Suspended timber floor with wet underfloor heating and tile finish

[Bob a job]

Hi All,

I have been reading up on how to fit underfloor heating with an existing timber floor and have come across the method of a suspended insulation board between and then heating pipes and screed.

However as the finished floor will be tile this will then have the floorboard and then hardie backer or something on top to take the tiles.

I am wondering if this is the correct way or as the finish will be tile this should be made up differently for better thermal transfer?

Thanks in advance

 

[Iampaulmee]

Hi,

Sounds like a counter sunk sand/cement pug system - which is fine.
Make sure you put a board between the joists that the insulation can sit on, if the insulation sags down the heating may not be in contact with the underside of the floor.

Alternatives would be to have an Ali plate system with pre grooved insulation or a foil faced insulation board. Both lightweight and easy to fit.

If you are looking for a high output (or it's being linked to a low temp heat source such as a heat pump) system use a screed replacement board instead of the chipboard.

Make sure you put the right level of insulation in the floor, finding out you haven't put enough in after is a nightmare! I.e you could be left with a poor performing system that only offers floor warming.

Hope this helps.

Paul