KFW55 house with underfloor heating... which type of flooring?

2014-02-18 10:59:49

Hello Michael,

The developer says to us: Pick some tiles up to a certain budget. Since we would like wood look [...] the price would, however, be well above our budget.

Wood-look tiles are the current trend, they usually cost a bit more than the agreed standard. It only really gets expensive because you have to pay more for installation/wastage.

Floorboards would of course be great, but probably not exactly cheap (although we would certainly be willing to pay more for real wood),

Just ask your supplier if and, if so, what surcharge would apply.

we have now heard repeatedly that wooden floors are certainly feasible but not cheap in conjunction with underfloor heating. The same applies to parquet and laminate. However, vinyl apparently would be an affordable alternative both in terms of cost and thermal conductivity.

In our case, for example, tiles and plank flooring are offered at price neutrality. This is because tiles involve a higher proportion of labor, while plank flooring is laid quite quickly, but the material cost share is higher. Accounting-wise it comes out the same.

It also doesn't really matter whether you decide on tiles or parquet; the wood industry has long since adapted to the requirements of underfloor heating.

Rhenish greetings

2014-02-18 11:23:32

We have not yet decided on the flooring exactly. However, tiles will go in the hallway, the utility room, and the bathrooms – probably also in the kitchen. For the living/dining area and the corridors on the upper and attic floors, we will definitely use wooden floorboards. For the guest room and the children's rooms, we would prefer wood as well; if it gets too expensive, then it will be cork. In the bedroom and the dressing room, we would like carpet. We do not like laminate and vinyl at all. Too artificial, too cold, too smooth.

2014-02-18 11:30:12

Too artificial, too cold, too smooth.

Not really cold. And as for smoothness, when it comes to surface texture from up to...

2014-02-18 12:24:04

I would think very carefully about cork on underfloor heating. Cork actually has insulating properties, which are quite desirable for floors without underfloor heating – especially in a child's room. However, heat from the underfloor heating first has to pass through this insulating layer. And that takes time and costs a lot of energy.

Better to choose carpet.

With our laminate, you don’t feel any difference between wood and non-wood. It’s neither cold on our underfloor heating, nor slippery, nor artificial. Today’s (high-quality!) laminate can no longer be compared with 90s laminate or €4.99 DIY store laminate.

2014-02-21 22:39:32

Hello everyone

My wife and I will have a semi-detached house built this year, turnkey, to the KFW55 standard. When it comes to flooring, opinions are somewhat divided. Since there will be underfloor heating, we keep receiving different statements about the topic of flooring. Keywords like thermal transmittance values, delayed heat transfer, etc., were repeatedly mentioned. All this is very confusing for a layperson.

The builder told us: Choose tiles up to a certain budget. Since we would like a wood look and tiles apparently are the best for heat conduction, the price would be well above our budget. Floorboards would of course be great, but certainly not cheap price-wise (although we would certainly be willing to pay more for real wood), we have heard several times that wooden floors are certainly feasible but not cheap in connection with underfloor heating. The same applies to parquet and laminate. However, vinyl apparently is a cost-effective alternative with regard to both cost and thermal conductivity.

Now my question to all homeowners. How do you do it or how have you done it? Tiles, floorboards, parquet, vinyl... what did you install and were there positive as well as negative aspects?

We would be very grateful for statements that would make it a bit easier for us.

Thank you very much,

Michael

Hello Michael,

One year ago I installed vinyl parquet in one room and country house floorboards in another (both with underfloor heating) and am completely satisfied. Both have good thermal conductivity. The vinyl floor has a cork middle layer which provides better impact sound insulation. On the other hand, the parquet floor looks better. Regarding the floor choice, you only have to pay attention to suitability for underfloor heating. I ordered my floors online from a dealer who almost exclusively offers finished parquet suitable for underfloor heating. I would be happy to give you the address via private message.

Personally, I think that a vinyl or wooden parquet floor simply looks better than tiles and installation on underfloor heating is also no problem. After more than a year of intensive use, the floors still look like new and I would do it the same way again.

Best regards
Markus

2014-02-24 14:31:02

Hello,

.... This whole thing confuses a layperson enormously....

That is the nature of things, because it is not as simple as some imagine when energy and cost efficiency are the priorities.
The more the top layer of the underfloor heating "insulates," the worse it is!

The thermal resistances above and below the heating level must be in a favorable ratio. The more the top layer insulates, the more insulation must also be applied below the heating level!

The worst is a thick carpet, the best are tiles, i.e., materials with high thermal conductivity.

Best regards

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KFW55 house with underfloor heating... which type of flooring?

Bauexperte

milkie

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