What is the best way to heat/insulate a cold ceramic tile floor?

Question

My in-laws house is freezing and the problem seems to be that they have laid a ceramic tile floor over existing pine floor boards throughout the house (every room !). Don't think there is any under floor insulation and the pine floor of the house is raised above the ground level so there will be some cold air flow underneath the house. Night time temperature during winter is around 8-14% C - so wouldn't need a heavy duty heating system if the house were better designed and insulated - currently have reverse cycle air conditioning in two rooms which work temporarily but they dry out the skin - the floor gets cold again quickly once it is turned off - though air con units are also above floor level. Their grandchildren are babies & toddlers so feel the cold at ground level particularly - also rules out any heating systems which would scald if touched.

Is there is good solution or should they pull up the tiles and start again?

Answer 1

Insulation under the floor is really the best way to go.  Ceramic tiles will always have a cold feel compared to wooden floors, but if you have good insulation underneath, the tiles will absorb heat from the systems you have in the house.

Answer 2

buy some rugs for every room, there r some that r quite large so they should cover most of the floor that should help some thats what i have through out my house i have floor boards n they do get cold in winter but trust me invest in some rugs that should b a start good luck!!

Answer 3

if you can get under the house, you can insulate the floorboards or maybe stop the air from flowing easily under the house. radiant heating tubes would work too, but you'd have to insulate those too.

they do make radiant heat electric wires that can be installed under ceramic tile, but you would be fighting the cold coming from below with more energy to the radiant

Answer 4

Try to install under floor heating.  Mite be able to do it from underneath if its raised?

You can by paint that conducts heat but kind of ruin the tile effect.  Rugs would be you cheapest alternative i think!!