Abstract: There is disclosed a radiant heater having high efficiency, reduced cost, and longer life, and which allows rapid heat-up and cool-down. As in the prior art, a heating coil is placed in grooves formed in an insulating board; the radiating surface is a fiberglass cloth secured by adhesive to that face of the insulating board which contains the grooves and the wire coil. In making the heater of the invention, the cement is allowed to dry while the board and cloth are placed on a supporting surface with the cloth face down. The cement thus adheres primarily to that portion of the coil closest to the cloth. This manufacturing step results in a cement distribution which significantly affects both the cost, life and performance of the heater.