What flooring is best for underfloor heating?
We may be entering the summer months and starting to enjoy some delightfully warm weather, but if you are thinking about renovating or choosing the flooring for a new-build then you may need to consider underfloor heating. An increasingly popular method of heating homes, underfloor heating eliminates the need for unsightly radiators. Plus, as heat rises, it is a logical source of heat in order to maximise efficiency.
There are a range of flooring types that facilitate underfloor heating but some offer higher conductivity than others. Ideally you should be choosing a flooring with high conduction abilities, as it will warm up quicker and distribute more heat. In this post, we discuss what flooring is best for underfloor heating.
Amtico
Our favourite option for underfloor heating, Amtico offers 2.5mm of thin conductive material. With an excellent heat transfer rate, it provides the optimum output. Not only is it perfectly suited to underfloor heating, Amtico also looks fantastic and provides a multitude of practicality benefits. Choose from an impressive array of styles and patterns.
Wood
Here it depends primarily on the type of wood used. Different types of wood offer varying levels of suitability for underfloor heating. The higher the density and thinner the floorboards, the better they will conduct heat. Solid wood flooring can be prone to humidity and temperature changes, so for this reason wood flooring must be engineered and fully fixed to the floor in order to work with underfloor heating.
Carpet
Contrary to what many people believe, carpet is absolutely fine to use as long as the carpet and underlay have a combined measurement of 2.5 togs. From our experience, carpet is actually one of the most popular options for underfloor heating, given the prevalence of carpet in rooms such as the bedrooms.
Tile & Stone
Both tile and stone offer good thermal conductivity and offer high levels of efficiency. When we talk about tile and stone, we are including ceramic tiles, polished screed, slate, flagstones, marble and limestone. Be sure to avoid choosing a tile that is overly thick, as this could increase the heat transfer time from the pipes to the flooring, therefore reducing efficiency.
Although it is suitable for underfloor heating, many people do not like the hardness of stone and tile, instead preferring a softer option like wood or vinyl. Plus, it is worth bearing in mind that the grout can be a dirt trap compared with other options like Amtico.
Laminate & vinyl
We strongly recommend avoiding both laminate and vinyl, as they are not particularly efficient in terms of the heat transfer from underfloor heating. These types of flooring are therefore completely unsuitable for high heat loss areas, such as conservatories. Furthermore, a temperature that is too high could cause discolouration to the flooring.
There are plenty of options for underfloor heating, so you do not have to be limited. Of course some types will be more efficient than others, therefore you need to weigh up the benefits. For more information, get in touch with one of our Hudson Flooring experts today.