Underfloor heating + Laminate = HELP!

Laneyboo

Hi there,

Looking for some advice as i've recently moved into a new build that has underfloor heating downstairs.

Firstly i was going to go for engineered oak flooring in the lounge and hallway but i've seen some very reasonable and quality looking laminate that is 12mm thick.

Questions i'd like some help with are:

What thickness of flooring is too thick to allow heat from underfloor heating through? (am i wrong in imagining the thinner the board the better?)

What underlay (if any) should be used with laminate and UFH?

Lastly the builders have basically laid the skirting boards and then put down the concrete screed so the boards are not above the concrete, leaving me with the problem of what to do as i've always removed skirting boards and finishings to lay flooring underneath for a better finish?

Any help from anyone on this would be much appreciated.. The foreman of the site is still around as many properties nearby havent yet been completed but the flooring company i'm dealing with have said to have a word about replacing the skirtings as its literally left me with the option of either carpet or a silly beading all the way round the whole of the lounge and hallway...

Thanks in advance

ormus

it all depends. some UF heating is ok with laminate flooring. usually when its laid on top of an existing floor.
if its been laid in a screed (new build) then its most likely not suitable.

underlay_guru

Hi,

In regards to underlay, the use of an ultra-low tog product is ideally recommended for use with underfloor heating. A low-tog product simply allows the heat from below to pass through it very easily.

Duralay manufacture a product called 'Heatflow Laminate' which is just that, and is specifically for use with laminate flooring and underfloor heating systems. Any independent flooring retailer worth their salt should recognise the manufacturer and name of this product, and should be able to aquire it for you from their wholesaler quite easily!

The product and its specifications are available here for your inspection:

http://interfloor.com/heatflow_1.php

Laneyboo

thanks for your replies.. underlay_guru that stuff looks exactly what i'm after, many thanks for the link

bryanb

Can't you remove the skirting and refit it a little higher when the job is finished?

Laneyboo

yeah that would be fine if the skirtings werent all touching the concrete on the bottom meaning that most of the skirtings that will be removed will split and i'll need to buy new

underlay_guru

Hi,

What about cutting a few centimetres from the bottom of the skirtings while they are in-situ? Not my expertise i'm afraid, but i'm sure there will be a joiner on here somewhere who will be able to confirm whether this is viable or not.

Also, it is very rare that a laminate floor is not suitable for use on top of underfloor heating.

Laneyboo

mealticket wrote: »

screeding after skirting on a new build sounds like a bodge to me, where does the DPM end

ermm.. DPM meaning damp proof membrane? i have no idea?? i actually feel like taking a photo to show you all what i mean.. and yes the two joiners that ive had in have said they find it unbelievable that they have done that with the screed. The builders are still on site as the development is nowhere near finished, we spoke with the foreman on site who asked us just to put beading around the edge of the floor if thats the floor i wanted :mad:

I'm getting pretty tired of it all now and the cost just seems to be creeping ever upward, i'm just determined not to put carpet down!