Which Floorings Work Best With In-Floor Heating?

In-floor heating is a great investment for any home. But because this heating system works via convection, some flooring isn't suitable for in-floor heating. So it's important that you work out if your current flooring is suitable for in-floor heating before you proceed to install a system.

Some flooring combines very well with in-floor heating to create a warm and cozy environment. The following flooring solutions are great at transferring heat from your in-floor heating system to your home.

Natural Stone Flooring

If you've ever walked on or sunbathed on boulders and stones at a beach, you'll know that natural stone is an excellent conductor of heat. Not only that, but natural stone, such as marble and granite can retain heat for much longer than other materials can. With natural stone flooring, you can turn off your in-floor heating and still enjoy the heat radiating up from the floor an hour later.  

Natural stone's benefits make it a good match with in-floor heating for homeowners that want to keep their energy use to a minimum, to cut their energy bills and protect the environment.

Porcelain or Ceramic Flooring

Both porcelain and ceramic tile flooring work well with in-floor heating because they conduct heat very quickly. This is because each flooring system utilises thin tiles that quickly transfer heat into your home. Although porcelain and ceramic flooring transfer heat much faster than natural stone flooring does, it doesn't hold onto heat for quite as long.

This type of flooring will work well for you if you need heat quickly. For instance, if you live in an area with cold evenings, you can switch on your in-floor heating and quickly heat up your bathroom's flooring to create a cosy atmosphere as you prepare for bed.

Vinyl Flooring

When compared to the previously mentioned flooring systems, vinyl seems to be the odd one out. But vinyl has several advantages when used with in-floor heating. Firstly, vinyl flooring is inexpensive to install and to repair or replace. Vinyl flooring also works because it transfers heat quickly from your heating to your home. As such, vinyl is useful when you need heat fast.

The biggest downside to vinyl in terms of in-floor heating is that it doesn't retain heat for very long once you turn your heating off. However, vinyl flooring is a great option to go with if you wish to save money on your initial investment.