Floor Heating in Different Applications and Under Different Flooring Types
Introduction
Underfloor heating is available in two different forms: so-called "wet" systems, which circulate hot water through pipes buried in screed or running underneath the surface of the floor, and; "dry" systems, in which basic electric cables (loose cable or attached to a mat) are installed onto an insulation board or directly onto the sub-floor and then covered with (tile adhesive, levelling compound) a floor covering of your choice. Both forms of underfloor heating are nevertheless inexpensive to install and run and require no maintenance. The plastic pipes used in most modern wet systems for example, are continuous, so there is no risk of leaking at the joints. Underfloor heating of one form or the other, is suitable for installation in any room of the house, under any type of floor covering (tile, laminate, carpet, etc). making it a possibility for renovation projects as well as new build projects. Furthermore, underfloor heating is effectively invisible - even laid on top of existing flooring the difference in height is only around 10mm and there are no radiators to compromise your living space or how you arrange your furniture in it.
Bathroom Floor Heating
Bathroom floor heating adds comfort to any bathroom especially during the winter months by preventing freezing cold shocks to bare feet, during the night or when you step out of a bath or shower. The durable materials typically used on bathroom floors (tile or stone for example), are uninvitingly cold in the absence of underfloor heating, but are nonetheless extremely efficient thermal conductors. Indeed, even stone up to ¾" thick conducts heat very well and, although a thicker floor covering takes longer to heat up, it also retains heat for longer. Bathroom floor heating of this type is also more hygienic, provides a dry (although not too dry) environment which inhibits the growth of mould and bacteria. This means that a bathroom requires less cleaning and may also be of benefit to allergy sufferers.
If you intend to install bathroom floor heating onto a timber base (floorboards, plywood, or chipboard for example) which is to be finished with tiles, the structural integrity of the sub-floor, and its suitability for tiling, should be checked beforehand. Electrical underfloor heating mats and cables can be fitted directly to plywood, or chipboard floors provided the subfloor is secure and primed with an appropriate solution (an insulation board may be required). The power output of a suitable bathroom floor heating system depends on the sub-floor, floor finish and the heat loss experienced from the area to be heated. Typically between 150w/m2 and 200w/m2 will provide an excellent level of heat to be the primary heating source.
As with any heating solution, insulation plays an important part in maximising the efficiency of a bathroom floor heating system. This may be less of an issue in the case of newly laid floors in new buildings, conservatories or extensions, for example, where insulation has been incorporated into the design (as per building regulations). However in existing buildings, insulated tile backing boards, such as Marmox (or Izo Floor) may be the most practical solution. Marmox is available in thicknesses between 6mm and 50mm and offers high density, excellent thermal properties and is 100% waterproof making it ideal for use in bathroom floor heating systems.
Living Room Floor Heating
A living room, is the one room in a house where the ability to use the space to greatest effect and to position furniture exactly where you want it, is more important than anywhere else. An underfloor heating system in your living room allows you to do just that - place your furniture wherever you wish without being dictated to by the location of your heating system. With no radiators to obstruct furniture, or conversely, to be obstructed by furniture, underfloor heating provides the most flexible and most efficient solution to arranging your room.
Laminated or engineered wood flooring in your living room can be supplemented by aluminium heating mats am king the entire installation process much simpler. The aluminium heating mats (for use under floating wood floors only) are composed of an aluminium foil containing a twin conductor heating cable. When used with an appropriate depth of insulation these systems can provide a highly effective heating system. As the aluminium acts as an earth these mats are also suitable for use in bathrooms and other wet areas. Underfloor heating can also be used efficiently beneath carpet (the heating system should be encased in a compound to assist with heat dispersion). Carpets with a thermal resistance (TOG) of 2.5 (a "tog" being the unit of thermal resistance commonly used in the textile industry), and equivalent to 0.1m2 K/W, in SI units or less are most suitable. The vast majority of carpets today have a thermal resistance of 1.0 tog, or less, so this is unlikely to be an issue.
Further bathroom floor heating Information
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