What Types Of Flooring Are Best Suited For Use With Underfloor Heating In Melbourne?
Once you have made the decision to install underfloor heating in Melbourne, it’s important that you also consider the type of flooring that you plan to use. This is because some materials are going to work better with these systems than others – it all lies in their thermal conductivity. The best materials are those with good conductivity, as they will heat up quicker, provide more heat output and are more efficient. We’ve outlined the main choices here:
Tile, Stone & Polished Screed
This is probably the best flooring option for this type of heating, as it has high thermal conductivity and retains heat quite well (which makes the system quite efficient to operate).
- Ceramic & Stone Tiles
The other advantage of using ceramic and natural stone tiles is that they’re also easy to keep clean. - Polished Screed
This type of flooring is suitable for use with both hydronic heating and electric heating systems for your convenience. - Slate & Flagstone
The other advantage of using slate or flagstone is that they provide a hardwearing finish, making them ideal for high-traffic areas. - Marble
Whilst this material does offer good thermal conductivity, it does take longer to heat up; it’s often discarded for this reason.
Timber
It’s important to keep in mind that different types of timber flooring have different thermal properties. The more dense and thinner the boards, the better they conduct heat.
- Engineered
This is the best choice for use with these systems, as it performs well with the changing floor temperature and moisture content. - Solid Hardwood
These timbers are prone to humidity and temperature changes, which can result in gaping, cupping and crowning. - Softwood
These timbers are suitable, but careful attention must be paid to the thickness of the boards to ensure high enough heat output. - Parquet
This type of flooring is available in a choice of solid wood or engineered timber – most types are suitable for such a use. - Bamboo
This timber is actually similar in construction to engineered timber, making it a good conductor of heat.
Laminate
This synthetic material actually simulates timber with a stain and scratch resistant finish. Most laminate are suitable for use with underfloor heating in Melbourne, but you should double-check with the manufacturer.
Vinyl
This type of flooring can be used quite safely with underfloor heating. It heats up and cools down quickly, but they are subjected to a top floor temperature restriction (which limits your heat output).
Rubber
Solid rubber flooring is usually very conductive (meaning it heats up fast and provides high heat output). You should, however, always consult the manufacturer prior to installation.
Carpet
This material is suitable, providing that it doesn’t act as an insulator and block the heat. The total ‘tog’ of all materials, including any over- and underlays, must not exceed 2.5 tog.
We hope that the information provided above has enabled you to choose flooring that is appropriate for use with underfloor heating in Melbourne. The good news is that you can have pretty much whatever material you want, but it’s still a good idea to compare their conductivity with that of other materials that you wouldn’t mind using. If you’re still having problems choosing a flooring material or you have further questions, be sure to speak with a professional.
Sanju kmr
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