Radiant heat is a great supplement to your forced air system. This is because you can turn the thermostat down on your forced system and save yourself some money. A radiant heated floor distributes heat evenly throughout the room. This is because you have a system of pads and wires underneath ceramic tile that heats up at the same time and radiates heat at the same time.
Some radiated heat systems will have tubes with warm water flowing through them. This is an even more efficient method than when you have the cables running through pads that resemble an electric blanket. This works as an efficient radiator that can reduce your energy costs significantly.
However, it is important to take into consideration that radiant floor heaters come in many different types.
For example, you may choose electric cable heating. This is opposed to hydronic heating systems, such as that described above, that use the warm water. These electric cable heating systems consist of heating cables being placed below the floor. The system is controlled by a thermostat and plastic or mesh tape is used to create a sort of mat. This means that any configuration can be used under the floor to ensure that the room is heated in the most effective way possible.
You also have the low-voltage screen system that is good for the mid-size to larger areas. They usually cover around 3000 square feet. They utilize a transformer, control box, and a heating screen that is placed below the floor. What makes this so unique is the low profile of the heating element. The floor is not compromised in any way.
So having radiant heat floors is not difficult in that you have several options. Which option you choose depends on your floors, how much space you need to heat, and what your budget is.