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Original poster

Underfloor heating for hard flooring

12 replies

Iamthecaptainnow · 27/04/2019 07:43

Hi, we're looking to renovate our "attic room", big sunny space currently used as an office/playroom, into a proper bedroom. DH wants carpet but I want an easy-to-clean hard flooring. He will only agree to that if we put down underfloor heating! Fine by me.

What hard flooring options would you recommend? I'm really new to this, was just thinking laminate Grin My parents have Karndean in their bathroom, with underfloor heating, but it's a much smaller area. Thanks!

Underfloor heating for hard flooring
OP posts:
PigletJohn · 27/04/2019 09:02

laminate is cheap. Vinyl is OK but will be dented by heavy furniture, and damaged if you drag it around the room.

"engineered" wood will be adequate in a bedroom.

Be aware that you won't ever want to take it up to get at pipes or electricals underneath.

If you get electric UFH, it will cost so much to run that you will never use it.

You need to insulate the room, especially the roof slopes, to modern standards, which will probably mean taking down any existing ceiling. An uninsulated loft room can lose a vast amount of heat through the roof in frosty conditions.

TiddleTaddleTat · 27/04/2019 09:07

Yes, I would imagine installing ufh in a loft room might be more trouble than it's worth. Isn't it quite warm anyway with all the heat rising from below?

Does the loft have the max insulation already?

Original poster
Iamthecaptainnow · 27/04/2019 10:02

The conversion was done by at least the owners-before-last and it appears to be perfectly liveable. We've been here for almost two years and it seems fine. Is there a way to check the insulation...?

DH hates cold floors, I think a big fluffy rug would be fine and enable more options for cleaning/replacement than carpet.

I'll look into engineered wood, I've not heard of that...

OP posts:
NotAnotherJaffaCake · 27/04/2019 10:05

I wouldn't put a hard floor in an attic without some seriously good sound insulation.

Original poster
Iamthecaptainnow · 27/04/2019 10:08

A quick google suggests engineered wood may be the way forward, indeed (thanks @PigletJohn, I've heard of your legendary recommendations!). Looks like it's warmer than laminate and should be okay? I don't mind installing the underfloor heating and never using it, but it does seem like a bit of a waste, obviously. What about premium laminate options, relative to the engineered wood?

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 27/04/2019 10:34

if it was an official conversion, and has Planning Permission and Building Regulations Approval, you should be able to look up the plans on your local council's website, or possibly by application. You want the BR's plans.

If it was done without approval, you have to assume that it is substandard.

Original poster
Iamthecaptainnow · 27/04/2019 21:44

Thanks! Had a search online, was all done properly back in 1987. So now the flooring... The engineered wood option looks great, thanks for the suggestion. Asked my parents about the heating and they said their electric system was fast and cheap to install, and isn't outrageously expensive to run.

I was going to look for an installer via something like Trusted Trader- or should I use a company that will do the whole thing for me? Might be safer...

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 27/04/2019 22:01

have a look at the 1987 plans, see how thick the roof insulation was.

Today it is about ten inches, back then it will have been less but I don't know what.

BubblesBuddy · 28/04/2019 00:03

We have electric underfloor heating in two bathrooms and we use it! It’s luxurious and underfloor heating has the benefit of walls not being taken up by radiators so furniture goes where you want it to go. Elsewhere we have a wet underfloor system and engineered wood floors and ceramic tiles. If works perfectly. When you buy engineered wood it looks like real wood because the top layer is a wood veneer. Get the thickest veneer you can afford. Also consider the finish of the wood. We have pre lacquered and it’s so easy to clean and maintains its looks. No re oiling or sealing required. If sound is an issue, get a rug!

bouncydog · 28/04/2019 09:09

We have underfloor electric heating in our bathrooms and it doesn’t cost much at all. Make sure the roof and walls are well insulated and also make sure you have a floor probe and room stat so that the floor doesn’t get too hot which can damage the flooring.

Goosethemoose · 01/05/2019 20:07

Hello again, well after some research it looks like engineered wood is a little beyond an acceptable price-point, so now it comes down to laminate or vinyl tiles... Or carpet! I'm really not sure about the vinyl as I associate it with cheap crappy flooring from my childhood, but I feel I should be open-minded. Maybe laminate is the best option then? With or without the heating beneath? Argh!

MarieG10 · 01/05/2019 20:25

Don't put UFH in a bedroom. We have it downstairs and is lovely and gentle but it is slow heat up and slow to cool. If the sun comes out on the bedroom on the evening the floor will continue to heat for hours whereas rads cool rapidly

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