Why choose concrete flooring for underfloor heating?
Concrete has a high thermal mass meaning it will store and distribute heat extremely well. Therefore when your underfloor heating system is combined with a polished concrete floor, the thermal mass will retain heat in the floor.
What is the best way to heat a concrete slab?
In-screed the Pex piping is installed on top of the slab at 150mm centres then a screed of approximately 65mm is placed on top, this gives a faster heat up time but less mass to store the heat, minus is it’s more expensive to install due to 2 concrete pours. If your wanting polished concrete floors either of these systems will be suitable.
Can resin or polished concrete flooring be used for UFH?
All of our poured resin or polished concrete flooring is suitable for any type of UFH. There is a very interesting article from Brain Sensecall at the end of this publication that gives an independent view of poured resin or polished concrete flooring with UFH. As carpets are an insulating material they are not as effective with UFH.
Can you lay on the floor with a hot water system?
A lot of hot water systems do not control the boiler temperature properly which can lead to hot spots and other issue affecting whatever you lay on the floor. A typical boiler will heat water to about 82 degrees which is much too hot for pipes in an underfloor heating system.
Can underfloor heating go under polished concrete?
If you are considering installing Underfloor Heating with a polished concrete floor, the answer is yes it is possible. Concrete has a high thermal mass meaning it will store and distribute heat extremely well.
Can I have underfloor heating with concrete floor?
Due to their high thermal-mass, concrete floors are ideal to be heated by an underfloor heating system. Concrete provides quick heat-up times and retains heat well, even storing the warmth produced by solar gain, making a heated polished concrete floor a great option to improve the comfort and warmth of your home.
What flooring is not suitable for underfloor heating?
Never use solid wood flooring with underfloor heating. because planks of solid wood are not stable enough to deal with the changes in temperature and can become severely damaged. Engineered hardwood flooring looks exactly the same as solid wood flooring once you have installed it.
What can you not put on a polished concrete floor?
Never use cleaners such as Pine-Sol, ammonia, vinegar, or bleach as they will dull, discolor or etch polished concrete and stained concrete floors.
How do you prepare a concrete floor for underfloor heating?
How to prepare your floor for underfloor heatingClean the area of all debris and dirt.Fit the insulation boards neatly and stable ideally with all gaps and joints taped. ... If using liquid screed, a membrane of between 500 and 1000 gauge must be laid as crease/fold free as possible with all joints taped and no gaps.More items...
How do you heat a room with a concrete floor?
For new-construction homes, electric heating cable is available that can be embedded within the concrete slab as it's being poured. The most common application, however, is an in-floor heating system installed between the finished concrete slab and the flooring above.
What type of flooring is best for in floor heating?
Porcelain and ceramic tile are widely regarded as the best choice for radiant floor heating. These tiles are thin and conduct heat extremely well. This reduces the energy (and time) needed to warm up a room. Tile will also retain the heat longer than other types of flooring, increasing your efficiency even more.
Is underfloor heating expensive to run?
Electricity is more expensive than gas, thus electric underfloor heating will not cost less than using a gas radiator. However, after the initial price for material and installation, water underfloor heating will pay off with very cheap bills over time.
Can underfloor heating crack tiles?
Tiles can crack with underfloor heating, cracks are usually caused by movement of the screed at a preexisting crack or by an 'opening' in the screed. This can be attributed to a poorly designed screed or an improperly installed heating system before the tiles were laid.
How long does a polished concrete floor last?
Mechanically polished concrete can last up to 10-12 years without any major maintenance if it is appropriately installed and maintained during that time.
Are polished concrete floors high maintenance?
Cleaning and maintaining polished concrete flooring is relatively simple, but the use of the wrong products often causes the fine surface to degrade leaving a build-up of soiling. General wear can produce a similar effect, eroding the high shine and damaging the integrity of the surface.
Is polished concrete high maintenance?
There happens to be a common misconception among customers that polished concrete floors require no maintenance and unfortunately that's just wrong! Although polished concrete flooring may require substantially less maintenance than vinyl, carpet, or tile, to say it requires “no maintenance” is simply untrue.
Can you put in floor heating on top of concrete?
Radiant heat remodels can go into a new concrete floor addition, under an existing subfloor or in a thermal panel, like Thermalboard, on top of a subfloor or existing concrete slab.
Can concrete floors be heated?
Due to their high thermal-mass, concrete floors are ideal to be heated by an underfloor heating system. Concrete provides quick heat-up times and retains heat well, even storing the warmth produced by solar gain, making a heated polished concrete floor a great option to improve the comfort and warmth of your home.
How do you install underfloor heating mats on a concrete floor?
11:1612:53Underfloor Heating Mat Installation - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBefore you commence tiling ensure the heating mat and heating wires are taped securely to the floor.MoreBefore you commence tiling ensure the heating mat and heating wires are taped securely to the floor.
Are heated concrete floors worth it?
Are Heated Bathroom Floors Worth It? If you're remodeling your bathroom, or even just replacing your floors, radiant heating is definitely worth considering. Yes, you'll end up paying more for your floors, but the energy savings, comfort level, and resale value will be worth it in the end.
Would you like a quote?
Email your building plans, or square metres, and what type of usage the floor have, or phone us.
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That’s right, call now to make a booking for your free quote and we’ll have your concrete polished in no time at all!
What is hydronic heating?
Hydronic radiators and low to the floor wall systems heat the air space not the floor, as the heat rises from these units it heat the room from the top down meaning you can have a hot head but cold feet when it should be the other way round, pluses are usually a lower supply and install cost, minus are higher energy costs to run due to high water temperature and other factors. All gas boilers and heat pump heating systems specifically designed for hydronic heating are modulation systems meaning they adjust themselves down from peak load demand for example, 32kw to down to a low 3kw if this is all the heat required to keep the system at a stable heat.
Can you insulate under a slab?
PS. Make sure that you insulate both under the slab and the slab edge too. In a well designed, well insulated home with good quality windows an uninsulated slab edge can account for 20% of your heat loss!
Is it cheaper to heat concrete or hydronic?
Heating concrete is always going to be more costly. The only reviews you will find counter to this are generally from people who sell/install hydronic heating. Some people out there will tell you it is “35% cheaper in floor” challenge this and ask them how was this calculated? Their argument ‘science’ falls apart very quickly with correctly priced energy costs and typical usage.
What happens if there is no certification for floor coverings?
If there is no certification it may well invalidate any guarantees that apply to our floor coverings and you should look at UFH problems.
What is the best floor for UFH?
The following are the basic steps when you are considering choosing UFH with a res in or polis hed concrete floor. Poured resin or polished concrete is a great choice for UFH as it is natural, warm to the touch.
What temperature should a UFH thermostat be?
This should be left to qualified installers recommended by the manufacturer of the UFH system and you must have “flow” control valves to ensure that the temperature never exceeds 27°C/26°C degrees centigrade depending on floor finish used where our floor covering meets the screed or underlay. You cannot achieve this with thermostats.
What temperature should screed be?
The surface temperature of the screed for our floor coverings must never exceed 27°C/26°C degrees centigrade depending on floor finish used.
How long does concrete screed dry?
General cement and Anhydrite screeds dry out at the rate of 1mm per day under normal drying conditions.
How far below the screed should a hot water pipe be?
Hot water pipes must be at least 65mm below the top surface of the screed to ensure you get an even heat distribution and no “hot spots”. There must be sufficient insulation below the UFH and also a good DPM to prevent heat loss and moisture being drawn up through the screed.
Can you use poured resin over underfloor heating?
This article has been produced after extensive research and more importantly our own experience in fitting poured resin or polished concrete flooring over underfloor heating (UFH). All of our poured resin or polished concrete flooring is suitable for any type of UFH. There is a very interesting article from Brain Sensecall at the end of this publication that gives an independent view of poured resin or polished concrete flooring with UFH. As carpets are an insulating material they are not as effective with UFH.
