Best at Flooring
0113 831 4313 Open today 08:30 - 17:30
Advice Log in Basket
Rated excellent
Customers share experiences
0% interest
No hidden charges
Samples
for thousands of products
24hr delivery
available on select products
Price guarantee
we're never beaten on price
Home Your guide to flooring Underfloor Heating Buying Guide

Underfloor Heating

There are many benefits that come with installing underfloor heating in your home, such as being able to walk around barefooted in winter, no ugly radiators ruining the look of your room and saying goodbye to unwanted cold spots.

However, before installing underfloor heating, it’s vital that you carry out sufficient research to ensure that you know exactly what kind of underfloor heating system you require and what flooring material is suitable with underfloor heating. Additionally, you need to carefully consider the pros and cons of installing underfloor heating to ensure that it’s right for you.

What is underfloor heating?

Underfloor heating is either a ‘wet’ system that will pump warm water through pipes or a ‘dry’ system of electric coils placed under the floor. Underfloor heating is a popular heating solution as it’s an efficient way to heat up a room, it creates a warm surface to walk on during winter and is hidden so you have more space for furniture or décor. One downside of choosing underfloor heating is that it may be relatively costly and take slightly longer to heat up.

When choosing the right flooring material for your room which has underfloor heating, the main factor which you need to consider is the material’s thermal conductivity. So how quickly and efficiently the heat will transfer to the floor surface.

What is the best flooring choice if you have underfloor heating?

Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered timber is the best type of wood flooring to install with underfloor heating, as it performs well with changes in temperatures. This is because the construction of engineered wood flooring means it’s less susceptible to the expansion and contraction issues which are associated with underfloor heating. As heating the floor changes the moisture content of the wood it’s vital that the wood you choose can adapt to rapid changes in temperature.

View the BestatFlooring full engineered wood flooring range here.

Luxury Vinyl Tiles

Underflooring heating is safe and appropriate to use with vinyl tiles. Due to the thin material of the vinyl tiles you should expect your room to heat up and cool down a lot quicker than you would with other flooring materials. Vinyl is usually used in the bathroom, which is also a popular room to install underfloor heating in, so it’s warm underfoot when you come out of the shower and in the morning.

View the BestatFlooring full luxury vinyl tiles range here.

Laminate Flooring

Most laminates are suitable for use with underfloor heating! However, it’s always advisable to check with the manufacturer to ensure that the type of laminate which you intend to purchase is suitable. Underfloor heating with laminate can be a good idea as one of the downsides of installing laminate in your home is that it can feel cold underfoot, so not as pleasant to walk on in the morning or during winter. Underfloor heating will obviously make it warmer and more comfortable.

View the BestatFlooring full range of laminate flooring here.

Carpets

Carpets are well suited with underfloor heating but you must make sure that you choose the right carpet. It’s vital that you take into consideration the overall thickness of the carpet to ensure that there will be efficient heat transfer.

Many people are unsure if they can install a carpet with underfloor heating, the answer is that yes you can but you must check that the carpet which you wish to use is suitable. If the carpet is too thick then you won’t feel the benefit of the underfloor heating. The tog rating will indicate how insulating a carpet is, the best carpet to use with underfloor heating are those with ratings of less than 1.5.

View the BestatFlooring full range of carpets here.

What do I need to take into consideration before choosing underfloor heating?

One of the main things which you must take into consideration before installing underfloor heating is what flooring material you will choose! If you’re set on installing a flooring material which isn’t advisable to have with underfloor heating, then you need to weigh up which is more important to you.

A downside for some people is the cost associated with installing underfloor heating, however, it is possible to install yourself. Generally, most underfloor heating systems are installed in a new build or when you’re building a room/extension, due to the cost of the installation.

Pros:

  • It’s comfortable underfoot, so you can walk around barefooted no matter what time of the year it is;
  • It distributes heat evenly around the room, which means you can say goodbye to cold spots;
  • It’s hidden – so you have more room for shelves, storage or furniture.

Cons:

  • The cost of installing underfloor heating;
  • It can take longer to heat up;
  • It may restrict your flooring choice and what you place on top of the floor.

How do I choose the right underfloor heating for my home?

It’s advisable to consult a specialist to help you decide which system is right for your home.

It is possible to install electric underfloor heating yourself, if you’re confident with DIY. However, if you require a water-based system then you will need a qualified professional to carry this out.

Electric underfloor heating is cheaper to install but more expensive to run. Water underfloor heating is cheaper to run but the floor renovation works that come with the installation are not cheap. Choosing will come down to your budget and your home’s central heating system.

We hope you have found this guide useful and inspirational. Head back over to BestatFlooring website here to choose the perfect flooring to go with an underfloor heating system.