How Affinity Home & Design nailed their first radiant floor installation
When a builder tackles a new technology for the very first time, there is always a mix of curiosity and skepticism. Will it be too complex? How steep is the learning curve? What happens when unexpected construction challenges arise?
In this video interview, Tyler from Warmboard caught up with Nathan Donathan, President of Affinity Home & Design, a residential remodeling company based in West Linn, Oregon. Sitting inside their stunning, newly completed tour home, Nathan shared an honest look at what it was like to transition from small-scale electric bathroom mats to installing their very first full-house, hydronic Warmboard radiant heating system.
If you’ve been on the fence about trying a whole-home hydronic radiant heat system, Nathan’s experience offers a firsthand look at why having the right partner makes all the difference.
Embracing the Learning Curve
For the team at Affinity Home & Design, stepping into hydronic radiant heating was brand-new territory. “One factor in this whole selection process of getting Warmboard in this house was we were kind of skeptical about how to install it,” Nathan admits.
However, that skepticism quickly dissolved once they got their hands on the product. The key to their smooth transition? Detailed, pre-engineered documentation. Warmboard’s design team provides exact layout plans for the panels and tubing, mapping out the entire project before a single board is delivered. “There’s a little bit of a learning curve to it, but it really wasn’t that big once we got into the groove of it and putting panels down,” Nathan explains. “Really just studying and following the plans—that’s the key.”
A Team Effort
The installation became a smooth, collaborative process between the core remodeling crew and their trade partners. Nathan and his own employees laid down the structural panels and routed the tubing into the pre-cut grooves.
Meanwhile, their plumber tackled the mechanical side of the project. Even though it was his first time setting up a specialized boiler system for Warmboard, the clarity of the design meant it clicked quickly. According to Nathan, his plumber found that the system completely “made sense” once he got started, did a phenomenal job, and is already looking forward to the next project.
Pivot and Support: Overcoming Construction Reality
No remodeling project goes perfectly according to the initial blueprint. Real-world conditions require flexibility, and Nathan’s project was no exception. When unexpected job site changes occurred and a few details weren’t communicated to the design team in advance, Warmboard’s customer support stepped up immediately.
“Warmboard’s ability to pivot and help us accommodate these changes was amazing,” Nathan recalls. The team provided a combination of ultra-responsive remote tech support and physical, on-site assistance to troubleshoot issues right on the floor. “You don’t get that lot of support with many vendors,” Nathan noted, highlighting it as a critical factor in the project’s ultimate success.
The Verdict: “Just Do It”
Now that the project is complete and open to the public for the Portland area tour, Nathan can confidently speak to how the product functions in real life. The verdict? “The performance of it after the fact is—I can’t speak enough for it. It’s radiant floor heating, it does what it’s supposed to do, and it’s amazing.”
For other builders, remodelers, or homeowners who might feel anxious about taking on a whole-home hydronic system for the first time, Nathan has some simple advice: “Anybody who’s thinking about it, skeptical of anything—I can’t say enough about just do it.”
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