Stone and tiles are one of the most popular choices of flooring in both kitchens and bathrooms when installing underfloor heating. This is due to the fact that they are stylish and have the highest thermal conductivity of any material commonly used in flooring, meaning they will heat up the quickest and provide an even spread of heat across your floor. They are also a really cost-effective option too, as they are durable and easy to maintain, while their lack of resistance to heat ensures that they require less energy to reach their set temperature.

It’s important to consider when tiling on underfloor heating that the type and thickness of stone will slightly impact the speed at which your floor and room heats up. Ceramic tiles and stone in particular tend to be the best tiles for underfloor heating as their high thermal conductivity allows you to quickly reach your desired room temperature.

Wooden floors are a timeless option to suit any taste within your house due to the abundance of options available. As a result of this variety, each type of wood has different heat properties to consider when choosing your flooring.

Generally, engineered wood flooring over underfloor heating provides the best performance out of its counterparts due to its durability and ability to conduct heat quickly and easily. Any other thin, dense wood will also act as a good conductor of heat.

More natural softwoods do not perform as well with underfloor heating as they are not as great thermal conductors, while their properties may be slightly altered when exposed to heat. Despite this, they can still remain a good flooring option above your heating system, providing you ensure that the floorboards are not too thick and you check with your supplier the maximum heat that they can be exposed to. This is usually in the region of 25℃-27℃.

Electric underfloor heating and carpet are a perfect combination in living rooms or bedrooms, creating a comfortable and cosy atmosphere to relax in.

Meanwhile, carpet also absorbs dust and other particles that would otherwise be circulated around the air in your room by a conventional heating system. As underfloor heating does not use convection to heat your room, the dust and particles absorbed will remain in your carpet to be vacuumed away, providing a great improvement in hygiene and health especially for those suffering from allergies or respiratory diseases such as asthma.

In order to make the most of your underfloor heating with carpets, there are a few considerations to take. The most important thing is that the tog rating of your carpet and underlay does not exceed 2.5 tog, otherwise the carpet will act as an insulator and not absorb the heat as well. The same applies when considering the thickness of your carpet, as thicker carpets are likely to have a higher tog rating and take longer to heat up. While carpets may take longer to heat up, they retain heat well, so will stay warm for longer once you turn your heating system off.

Vinyl and Linoleum are cost effective and stylish alternatives to flooring. They are great options due to their availability in a variety of styles to suit your taste, while their slimline design means that they absorb heat extremely quickly from the heating system below.

Vinyl flooring with underfloor heating is a particularly great option due to its durability, waterproof capabilities and ease of maintenance and cleaning.

Like vinyl, linoleum is also easy to clean and maintain. However, as it is made up of slightly more natural materials, it’s important to consider the maximum heat it can be exposed to when using underfloor heating with lino. Consult your floor supplier for exact figures, but it is likely to be in the region of 26℃-27℃.

It is a common misconception that rugs are not suitable to use with underfloor heating. This is not true, providing you take a few precautions first. Like carpet, rugs can act as an insulator to heat, making it more difficult to heat your floor and room. As a result, it’s best to choose a thin rug with a low tog rating.

Furthermore, we recommend not to use heavy rugs on floors that are more sensitive to heat such as wood and vinyl, as the higher concentration of heat required in that area may warp and damage your floor in that spot.