Flooring tips for underfloor heating

Before deciding to install underfloor heating, you must consider what type of flooring you are going to lay on top of it. Here is a short guide to the best flooring types to use with underfloor heating systems.

Laminate flooring is normally fine for water underfloor heating systems.  Always fix laminate flooring direct over screed and, as normal, use a membrane and a cushion layer. It is never worth laying rugs on top of an underfloor heating system as the rug will act as an insulator and prevent the heat going upwards.

Engineered floorboards should be acclimatised at normal room conditions before they are installed strictly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Underfloor Heating Systems do not recommend floorboards thicker than 25 mm. Always check with the manufacturers of any floor finish that it will work with underfloor heating. Avoid Pine flooring and it is worth remembering that wood is a good insulator so the water temperature in the underfloor heating system needs to be higher than for a concrete floor.

If carpets are used for floor finish, make sure the TOG value does not exceed 2.5 TOG for the carpet and the underlay.  Check that any adhesive is suitable for underfloor heating. Vinyl flooring is normally fine with underfloor heating.  Again check that the adhesive is compatible with underfloor heating.

For more information about underfloor heating, visit underfloorheatingsystems.co.uk.