According to an industry report, growth in electric floor heating in 2017 was driven by sales of floor heating cables paired with uncoupling membranes.
WarmlyYours, a radiant heating company that specializes in electric floor heating systems, has released their “2017 Fourth Quarter and Annual Industry Report”. One of its findings is that cable based floor heating systems, particularly those paired with an uncoupling membrane, were responsible for a chunk of sales growth in 2017. According to the report, sales of TempZone Floor Heating Cable grew 45.7 percent last year, a rate that shows no signs of slowing in 2018.
The Prodeso Cable Installation Membrane that is designed to be installed with floor heating cables also saw growth in 2017. Sales of the membrane were up 53.4 percent when compared to 2016. Part of its success is attributable to its popularity with both building owners and trade professionals, due to the speed of its installation and the benefits it provides for tile floors.
In addition the report analyzed the impact of both housing and remodeling activities at the national level and how those markets impacted sales of radiant heating products. In 2017, most remodeling and home-selling activity was flat due to a shortage of available housing units in much of the country. However, according to the “Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity” (LIRA), a quarterly publication released by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University that was analyzed in the WarmlyYours report, some growth is projected in remodeling activity in the first quarter of 2018 and then a relative flattening of activity until Q4, when consumer expenditures on remodeling activity will accelerate to 7.5 percent, a level that hasn’t been seen since before the Great Recession.
WarmlyYours also offered their Q1 2018 projections for radiant heating sales growth. The company expects to show growth in three metropolitan markets: New York; Washington, D.C.; and Los Angeles at 10 percent, 6 percent, and 25 percent growth respectively.
In addition to early first quarter sales and historical performance, Julia Billen, president and owner of WarmlyYours, said that rising national wages (up 2.9 percent in January 2018 versus January 2017) will play a role in radiant heating growth in these markets.
“When it comes down to it, radiant heating is a way to put extra earnings to good use in your home,” says Billen. “Not only do you get to enjoy the comfort, you get to enjoy the added equity if you decide to sell.”