Advice From Our Flooring Specialists
Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT)
Due to their excellent heat transfer properties, luxury vinyl tiles are a popular choice for underfloor heating. They are typically made from PVC, which conducts heat well, ensuring efficient heat distribution.
The thin profile of this type of vinyl flooring (2-5mm) means that the tiles heat quickly and cool rapidly, providing responsive heating. They can be installed as floating floors or glued as part of our flooring company’s LVT fitting services, with the latter offering better heat transfer.
Carpets
Carpets have a higher thermal resistance (measured in TOG ratings), hindering heat transfer. Our carpet supply and fit team recommends a combined TOG value (carpet plus underlay) of no more than 2.5 for UFH systems.
Thinner carpets with lower pile heights are better suited. Wool and synthetic materials can both be used, but must be UFH-compatible. Rubber underlays designed for UFH help improve heat transfer compared to traditional foam or felt underlays.
Laminate Flooring
Our laminate flooring supply and fit services are another viable option for use with UFH. Modern materials are designed to be more resilient and heat-conductive, making them suitable for underfloor heating systems.
As it’s usually installed as a floating floor, it’s important to use a suitable underlay compatible with UFH to facilitate optimal heat transfer. The heating efficiency may be slightly reduced as they’re thicker than LVT (6-12mm).
New Wood Flooring
Hardwood and solid wood flooring offer a warm, aesthetically pleasing option for Taunton homes. However, they both require careful consideration when used with underfloor heating:
Engineered wood is preferable over solid wood due to its dimensional stability. It consists of a top layer of real wood bonded to layers of plywood or high-density fibreboard, which makes it less prone to warping.
Solid wood can be used, but it must be chosen carefully. Hardwoods like oak are more suitable as they handle temperature changes better than softer woods. Our flooring specialists are happy to offer advice about your options.
Similar to LVT, both types can be glued or floating, but the glued-down method is generally better for heat transfer. Wood is a natural insulator; it doesn’t conduct heat as efficiently as LVT or laminate.
