Where Did the Idea for Heated Floors Come From?

Too many, the idea of in floor heating seems like a true modern marvel. In fact, many don’t realize there are DIY solutions out there that make the technology affordable and realistic for most everyone. Furthermore, the idea of the heated floor is actually thought to have originated with the ancient Greeks.

Actually, though the Greeks may have thought of it, the Romans are believed to be the first ones to have implemented it with their hypocaust system. It was a simple enough process. Ceramic tile floors were supported by columns below. These columns could be treated much like chimneys with charcoal, brushwood and coal used to provide the heat to the floors above.

Interestingly, with the fall of the Roman Empire, this process died out. Central heating, as we know it, would not be discovered for another 1,500 years. The Koreans did have a similar system though. To fight off temperatures that could reach 20 degrees below zero, Koreans as far back as the 5^th century built their homes on a “warm stone” and used warm water to provide sufficient heat.

Floor heating has come a long way since then. Nowadays, you can heat any room in your home with specially made tile. In fact, you can even install it yourself to save extra money. With winter on its way, this might be the year you make such a brilliant thing of the past be something you use in the future.

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