The 3 Systems Contractors Actually Install
In NW Montana, three radiant floor systems dominate bathroom remodels. Here's an honest comparison.
SunTouch WarmWire / TapeMat
•Best for: Standard bathroom remodels with tile over cement board or plywood.
•Material cost: ~$8–$12/sq ft for cable + thermostat.
•Install style: Cable secured with mat or zip ties, embedded in self-leveler or thinset before tile.
•Pros: Affordable, widely available, simple wiring.
•Cons: Separate uncoupling required for large-format tile. Spacing the cable by hand takes time.
Schluter DITRA-HEAT
•Best for: Bathroom or kitchen tile installs where you want uncoupling AND heat in one membrane.
•Material cost: ~$12–$18/sq ft for membrane + cable + thermostat.
•Install style: DITRA-HEAT membrane goes down first, cable snaps into the channels, thinset and tile go on top.
•Pros: Built-in uncoupling, no cable spacing math, fastest install of the three.
•Cons: Higher material cost, requires Schluter modified thinset for proper bond.
WarmlyYours Tempzone Flex Roll
•Best for: Larger rectangular spaces where pre-spaced rolls save labor.
•Material cost: ~$10–$14/sq ft for roll + thermostat.
•Install style: Roll out, cut/turn, embed in self-leveler.
•Pros: Pre-spaced cable saves layout time on big rectangular floors.
•Cons: Less flexible around fixtures than mat or membrane systems.
What You're Really Paying For
A typical 60 sq ft master bathroom heated floor install:
| Line Item | SunTouch | DITRA-HEAT | WarmlyYours |
|---|
| Heat system | ~$550 | ~$800 | ~$650 |
| Thermostat (SunStat / DITRA-HEAT-E) | ~$200 | ~$220 | ~$200 |
| Self-leveler or thinset | ~$80 | ~$120 (Schluter ALL-SET) | ~$80 |
| Floor sensor | included | included | included |
| Materials total | ~$830 | ~$1,140 | ~$930 |
Labor varies by region — in NW Montana, expect $4–$8/sq ft labor on top of materials.
The Mistakes That Burn Out a Heated Floor
1.Cutting the cable. Once you cut it, the system is dead. Plan your layout before you commit.
2.Crossing cables. Cables can't touch each other. Maintain spacing per the manufacturer.
3.Embedding without testing. Test continuity with a multimeter BEFORE pouring leveler or troweling thinset. And again after.
4.Forgetting the floor sensor. The sensor goes between cable runs, in a conduit, with the lead reachable at the thermostat. Skip it and you're guessing at floor temp.
5.Powering before tile is cured. Wait 14–28 days (per manufacturer) for full thinset cure before energizing. Premature heat can crack tile and weaken bonds.
Thermostat Considerations
•SunStat Command/Connect — Wi-Fi, app control, geofencing. Most popular for high-end remodels.
•Schluter DITRA-HEAT-E-WiFi — Touchscreen, Wi-Fi, GFCI built in.
•Honeywell / Aube line-voltage — Budget option, no Wi-Fi.
Always GFCI-protected. Always on its own dedicated circuit for systems over 12 amps.
Pro Desk Picks for NW Montana
Our most-installed heated floor combo for Flathead Valley bathroom remodels:
•Schluter DITRA-HEAT membrane
•DITRA-HEAT cable sized to floor area minus 6" perimeter and fixtures
•DITRA-HEAT-E-WiFi thermostat
•Schluter ALL-SET thinset (works for both DITRA bond and tile set)
For tighter budgets, SunTouch WarmWire on cement board with a SunStat Command thermostat is hard to beat.
Stop by the Pro Desk
Bring your floor plan with fixtures marked, and we'll size the system, build your materials list, and tell you exactly how many bags of thinset you need. No overbuying, no last-minute trips back.
