Best Flooring For Underfloor Heating

From tiles to carpeting, wood to vinyl – underfloor heating can be used for most floor finishes. One consideration to make the most of your underfloor heating is the conductivity of the chosen material. 

In this article, we will be discussing all the different floor options and how compatible they are with underfloor heating. 

Is underfloor heating compatible with any floor finish?

Your flooring’s suitability for use with an underfloor heating system depends upon the material’s thermal mass and conductivity.

What is thermal conductivity with flooring?

Conductivity is how quickly and efficiently heat generated by the underfloor heating system can transfer to the flooring.  

The flooring that produces higher heat outputs for your home allows less energy to be wasted and instead allows for more energy to heat your home. Some conductive flooring types include:

• Tile, stone & polished screed flooring.
• Wood & engineered timber flooring.
• Laminate flooring.
• Vinyl and rubber flooring.
• Carpet flooring.

How does the flooring material affect my underfloor heating system? 

Flooring can have an impact on maximum heat output due to certain floor finishes having a top temperature restriction that limits the maximum heat output. 

This heat output is the amount of power (measured in Watts per sq/m) it takes to ensure your home is sufficiently heated. This can depend on floor finish as well as overall heated floor area and floor temperatures. 

The larger the heated floor area, the higher the maximum heat capacity the system must have. The size of the room also matters due to larger spaces experiencing higher levels of heat loss. 

Ensuring that the heat output from your heating system is greater than the heat loss figures ensures a warm home. For example, if your chosen flooring can only be heated to 27 degrees and this is not high enough to give you the outfit you need, you may need to change the floor finish so that it can be heated to 29 degrees for it to let off more heat output. 

To improve the heat output you could consider adding extra heating to the room through good-quality insulation, which will help in the transfer of the heat to the floor finish but also help minimise heat loss and heat-up times. 

Tiled flooring and stone floor with underfloor heating

Both stone and tiled flooring are two of the best flooring types to use with underfloor heating as they have high thermal conductivity. 

Not only does the warmth produced from the underfloor heating pump transfer to your floor surface quickly but it is also retained well, making the system operate at maximum efficiency. 

With excellent thermal properties like this, tile and stone floor coverings can be heated up to 29 degrees or more, giving them an average heat output of up to 200W/m². 

Thickness of stone or tile flooring with an underfloor heating 

The thickness of both tiles and stone has minimal impact on heat outputs, but it can increase the heat-up time a little which means sticking to a maximum thickness of 20mm is recommended to ensure as quick of a heat-up time as possible. 

Benefits of different stone and tile flooring options with underfloor heating

Here is how the different stone and tile flooring options benefit underfloor heating.

Ceramic and stone tiles with underfloor heating 

These are the best materials to use with underfloor heating. They have excellent heat transfer; are low-profile and are easy to keep clean. 

Polished concrete floors with underfloor heating

Polished concrete floors are highly conductive which allows for fast heat-up times with an underfloor heating system. 

Slate and flagstone floors with an underfloor heating system 

Both slate and flagstone are natural conductors which means it is compatible with underfloor heating. This type of material is ideal for areas with high levels of footfall. 

Marble flooring with an underfloor heating  

Although this material has good thermal conductivity, it may take longer than tiles, slate, flagstone and polished concrete floors to heat up. 

Can you have underfloor heating with wooden floors?

Each type of different wood flooring can have different thermal properties. A good rule of thumb to go by is the thinner and denser the wooden floor finish is, the better it will conduct and retain heat – meaning it will be more suitable for use with underfloor heating. 

The best type of wood to use with underfloor heating includes engineered timber as it performs well with floor temperature changes. 

Wood density and underfloor heating systems

Although other wood cans still be used, softer and less dense wood must be monitored so that the floorboards do not act as an insulator blocking the heat. 

You check this by ensuring the floor surface temperature does not exceed 27 degrees. Wood is a natural material which can be affected by the humidity of the environment which can result in changed wood moisture content over time – meaning that you should choose wood that can instead adapt to the changes in floor temperature. 

Engineered timber and underfloor heating 

This is a top pick when it comes to compatibility with underfloor heating. It performs well with changing floor temperatures and changing moisture content. 

Solid hardwood floors with underfloor heating systems 

Solid hardwood is prone to humidity and natural temperature fluctuations. Both these things can cause gapping, cupping and crowning. Care should be taken because of this to ensure compatibility and high heat output. 

Soft wood and underfloor heating

This energy is suitable when attention is paid to the thickness of the floorboards to ensure optimal heat efficiency for your space.

Parquet floors with underfloor heating

These floors are either constructed from solid wood or engineered timbers and are suitable for pairing with underfloor heating. 

Bamboo flooring with underfloor heating systems 

Bamboo flooring has similar properties to engineered wood which means that it is a good conductor of heat and suitable for use with floor heating. 

Laminate floors and underfloor heating

Laminate floors simulate real wood in the way they are constructed. Both stain and scratch-resistant, they are easy to lay and provide a cost-effective solution for laminates. 

Can I use floor heating with vinyl flooring and carpets? 

Vinyl floor coverings are ideal for underfloor heating as it has low resistance levels. Carpet is also appropriate to use, although most assume that underfloor heating systems are only compatible with harder floorings. 

Vinyl flooring with underfloor heating 

Vinyl flooring is a floor covering that can safely be used with underfloor heating. The property of vinyl heating and cooling down quickly are subject to a top floor temperature restriction of 27 degrees. 

This will limit outputs which means they are not recommended for high heat loss areas which could include a large room or an older conservatory that features expansive glazing. 

Rubber flooring with underfloor heating systems

You can also use rubber flooring along with underfloor heating. Rubber flooring has the benefit of being highly conductive which makes it heat up fast and have a high heat output.

Before combining rubber flooring with underfloor heating systems, you should consult with the manufacturer to ensure the floor is suitable for use with underfloor heating. 

Underfloor heating with carpets

Carpets are suitable for use with underfloor heating as long as the carpet or underlay does not act as an insulator preventing radiant heat from warming your home. 

To prevent this the carpet tog and any under and overlays must not exceed 2.5 tog for the system to provide sufficient heat output. 

Deciding on the best underfloor heating system for your flooring 

If you’re looking for an underfloor heating system for your home then Warmaway can help.

Contact our friendly team for further information and advice when it comes to effectively heating your home.