Stone driveways and walkways with a radiant heat system have distinct advantages!

Winter is here, and exterior radiant heat systems for a natural stone driveway or walkway is an upgrade you may want to consider in time for next year! Here are four good reasons to consider a radiant heat system for your stone driveway:

1.Saves Both Your Back and Your Time

An obvious benefit of a radiant heat system in winter is that it saves both time and effort by not having to remove the snow yourself, especially if snow and ice conditions come your way often. Even if heavy snowstorms are not a regular occurrence where you live, the occasional snowfall is still one that you won’t have to pick up a shovel for when you have a heated driveway and walkway!

2. Safety

You won’t have to worry about your guests accidentally falling in the snow or on ice when they visit your home.  For elderly friends or family members, this safety factor will undoubtedly be a relief. And for older persons that live alone, a radiant heat system could possibly help in extending their independent living status.

3. Reduces Damage

Heated driveway systems reduce the need for using salt, chemicals or other snow-removal equipment. Salt and chemicals will damage plants as well as the driveway/walkway surfaces over time. Then there is always a chance that heavy snow removing equipment can damage the surface as well.

4. Increases Value to Your Home.

A radiant heat system is always regarded as a high-end addition and will increase your homes appeal and value!

How a radiant heat system works

A radiant heating system for outdoors works the same way as those designed for indoors. Two common ways of conducting heat are by either using an electric current to generate heat on a wired mat, or the second which uses a series of tubes, pumping a mix of hot water and anti-freeze directly underneath the driveway. Either method keeps the surface warm allowing snow to melt as soon as it makes contact.

Enjoy turning the system on with a simple flick of a switch from within your home. Some systems even start automatically when temperatures fall below a certain level.

Installing the Radiant Heat System

The installation process is not as difficult as you might think. There are some companies that can run tubing beneath an existing pavement however, do your research carefully as there could be limitations on the guarantee. By far the best solution is to incorporate the radiant heat system into your design before construction begins. It will be laid underneath the surface prior to the stone or pavement being installed.

Granite Cobblestone – a Great Choice!

Natural stone, and in particular granite cobblestone, is a perfect choice for a driveway or walkway and responds perfectly to the radiant heat system. The photo shown above is a project in Lake Tahoe CA that installed a heating system under the cobblestone supplied by Monarch Stone International. The cobblestone is from our Historic European Cobblestonecollection, authentic antique granite cobblestone in a 5” x 5” size, originally 5” tall – the height reduced by saw-cutting to an average of 2”. The Lake Tahoe area receives snow and freezing conditions an average of 6 months out of the year.

Once the radiant heat system is in place, you won’t have to worry – like the song says, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!