Hard surfaces like stone or ceramic tiles or engineered wood offer the best heat transfer as they are the most thermally conductive but many other options work well.
Timber flooring suitable for underfloor heating.
If in doubt the first step is to consult a specialist supplier the timber research and development association trada british standard 8201 2011 or all three as to the characteristics of the type in question.
Battened timber floors are best heated using the diffusion plate system though installing hydronic heating pipes between batten on an existing concrete slab and filling up to the top surface level of the battens with a screed can also provide acceptable results provided suitable insulation is used.
Underfloor heating and laminate flooring.
Finally if you are using underfloor heating alongside wooden flooring you ll need to make sure it covers the entire floor.
Hydronic underfloor heating for timber floors.
Hardwood flooring is a popular floor finish in both contemporary home design and home restoration projects and it is an ideal material to use with an underfloor heating system.
Most good quality laminate floors can be used with underfloor heating but it is best that you check with the manufacturer first.
Is underfloor heating suitable with hardwood floors.
When laying a floor over underfloor heating loops the working temperature should be at least 18 c.
This is applicable to boards subfloors and room temperature.
Installing over underfloor heating.
If the underfloor heating is limited to a particular area it could end up damaging the wood due to the fluctuating temperatures.
The differences between hardwood and engineered wood.
Your wood floor must be laid close to the subfloor and without an air gap as air gaps can cause the wood to dry out very quickly.
So the good news is most wooden floors are compatible for use with underfloor heating.
Both hydronic and electric underfloor heating systems work well with timber floors as timber conducts and holds the warmth produced by the floor heater and radiates this into the room.
Many types of wood flooring are suitable for use with underfloor heating and cooling but not all.
Many high quality vinyl flooring types conduct heat very well making them more than suitable for your underfloor heating system.
In this guide we ll explain.
The best flooring for underfloor heating is one that efficiently transfers heat from the ufh to the surface of the floor.
Laminate vinyl flooring for underfloor heating.
Laminate flooring can often be mistaken for real wood but it is actually a synthetic floor covering.
You will also need to use a specific underlay designed to help with heat transfer.
The majority of wooden flooring is suitable for underfloor heating systems but at nu heat we recommend using engineered timber flooring rather than solid hardwood.