Warehouse conversions continue to be popular, particularly in urban environments where space for new home construction is limited. Loft-type apartments and condominiums are increasing in numbers, as they take advantage of the openness common in old warehouses. Those seeking to maintain the industrial appearance with exposed brick and piping may choose to install a concrete floor for the continuity of the design scheme.

When most of us think of concrete, the drab gray color of sidewalks may come to mind--but concrete floors can be stained virtually any color when they're being installed. While the color of the concrete flooring can be easily changed, one drawback is that it's often too cold to walk on barefoot, especially during the winter months. Though you could put down area rugs to cover the spaces where you will be spending most of your time, you would not want to do this all over your home--especially if you liked the look of concrete flooring.

As an alternative, you can install a radiant heating system underneath your concrete flooring before it's laid. Electric radiant heating systems, like those available at RadiantHeatPro.com, are affordable and can be easily installed. These systems consist of cables that are wound in a serpentine pattern over your subfloor with the concrete laid directly over them.

Concrete is an ideal surface for radiant heating systems, as concrete can absorb and store heat, gradually releasing it over the course of the day. If you're not prepared to install a heating system underneath your floor but need to heat a particular area, you can also find heated rugs at RadiantHeatPro.com. For more information about heating concrete floors, contact their radiant flooring experts using the online form at RadiantHeatPro.com or by calling (972) 978-7955.