Floor coverings over underfloor heating
Heat rises from the pipes through the screed and the covering. The better the covering passes heat, the lower the water temperature it needs.
| Covering | How well it passes heat | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Tile, stone | Very well | The best choice |
| Vinyl, laminate | Well | Choose one made for underfloor heating |
| Wood, parquet | Fairly | Surface often limited to 27 °C |
| Carpet with underlay | Less well | Check the combined thermal resistance |
Thermal resistance
Flooring makers state the thermal resistance (R, m²K/W). For underfloor heating the usual advice is that the covering and its underlay together stay at or below 0.15 m²K/W.
What it means for the design
- Under wood or carpet a closer spacing or a higher water temperature is often chosen.
- With a heat pump, thin coverings that pass heat well are worth choosing.
- The floor surface in living spaces is limited to about 29 °C (EN 1264), so raising the temperature cannot squeeze out more heat.
- Large thick rugs reduce the heat in that part of the room.