When I requested an estimate from the SunTouch distributor, WARM YOUR FLOOR, he sent me back an estimate that included mats in my open area, and a second estimate if I wanted to heat my shower floor. But of course, I can ALWAYS figure out everyone else's dilemmas, it's mine I struggle with.

And what better than stepping out from the shower unto a dry bath mat, than to a WARM, dry bath mat, as the mat will become heated, as well? Not much of a question to me. I agree that I would heat your entire open area the rectangular size of a bath mat is negligible in the grand scheme of things. So I must choose the most cost-effective product with a reputation of good quality, especially when 'could-go-wrongs' during the installation procedure can be so scary to 'chicken' first timers like me. I am certain that I want them, it just that I also want every OTHER new and cool product I've learned about, thanks to all of you wonderful posters on GW! :)) My budget is weeping. I am currently struggling with the 'heated floors investment' issue, as well. Other floor-warming systems are intended to provide supplemental or even primary heat for a room. I don't find the Suntouch mats to really do anything as far as raising the room temperature is concerned, it just doesn't have that much power.

If I were the type to spend a lot of time in front of the mirror I would have put a little bitty rug in front of the sink for softness - after all, I spent what was, for me, quite a bit of money having a pretty tile floor put down, why would I hide it under a bunch of rugs? We keep a rug in between the bathtub and shower (they face each other) to manage drips but it was a drag to have to sort of step from rug to rug to keep from stepping on the cold tile.

I'm home during the day pretty much all the time and it's also mighty icky to get up for a pee in the middle of the night and step onto ice-cold tile, so rather than finagle around with some complex scheduling it was just easier to leave it on. It doesn't use very much power at all - the increase in our electric bill was negligible even with running it 24/7. We also do the 'set it and forget it' routine, although we also shut it off for the summer.

Radiant heat flooring tile