Underfloor Heating Floor Construction
The Underfloor Heating system can be fitted in both concrete floors and timber suspended floors. For other floor constructions please contact us. For example we also offer a floating floor solution.
Also note, that we can offer many different floor constructions for concrete floors and timber suspended floors, if you have special requirements just contact us.
>> Print our Installation Instructions
Concrete Floors
In concrete screeded floors, the screed acts to diffuse the heat across the surface providing an even temperature at the floor surface.
Depending on the type of building, construction, standards, there are a number of methods of laying the underfloor heating pipes in concrete floor structures.
The most popular method of installation is as follows:
A concrete slab (or suspended beam and block construction) is laid over a damp proof membrane. A 20mm thick piece of insulation is fixed to the perimeter (external) walls, to a height to include the depth of floor insulation and screed.
Whilst the edging insulation may be on show it is covered by wall plastering and skirting boards.
Floor insulation is laid to the whole area, joints are taped to prevent the ingress of screed between the insulation boards. The floor is now ready for the underfloor heating pipework installation.
We recommend you use a 50mm layer of Polyurethane insulation. If there is not enough space for 50mm insulation, 30mm is recommended. We recommend Polyurethane as it out performs Polystyrene and its greater density allows use of clip fittings.
Finally 65 - 75 mm screed is laid on top of the insulation and the pipe.
If you use polystyrene insulation (50mm) it is recommended that you install wire mesh on top of the insulation and tie the pipe to the mesh. For other floor constructions please contact our technical department.
Timber Suspended Floors
Timber suspended floors do not conduct heat as efficiently as screeded floors. This means that the heat output is less.
Some manufacturers use heat emission plates to try to achieve an even temperature on the floor. This is a very expensive way of installing underfloor heating in timber suspended floors and at the end of the aluminium plate the temperature is not going to be very high. Clearly there should be a cheaper solution that works without using the very expensive aluminium plates. After all, the first floor is usually timber suspended and less heat is usually required as the first floor is supplemented by heat from the ground floor.
Our system is very simple and easy to install in timber suspended floors. The system is based on hundreds of installations that are now working with total satisfaction.
Between the joists, a 50mm polyurethane insulation board is cut for a tight fit. It is advisable to use scrap battens from the building site to support the insulation from below.
The pipe is then clipped on the insulation with our special pipe clips. Then the floor boards are laid on top of the joists. Be careful not to leave too much air space between the insulation boards and floor boards (25mm is recommended). The joists need to be notched where needed for pipe runs.
For ground floor timber suspended or buildings 20 years or older we recommend:
To get the timber suspended floor to act as a screeded floor and to give out more heat, the air gap between the insulation and the floor boards should be filled with a lightweight screed mix. This infill is normally required for older buildings.
There are a number of ways installing underfloor heating in timber suspended floors. Below link shows another solution using a foil system. The supplier is YBS Insulation. With this system you do not need to use any infill if the property is built to current building regulations.
http://www.ybsinsulation.com/superfloor.htm
Note:
The first floor is supplemented by heat from the ground floor.