Floor Coverings for Underfloor Heating

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 29°C (84°F) or more, giving a high heat output of up to 14W/sqft.

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.

Wood

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 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 27°C.

Different types of wood flooring have different thermal properties, as such, there are differences in their suitability for use with an underfloor heating system. The denser and the thinner the floorboards are, the better they conduct heat and typically more suitable they are for use with underfloor heating.

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.

Vinyl

Vinyl flooring can be safely used with underfloor heating. Vinyl heats up and cools down quickly. Vinyl floors are subject to a top floor temperature restriction, usually 27°C, limiting the heat output so they are not recommended in high heat loss areas such as older conservatories.