Flooring for Underfloor Heating
Underfloor heating can be used under virtually any floor finish. The best floor type for underfloor heating is flooring with a good thermal conductivity to enhance the floor to heat up quicker, give more heat output and run more efficiently. The only difference between which floor finish to use with an underfloor heating system is the thermal conductivity of the material.
Tile & Stone
The best type of flooring to use with underfloor heating is tile and stone. Tile and stone have a high thermal conductivity, meaning that the heat from an underfloor heating pipe or wire transfers to the floor surface quickly. Tile and stone also retain heat well making the system efficient. Due to the excellent thermal properties, tile and stone are ideal for use with underfloor heating in high heat loss areas such as conservatories. They can be heated to up to 84°F or more, giving a high heat output of up to 14W/sqft.
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Laminate
Laminate flooring is increasingly popular in all types of households. The practicality of this flooring material, cost-value and the fact it visually suits every décor since one can find laminate is all shades, makes it a common floor surface. Laminate is well-compatible with underfloor heating. The key is to ensure thermal conductivity, which is best when using a more dense laminate. So the thinner the flooring material and the higher the density, the shorter the heat-up time and more responsive the system will be.
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Wood
Engineered wood is the best type of wood flooring to use with an underfloor heating system as it performs well with changes in floor temperature. Other wood flooring may also be used, but with softer and less dense wood, attention must be paid to the thickness of floorboards so that the floorboards do not act as an insulator blocking the heat. As a general rule for wood flooring, the floor surface temperature must not exceed 82°F. Setting heating limits is possible with all Warmup thermostats.
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Carpet
Carpet is suitable for use with underfloor heating, provided that the material of the carpet or underlay does not act as an insulator blocking the heat. The total tog of all materials, including any under and overlays, must not exceed 2.5 tog in order for the system to provide sufficient heat output.
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Best Flooring to Use with UFH
Our range of electric underfloor heating systems offer great flexibility for use with all floor finishes in your home. The best type of flooring to use with underfloor heating is arguably tile and stone. Tile and stone have high thermal conductivity, meaning that the heat from an underfloor heating pipe or wire transfers to the floor surface quickly. Our DCM-PRO Heated Uncoupling System is an innovative electric floor heater than has been specifically designed for use with tile and stone floor finishes.
Engineered timber is the best type of wood flooring to use with an underfloor heating system as it performs well with changes in floor temperature. Other wood flooring and laminate flooring may also be used, but with softer and less dense wood attention must be paid to the thickness of floorboards so that the floorboards do not act as an insulator blocking the heat. As a general rule for wood flooring, the floor surface temperature must not exceed 80°F.
Installing Insulation with Your Floor Finish
We recommend installing good quality insulation with your new electric underfloor heating system. Insulation reduces heat-loss in your home, keeping the heat produced by the floor heater in the room. Our insulation products also improve the heat-up times of our systems – greater enhancing the energy-efficiency of underfloor heating and offering even lower long-term running costs.
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Best Flooring for Floor Heating
Whether you’re renovating or choosing flooring for a new build, we outline in this article what you need to know about different flooring for underfloor heating.
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