Best Flooring for Underfloor Heating

Reading time: 6 minutes

Underfloor heating, or UFH, has become a more widespread form of heating the home, which is often more energy efficient than other heating methods. It offers even heating throughout a flat or house through either water or electric systems, which do not overheat or have cold patches that you might find with central heating. However, to get the best performance from underfloor heating you should choose particular types of flooring. 

What types of flooring work best for underfloor heating?

There are types of flooring that are ideal for underfloor heating, as they’re able to conduct heat rising up and into the room. This should be the main reason to choose the flooring you want to install, but also consider that types of underlay can have an effect on how well heat will come through, but we’ll come on to this later.

Do I need underlay with underfloor heating?

Underlay is advisable for all flooring as it offers a level of comfort between tiles or panels and the hard underfloor. It can also give both thermal and acoustic insulation – acoustic insulation is especially handy for flooring in flats where there’s neighbours above and below. Some underlay also includes a moisture barrier, which is particularly good for solid wood flooring. However, as we’ve already mentioned, consider overall tog ratings as these can affect heat transfer, as can underlays made of polyurethane or felt. 

Finding the right kind of floor for the home can seem complicated, but with our guides for the best flooring for your circumstances, we’re here to help.

Disclaimer: The information contained on this page is intended as an overall introduction and is not intended as specific advice from a qualified professional. Travis Perkins aims to avoid, but accepts no liability, in the case that any information stated is out of date.