Many people wonder if their dream flooring is compatible with underfloor heating. The short answer is: yes. In fact, tiles are the best choice you can make if you have (or are considering) underfloor heating. While materials like wood or laminate tend to retain heat, tiles effortlessly allow heat to pass through to the surface.
Why choose tiles with underfloor heating?
The combination of underfloor heating with floor tiles offers numerous advantages that go beyond just warm feet:
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High efficiency: Tiles have low thermal resistance. This means the room heats up faster and you use less energy.
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Heat storage: Stony materials retain heat for a long time. Even when the heating is off, the floor will remain comfortably warm for a long time.
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Hygiene: A warm floor dries faster after mopping, which reduces the chance of bacteria. Moreover, you have less dust circulation than with traditional radiators.
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Aesthetics: No more unsightly radiators on the wall, giving you more freedom in furnishing your interior.
Which tiles are suitable?
Almost all ceramic tiles and natural stone in our range are suitable for underfloor heating. The most popular choices are:
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Ceramic parquet (wood look): Do you want the warm look of wood but the benefits of a tile? Wood look floor tiles are the perfect solution. They don't warp due to heat and conduct optimally.
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Concrete look & Natural stone look: Large tiles create a modern look and form one large "heating plate" in your living room.
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Wall tiles in the bathroom: Don't forget that underfloor heating also often extends under wall tiles in the shower area for extra comfort.
Important tips for installation
If you are going to lay tiles over underfloor heating, there are a few technical considerations you need to take into account for a lasting beautiful result:
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Use flexible tile adhesive: Due to temperature differences, a floor can minimally expand and contract. Flexible adhesive (S1-coded) absorbs these tensions and prevents cracking.
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The heating-up protocol: Is it a new screed? Always strictly follow the installer's heating-up protocol before you start tiling. Also, after grouting, the adhesive must fully cure before the heating can be turned on for the first time.
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Account for cutting loss: As with any other job, you need to account for extra material for finishing along the walls. Read everything about calculating cutting loss here.
