When choosing flooring for underfloor heating, many factors must be taken into account, such as the type of room, aesthetic preferences, budget, and technical requirements.
In this article, we will discuss different types of flooring, their advantages and disadvantages in the context of underfloor heating. This way, you will be able to make the best decision suited to your needs.
What floors for underfloor heating – types of coverings
When considering the choice of flooring material that will work best in conjunction with underfloor heating, we can choose from many different materials. We will briefly discuss them below.
Ceramic tiles
Classic ceramic tiles are quite a popular choice for underfloor heating due to their durability, ease of cleaning, and moisture resistance. However, ceramics feel cold to the touch. When opting for this type of covering, it is advisable to choose tiles with a low thermal conductivity coefficient, which will ensure efficient heating of the rooms.
Wooden floor
A wooden floor is undoubtedly beautiful and natural, adding warmth and character to any room. Unfortunately, wood reacts quite strongly to changes in temperature and humidity, making it not recommended for installation over underfloor heating. Regular heating up and cooling down of the planks could cause wooden floor panels to react negatively to fluctuations, resulting in a warped floor that may also start to creak.
Stone tiles
Natural stone, such as marble or granite, is a very elegant solution that can be installed over underfloor heating. Stone tiles are durable, easy to maintain, and effectively conduct heat. Unfortunately, some types of stone may react to changes in temperature, which can lead to cracking of the tiles.
Concrete floors
Concrete floors are another solution commonly used with underfloor heating. A concrete floor is durable, thermally stable, and energy-efficient, which makes it seem like an ideal solution for many people. However, it is worth noting that these floors may not fit into many interior designs, and concrete, with its structure, is not among the pleasant materials to the touch.
Vinyl panels
Nowadays, increasingly popular flooring options suitable for underfloor heating are vinyl panels. Users appreciate them for their durability, ease of installation, and a wide variety of patterns and colors. In the case of vinyl panels, an important parameter is their low thermal conductivity coefficient, making them a very effective solution for underfloor heating.
The type of flooring you decide on depends on many aspects. Aesthetics, functionality, and budget constraints are equally important. Among the options mentioned above, vinyl panels seem to be the best choice. This is an excellent proposal both for visual and practical reasons.
At the Mexen store, you will find a wide selection of vinyl panels available in almost every color. Choose your favorite and transform your interior quickly and easily.
What should be considered when choosing materials for underfloor heating?
The most important principle of underfloor heating operation, in short, is that the heating system located under the floor warms up and then transfers temperature to the surroundings. To make this possible, the covering placed over the heating must allow for the free flow of heat. Therefore, the parameter you must pay particular attention to when choosing flooring, is that regarding thermal resistance.
The lower the coefficient, the higher the efficiency of underfloor heating. Thus, materials with low thermal resistance should be chosen, allowing heat generated by the heating system to be quickly transferred to the room.
According to current European standards, low thermal resistance is a value that should not exceed 0.15 m²K/W, and this is calculated jointly for the covering and substrate. Data on this topic can be found on the packaging of both panels and ceramic tiles, as well as the substrate. The thickness of the material laid over underfloor heating together with thermal resistance affects how quickly the floor accepts temperature and starts heating the room. By choosing a flooring covering with low thermal resistance, you influence not only the efficiency of heating but also the amount of the bill.
Suitable flooring for underfloor heating
When considering how to choose the best flooring for underfloor heating, it is worth also paying attention to aesthetic aspects. Modern technology allows laminate and vinyl panels to successfully imitate the appearance of stone or natural wood. Therefore, they are applied as flooring coverings that fit perfectly into any interior design. The multitude of patterns and colors, as well as the possibility of self-installing vinyl panels, makes them the best material for underfloor heating for many people.
Vinyl flooring is one of those solutions that is gaining popularity and its supporters emphasize its high quality and elegant design. An undeniable advantage of these panels is the simple assembly, which can even be done independently.
Key features of vinyl panels
Discussing the advantages of vinyl panels, let’s start with those that are most important in the context of this article.
- Excellent heat conduction: Vinyl floors are a great heat conductor, making them an ideal choice for underfloor heating systems. They allow heat to be evenly distributed across the entire surface of the floor, ensuring a comfortable temperature in the room.
- Moisture resistance: Vinyl floors are completely resistant to moisture, making them an ideal choice for bathrooms, kitchens, and other high-humidity areas. Vinyl does not absorb water and does not deform under its influence.
- Resistance to mechanical damage: Vinyl panels are resistant to scratches, wear, and dents. They work great in high-traffic areas, in families with small children, and also in homes where there are pets.
- Resistance to light exposure: Vinyl panels do not change color due to sunlight exposure. Floors, even in heavily sunlit areas, will retain their original color for many years.
- Ease of maintenance: Vinyl floors are easy to keep clean as they are resistant to stains and other dirt. This makes vinyl panels a practical and convenient solution for those who lack the time and desire to scrub the floor.
Underfloor heating with vinyl panels quickly begins to emit pleasant warmth. This is particularly convenient in bathrooms, where a higher temperature than in the rest of the house is preferred. It is worth mentioning that warm floors throughout the house undoubtedly increase the comfort of living.
Flooring for underfloor heating – summary
When making a choice regarding the right covering for underfloor heating, it is necessary to consider many different aspects. It is important to ensure that the chosen material allows heat to flow through.
Wooden floors tend to be too thick, especially if they are layered boards, to effectively allow heat to pass. The same situation occurs when choosing ceramic tiles – only the thinnest ones will have an appropriately low thermal resistance, but they may be too fragile to be laid in heavily used rooms.
Vinyl panels made of durable materials will be a very good choice as they can successfully imitate wooden flooring, thus becoming a true decoration of the room.