What Are The Best Floorcoverings For Underfloor Heating?

When you decide to install underfloor heating, either as a retrofit or as part of a new-build project, you will naturally have questions about which is the best floorcovering to use. The good news is, there’s no need to settle for second-best when it comes to the overall style of your home. Here’s what you need to know.

Different types of floorcoverings do have different thermal resistance factors, which means how well the material reacts to and holds heat. However, as long as your chosen floorcovering is considered before the underfloor heating system is installed, this needn’t limit your choice.

Carpets

You might have heard that carpets don’t work with underfloor heating, but this is not the case. It does have a higher heat resistance factor than some other materials, so it is necessary to specify an underlay with a low thermal resistance, and not use felt. The carpet should have a tog rating of 1.5 or under for the heating to perform to full effect.

Wooden flooring

Wooden floors are a popular choice for contemporary homes, and it is possible to combine them with an underfloor heating system. However, wood does react to temperature changes. For this reason, engineered wood rather than natural solid wood is preferable. It is advisable to check with the manufacturer if their product has a temperature limit.

Stone flooring

Stone or ceramic tiles are an excellent choice for underfloor heating.  In fact, without it, they can be pretty cold and uncomfortable to walk on without shoes! It is a dense material with low thermal resistance, meaning that it absorbs heat easily and holds it well. This ensures that the floor will continue to emit heat, even after the system has switched off.

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