Which floor suits underfloor heating best?

Which floor suits underfloor heating best?

Underfloor heating is becoming more and more popular.

Not only in new-build homes, but in renovations too more and more people are choosing heating from the floor.

It feels comfortable and gives a calm interior without radiators.

But as soon as you start choosing a new floor, an important question arises:

Which floor actually works well with underfloor heating?

PVC is often mentioned as a suitable choice, but parquet, laminate, Marmoleum and even certain types of carpet can possibly also be combined with underfloor heating.

The right choice depends on more than just the material.

You have to look at the complete floor system.

Why is the floor so important with underfloor heating?

The heat from underfloor heating must be able to travel from the subfloor through the floor into the space.

The more resistance the floor offers, the harder that becomes.

That is why the thermal resistance of the total floor package plays an important role.

Think of:

• the floor itself;
• any underlay;
• glue or levelling layer;
• the existing subfloor.

A beautiful floor can be technically less suitable if the total floor build-up holds back too much heat.

That is why we prefer to look first at the technology and then at colour and design.

PVC and underfloor heating

PVC is often chosen in combination with underfloor heating.

There are several reasons for that.

PVC is relatively thin and can therefore transfer heat well, depending on the chosen product and floor build-up.

Glue-down PVC in particular is often used because it is bonded directly to the prepared subfloor.

PVC can be interesting when:

• you have underfloor heating;
• you want a low floor build-up;
• you are looking for a wood look or concrete look;
• you want herringbone or Hungarian point;
• you find an easy-to-maintain floor important.

Click PVC can also be suitable for underfloor heating.

You do have to take into account the extra layers in the system, such as any underlay.

Parquet and underfloor heating

Many people think wood and underfloor heating don't go together.

That is too general.

There are various wooden floors that can actually be applied well in combination with underfloor heating.

Wood is, however, a natural product.

It reacts to temperature and humidity.

That is why the following are important, among other things:

• the wood species;
• the thickness of the floor;
• the construction;
• the laying method;
• the temperature of the system;
• the humidity in the home.

So not every wooden floor is automatically suitable.

But with the right combination you can combine the warmth and look of real wood with underfloor heating.

Laminate and underfloor heating

Laminate too can in many situations be combined with underfloor heating.

It is especially important here that both the floor and the underlay are suitable for this application.

A wrong underlay can hold back unnecessarily much heat.

That is why with laminate you shouldn't only look at the product itself.

The complete floor build-up determines the result.

Laminate can be interesting when you:

• are looking for an attractive value for money;
• want a wood look;
• want little maintenance;
• like a floating floor system.

Marmoleum and underfloor heating

Marmoleum can also be an interesting combination with underfloor heating.

The material is applied relatively thinly and is often bonded directly to a suitable subfloor.

That means heat transfer can be favourable.

Marmoleum also has a look entirely of its own.

It is available in many colours and fits well in modern, calm and natural interiors.

Marmoleum can be interesting when you:

• find natural raw materials important;
• are looking for a calm floor;
• want to be able to use colour;
• want a strong floor;
• have underfloor heating.

Here too the specific product and the total floor build-up must always be looked at.

Can carpet go on underfloor heating?

That can certainly sometimes be done.

It may sound contradictory because carpet insulates.

Yet there are carpet qualities that are suitable for use with underfloor heating.

The most important factor is the total thermal resistance.

A thick high-pile carpet with a heavy insulating backing is something quite different from a compact carpet quality specially suited to underfloor heating.

That is why with carpet you must always check:

• the quality;
• the backing construction;
• any underlay;
• the total thermal resistance.

Carpet can therefore be possible, but calls for a conscious choice.

Which floor transfers heat best?

In general:

the lower the total thermal resistance, the more easily heat can move through the floor.

That is why thin, glued floors are often seen as a logical combination with underfloor heating.

But that doesn't automatically mean one floor type is always the best choice.

A floor must also suit:

• your interior;
• the space;
• maintenance;
• household situation;
• desired lifespan;
• budget.

The technically best floor is not always automatically the best floor for your home.

The underlay is at least as important

With floating floors the underlay plays an important role.

An underlay may be needed, for example, for:

• levelling;
• sound dampening;
• protection;
• stability.

But an underlay also affects the thermal resistance.

That is why it is not wise to simply choose just any underlay.

Floor and underlay must be looked at as one system.

New build and underfloor heating

In new build, underfloor heating is nowadays often standard.

That makes the floor choice extra important.

There is often a cement screed or anhydrite floor on which the final floor is applied.

It is important that the subfloor:

• is sufficiently dry;
• is flat enough;
• is technically suitable;
• has been correctly heated up according to the heating-up protocol.

Laying a floor too early can cause problems later.

That is why measuring and preparing are more important than starting quickly.

Renovation with underfloor heating

With a renovation the situation can be more complex.

There may, for example, still be an old floor.

Or the underfloor heating was milled in later.

Then you must first look at:

• the existing floor;
• height differences;
• available build-up height;
• condition of the subfloor;
• type of underfloor heating.

Sometimes an existing floor can stay.

In other situations removal is wiser.

That differs per home.

Don't forget the build-up height

With underfloor heating a lot of attention goes to heat.

But the height of the new floor is at least as important practically.

A thicker floor build-up can affect:

• doors;
• thresholds;
• kitchen plinths;
• stairs;
• sliding doors;
• connections to other rooms.

That is why it is wise to calculate the full floor height in advance.

What often goes wrong?

Many problems arise because only the visible floor is looked at.

For example:

• an underlay that insulates too much;
• a floor that is not suitable for the system;
• an insufficiently dry subfloor;
• a floor build-up that is too high;
• wrong preparation;
• temperature settings that are too high.

Those are often not problems of the design.

They are problems of the complete floor system.

Technology first, look afterwards

At NTU Vloeren we therefore first look at your home.

We discuss, for example:

• which type of underfloor heating is present;
• which subfloor you have;
• whether it is new build or renovation;
• how much floor height is available;
• which rooms will be fitted;
• how intensively the floor is used.

Only then do we compare the suitable floor types.

That way you avoid falling in love with a floor that technically suits your home less well.

And then the fun part begins

Once it is clear which floors are suitable, you can focus on the look.

Think, for example, of:

• light oak floors;
• warm wood tones;
• herringbone;
• Hungarian point;
• concrete look;
• Marmoleum in calm earth tones;
• soft carpet qualities.

Then choosing becomes much clearer.

You no longer have to choose from hundreds of floors.

You choose from the floors that suit your home both technically and visually.

See a floor for underfloor heating in Utrecht?

Do you have underfloor heating and want to know which floor suits it well?

Then visit NTU Vloeren in Utrecht.

We look not only at colour and material, but also at the subfloor, floor build-up and technical properties.

That way you get a floor that is not only beautiful, but also suits the heating system of your home.

Visit NTU Vloeren at the home-furnishing boulevard in Utrecht, next to IKEA, for personal flooring advice.

‍