TempZone Cable in a sleeper system heats 75 sq. ft. of ¾″ nailed Brazilian teak in the main room of a mobile tiny house
In a tiny home, a drafty floor can be a dealbreaker for year-round living. Julia V. and Robert Barclay, creators of “Tiny Living, Living Large,” needed their main room to work as a lounge, office, and showroom, all on ¾″ nailed Cumaru hardwood. WarmlyYours TempZone Cable, set in a sleeper system, now heats all 75 sq. ft. silently for about $0.26 an hour.
Project Details
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Pennington, NJ (mobile tiny house) |
| Space Type | Main Room / Living Room |
| Flooring / Surface Type | ¾″ Cumaru (Brazilian Teak) Nailed Hardwood |
| System Type | Radiant Floor Heating |
| Total Square Footage | 75 sq. ft. (full coverage) |
| Technical Specs | 120V / 1,122W / 9.3A |
| Watt Density | 15 W/sq. ft. |
| Cable / Mat Spacing | 3 inches OC |
| Heating Cable Length | 300 ft. |
| Products Used | TempZone Cable,Fixing Strips,Circuit Check, Integration Kit Plus (120V) |
| Operating Cost | ~$0.26 / hour |
| Installer / Contractor | Robert Barclay and installation team (“Tiny Living, Living Large”) |
The Problem: Nailed Hardwood and the Fear of a Punctured Cable
A common belief is that radiant heat can’t go under nailed hardwood, because a nail could puncture the heating element. That fear pushes many homeowners toward cold floors or loud, dusty space heaters. The Barclays wanted their teak main room warm without compromise.
The Solution: A Sleeper System That Keeps Nails Away From the Cable
Loose TempZone Cable let Robert Barclay and the installation team work around the floor’s framing. ¾″ thick wood sleepers were attached to the subfloor as a safe zone for fasteners. The 300 ft. cable was routed between them on plastic fixing strips at 3″ spacing for 15 W/sq. ft. The channels were filled flush with self-leveling cement, and once it cured, the teak was nailed into the sleepers, away from the cable. A Circuit Check monitored the cable throughout the hardwood installation.
The Outcome: Silent, Even Warmth Under Natural Teak
The cement-filled channels form a thermal mass that radiates gentle, consistent heat up through the teak. The main room now stays comfortable as a lounge, office, and showroom, and the floor heat works with the home’s Control4 automation system.
Comparative Cost Highlight
Operating at approximately $0.26/hour, this system costs roughly $63.58/month at 8 hours a day—about $2.12 a day, less than a daily cup of coffee—while providing unmatched barefoot comfort.
Featured Products
- TempZone Floor Heating Cable: 300 ft. of loose cable at 3″ spacing delivered 15 W/sq. ft. across the full 75 sq. ft.
- Fixing Strips: Held the cable at consistent spacing in the channels between the sleepers.
- Circuit Check: Monitored the heating cable throughout the hardwood installation.
- Integration Kit Plus (120V): Lets the floor heat work with the Barclays’ Control4 system and includes a backup floor sensor.
Follow the project: tinylivinglivinglarge.com · Instagram @tinylivinglivinglarge · X @TinyLLLarge
