What's The Best Flooring to Use With Underfloor Heating?
Posted on by Online Carpets
Best Flooring to Use with Underfloor Heating
With the winter fast approaching in the UK, now is the time to start planning to get ahead of the cold! Underfloor heating is an excellent way to add some cosiness, especially in colder rooms and during the winter months. Installing a heated flooring system doesn’t only contribute to immediate warmth and comfort underfoot; this type of heating can also more evenly disperse heat in your space, eliminating the cold spots that traditional heating systems sometimes miss.
In this blog, we delve into which types of flooring work best with underfloor heating, including tips on how to install and some flooring types to avoid.
Key Factors for Choosing the Right Flooring for Underfloor Heating
When choosing the type of flooring to go with underfloor heating, you need to consider the following things:
- Thermal conductivity: Materials that efficiently conduct heat will warm up quicker and distribute the heat more evenly across the surface.
- Thickness: Thicker materials can insulate the heat, leading to longer warm-up times and potentially less efficient heat distribution.
- Durability: Flooring that can withstand the expanding and contracting as temperatures fluctuate lasts longer and remains more visually appealing.
- Ease of installation: It’s important to consider that underfloor heating installation may need to be done by professionals, which could increase the overall project cost.
- Comfort and design: The flooring should not only complement the aesthetic of the room but also feel comfortable underfoot.
Top Flooring Choices for Underfloor Heating
Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) Flooring
Luxury Vinyl Tile flooring, or LVT, is a material that imitates real materials like stone or wood at a fraction of the cost. Known for its durability, it’s a popular option for budget-conscious homeowners who want design flexibility and the choice of styles such as herringbone, wood, or tile flooring.
Explore our LVT Flooring Options
Why it’s good:
- Good thermal conductivity
- Thin profile
- Easy installation
Best for:
- Any room, including dry and wet rooms
We recommend:
Allora Plank SPC Click LVT Flooring
For a natural-looking wood style, look no further than our Allora Plank SPC Click LVT Flooring. This sophisticated 5.2mm thick luxury tile vinyl, with its resilient construction, adds a superb look to even more places.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring, similar to LVT, is a multi-layer material made from wood fibre that offers the most realistic replication of natural wood. Due to its multi-layer design, laminate flooring is incredibly durable. The top layer is tough and scratch-resistant, protecting it from everyday wear, stains, and sunlight. Below that, there's a printed layer that resembles real wood or stone, while a sturdy core of compressed wood fibres provides strength and stability. The very bottom layer adds an extra layer of support and keeps moisture out.
Why it’s good:
- Affordable
- Distributes heat evenly
- Easy to install
Best for:
- Living areas
- Bedrooms
- Offices
Considerations:
- Must use laminate specifically designed for UFH
Carpet
A classic flooring option, carpet is a safe bet for any home design. Not only does it feel soft underfoot, but the added warmth of heated floors brings an extra element of cosiness and comfort to your home.
Why it’s good:
- Soft, warm feel underfoot
Best for:
- Bedrooms
- Living rooms
Considerations:
- Requires low tog rating (thermal resistance) carpet and underlay to allow heat to pass through effectively.
We recommend:
The Soft Noble Saxony range has a softer feel than our other Noble Saxony carpets. It uses a new tufting process and thinner yarn that delivers exceptional comfort! The thinner yarn also means that underfloor heating systems can evenly distribute heat without being blocked by an insulating, thick carpet.
Tile and Stone Flooring
Tile and stone flooring are typically recognised as one of the better conductors of heat for underfloor heating. Once heated, stone and tile cannot only distribute heat quickly but also retain it for longer, making them a great option for heated flooring.
Why it’s good:
- Excellent thermal conductivity
- Heats up quickly
- Retains heat
Best for:
- Bathrooms
- Kitchens
- Living areas
Considerations:
- Potentially higher installation cost
Engineered Wood Flooring
Engineered wood is a type of flooring made from multiple layers of wood bonded together, with a real hardwood veneer on top. Unlike hardwood, engineered wood can withstand high and fluctuating temperatures without the planks becoming warped.
Why it’s good:
- Less prone to warping from temperature changes
Best for:
- Living rooms
- Hallways
- Bedrooms
Considerations:
- Avoid thick boards, as they can slow down the heat transfer.
Flooring Options to Avoid with Underfloor Heating
Solid Hardwood Flooring
Solid Hardwood flooring is one to avoid for one simple reason: warping. Warping is when wood material unevenly shrinks due to factors like fluctuating temperatures and humidity. Hardwood flooring is susceptible to warping due to the temperature changes that underfloor heating brings. The fluctuating temperatures can expand and contract the wood, thus causing the boards to warp and change shape.
Thick Carpet
The thicker the flooring, the more likely it is to block the heat transfer. Thick carpet is a bad option for heated floors because it acts like an insulator, blocking the heat from rising efficiently. This makes the underfloor heating less effective and the room slower to warm up.
Vinyl Not Rated for Heat
Vinyl flooring that isn’t explicitly designed to withstand heated flooring is likely to get damaged over time under the stress of high heat. This can cause discolouration, soften the material, and render it brittle. Crucially, some vinyl flooring contains chemicals that can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) when exposed to heat, such as underfloor heating. These VOCs can easily evaporate into the air and act as a form of air pollution, contributing to health issues, including headaches, nausea, and respiratory problems.
Choosing the Right Flooring for Cosy, Efficient Underfloor Heating
Underfloor heating can add a whole new level of comfort to your home, especially during the chilly UK winters. Choosing the right flooring is essential to make the most of this feature. Whether you opt for LVT, laminate, carpet, or stone, each material has its pros and cons. The key is to focus on thermal conductivity, thickness, durability, and overall design. While some materials, like engineered wood, work perfectly with underfloor heating, others, like solid hardwood or thick carpet, should be avoided. By considering these factors, you can ensure your home stays warm, stylish, and energy-efficient.