Have you heard the term “patio home” before? These homes seem to be popping up all over the place.
They are homes that are built on tile slabs instead of basement type foundations.
Many people look to transfer to them when they are downsizing because most are situated in current developments, have smaller yards, & are set up for ease of maintenance. Most comply with handicapped living layouts too so if elderly people purchase them, & end up needing a wheelchair or walker, they can still get around without having to renovate the house, and the layout is normally an open concept & the yards are smaller. These are all features that make them perfect for retirement homes. One particular feather that several of them have is radiant flooring throughout the whole house. Because the space is not too large, there is an open concept, & there is no basement to install a traditional boiler or boiler, this is a enjoyable alternative that gives a sizzling constant heat without having to have HVAC duct or baseboard registers installed too. The way this system works is that electric heat pads are installed underneath the tile flooring & when the system is turned on, the entire floor becomes the heat register. This not only makes for comfortable floors to walk on but allows the heat to rise evenly throughout the house. This is undoubtedly one of the most comfortable features of patio homes. These type of systems toil best in areas of the country that do not experience drastic winters, but, they can be found in these types of homes up North too. The main difference in those areas is that several of the patio homes also have gas or electric fireplaces to help supplement the heat in the middle of winter.