Floor Types Suitable For Electric Underfloor Heating

What types of floors that are compatible with electric underfloor heating is a question UK floor heating suppliers have to often answer. So here I will be sharing with you some information regarding the compatibility of underfloor heating with some of our common flooring types.

The good thing about electric underfloor heating is it can be used with most of the common floor types. However floor types that are good transmitters of heat and do not expand or contract very much due to temperature are more suitable for installing electric underfloor heating systems. Examples of these types of floors are natural stone flooring and ceramic floor tiles. Since people use these hard surfaces in bathrooms, conservatories and kitchens, installing underfloor electric heating in them is very efficient.

The most popular types of floor covering in the UK today is carpet flooring. The good news is electric floor heating can be used with carpets if the carpet is not very thick. If the carpet has a TOG value of less than 2.0 then it is suitable for installing a underfloor heating source. If there is a underlay carpet then the combined value of the underlay and surface carpet must be less than TOG 2.0.

Underfloor heating is unfortunately not compatible with all floor surfaces. For example it is not suitable for use with maple and beech wood floors. It is unfortunate because these are popular types of floor in use today. However underfloor heating can be used with many other types of wood and timber floors but you need to make sure of it with your floor and heating suppliers before you install them.

photo credit: caseydavid

The same is true in order to use underfloor electric heating with Linoleum, marble, cushion and PVC floors. You need to check for compatibility with the flooring supplier as well as the underfloor heating system supplier before you install a heating system.