Underfloor Heating floor Constructions

There are many different floor constructions for underfloor heating. Here are just a few.

Underfloor Heating in Timber Floors using Aluminium Plates

Underfloor Heating in Timber floors using (25mm) Screed

Underfloor Heating in Solid Screed / Concrete Floors

Underfloor Heating in Timber Floors

Timber floors using aluminum/metal plates.

There are two ways of doing this.

Underfloor Heating in-between Joists

In between joists you would insulate in between your joists using either a board or quilt insulation. Then nail your aluminium plates to your joists leaving a least 200mm at each end of the runs where your pipe will turn. Then you run your pipe in the aluminium plates. When your pipe warms up it will worm all the aluminium plate and this will evenly warm your floor.
See Drawing.

Underfloor Heating Ontop Of Timber Floor

On top of a timber floor you would still need to insulate in between your joists, then you could lay 20mm timber batterns on top of your joist (400mm centre's). Then lay your aluminum on these timber batterns and run out your pipe.
See Drawings.

Underfloor HeatingTimber floors using screed in(25mm)

There are two ways of doing this

in between joists.

You would have to create a sub floor. This is done by nailing timber battens on either side of your joists then cutting some dense insulation and laying on top of the timber patterns. Make sure the insulation fits tight so you leave no gaps. Your insulation should be fitted so it leaves 25mm from the top of the insulation to the top line of your joists. Then lay your underfloor heating pipe work to the insulation using insulations clips. Lay the 25mm of screed over the pipe work so the screed finishes flush to the top of the joist. Once the screed is cured lay your chipboard or other structural floor. You can also create your sub floor using timber, you still need to insulate between your joists but lay plywood/sterling board on top of the timber battens.
SEE DRAWING

Underfloor Heating ON Top of a Floor

This means you would have to lift your floor levels. First make sure your floor is insulated from any cold areas e.g. garages or floor voids, Nail 25mm timber battens on top of your floor at 400mm centre's, run your underfloor heating pipe work in between those battens. Cover with screed to the top of the lats. Then lay a structural floor e.g. 18mm chipboard or floor boards. SEE DRAWING

*NOTE* When covering with natural wood floor make sure all the screed has cured and there is no moisture in this area. All natural wood floors should be acclimatized to the heat before laying check with manufacturer for details.

Variations of these floor constructions can easily be done if you have a different floor construction for your project please CONTACT US.

Underfloor Heating in Solid Floors

There are a number of different ways of doing this here are just a few

Underfloor heating in a screed floor.

Screed floors are easy to add underfloor heating to as you are already to do the construction work regardless of the heating. A screed floor is easily built out of a damp proof membrane (DPM) then concrete is poured on top. Then lay the insulation on top of the concrete and fix the underfloor heating pipe work onto this insulation and screed over.
SEE DRAWINGS

Underfloor heating in a concrete floor

Concrete floor/structural floors are very similar to a screed floor, its built up from the DPC with the insulation on top. Underfloor heating pipes are then laid and concrete is poured on top to the finished floor level, this way you only lay screed/concrete once unlike the screed floors. SEE DRAWING

Underfloor heating on top of a insulated concrete floor.

This method will only lift your floor by 43mm

To add underfloor heating to an existing concrete floor which has insulation in the concrete lay 25mm timber battens at 400mm centre's, run your underfloor heating pipe work in between these battens and screed flush with the top of the batten then lay 18mm chipboard or any other structural floor. SEE DRAWING

Underfloor heating on top of a non insulated concrete floor

For concrete floors with no insulation in them you would have to for example, lay 3" 2' timber joists, 50mm of kingspan or any high U valve insulation (check with building control on recommended insulation) lay underfloor heating pipe work on top of the insulation and screed 25mm to the top of the joists cover with 18mm chipboard or other structural floor.
SEE DRAWING

Note when laying natural wood floor make sure all screed has fully cured and there is no moisture in the room. Acclimatize the floor check with manufacturer for details.

Underfloor Heating in Screed over concreate

Screed floors that already have the insulation on top of the DPM and concrete over the top are done in much the same way. Fix the underfloor heating pipe work directly to the concrete using hammer clips and screed over (typically 75mm). The underfloor heating laid in this way will take longer to warm up and longer to cool down as the heating will warm up all of the concrete and all the screed. SEE DRAWING