when wet. To avoid this problem, you may wish to buy quarry tiles, which are unglazed, or you may wish to buy tiles that are covered with a special anti-slip surface. People who are on a very strict budget may also notice that ceramic tiles cost more initially than some other types of flooring. However, the high quality of ceramics can help ensure that your investment lasts for many years.

Despite the very few disadvantages, ceramic tiles offer many great options.Decorators love the huge array of tiles available. Whether you require ultra-modern floors or retro ceramic tile flooring, today’s ceramic tile flooring patterns offer you all the stylish and durable options you need. Exciting new style options allow you to use retro ceramic tile flooring in acid green, gold and orange or in Andy Warhol pop designs. It is even possible to create customized ceramic flooring options that suit your decor perfectly.

Ceramic tiles are also quality, durable products. They last for years with no fuss. With a good glaze, these tiles are fade, chip and stain resistant. Clean-up is usually as simple as a quick mop. Since these tiles are very resistant to water and weather, they are perfect options for the kitchen, bathroom, and entranceway. In fact, bath ceramic tile flooring can keep bathrooms looking great longer, while ceramic in the kitchen can make cleaning a breeze. Ceramic floors can also be replaced one tile at a time. If one tile chips or cracks, a professional can replace the affected tile quickly and affordably. This can make tile floors a great investment, since you will be able to avoid replacing entire floors.

When it comes to durability, quality, and versatility, ceramic tile flooring is a great option for the discriminating customer.