Ideas to warm up a solid floor.......

[Brigadier]

Morning all


Kitchen. About 6m x 5m.
Solid concrete floor (to best of my knowledge).
Initially finished with small red clay tiles (similar to quarry tiles).
Later, over-tiled with 30cm stone tiles.

At best currently, I could overlay a max. of 1/2" before going past the thresholds.

Looking more to taking up the stone and clay tiles, and going back to concrete substrate, then starting again.

Would ideally like some stone, ceramic, or similar tiles as the final surface; no lino or vinyl unless utterly unavoidable.

Ideas appreciated, to warm and finish the floor

(at a push, if effective / cost-effective, underfloor heating under tiles? Electric better than wet?)

 

[motorbiking]

Given the months of the year you actually want it to be warm and the hassle factor of laying wet underfloor heating, along with the likelihood that you only want it to take the edge off, I'd go with an electric underfloor heating mat. With that Sqm2 I reckon £300 + 10p an hour that you use it.

 

[Brigadier]

Thanks Motorbiking

Would even a decent insulation on a concrete substrate (no underfloor heating) still feel cold?

Are there any effective insulating slabs etc, on which I could tile?

 

[motorbiking]

it depends how much space you can find by lifting the tiles. Most insulation systems are designed to go under the concrete.

How do you feel about a laminate system on an insulation underlay?

 

[Brigadier]

Depends on how tough and moisture resistant they are (don't want a washing machine leak to destroy it, for example).
Do you have any opinions or recommendations on stuff that won't swell or warp if we have any spills?

 

[John D v2.0]

If you have plenty of insulation under, even a tiled floor would warm up from the radiators after a while. The problem is even 20c feels a little cold on the feet if it's a hard floor.
Compared with uninsulated it would be a world of difference though!
We have laminate on a suspended timber insulated floor and it's pretty warm from the general radiator heat.