Vinyl floors have some excellent features, like scratch-resistant, water-resistant, durable, etc. People are using vinyl floors in their houses and offices to get these outstanding features. Moreover, vinyl floors are easy to clean.
So, you might want to install the vinyl floor in your house. But you also want to have an underfloor heating system. All floors are not suitable to bear the underfloor heat.
That’s why you might be confused about whether vinyl floors can be heated or not. This article will tell you about the vinyl floor’s heating ability and resistivity.
Can vinyl floors be heated?
Vinyl floors can be heated. Even an underfloor heating system is also possible with vinyl planks. So, vinyl planks can bear enough heat and flow the heat from the subfloor to the inside of the house. Moreover, the vinyl planks don’t get damaged after getting heat. So, you can heat the vinyl floor.
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Vinyl floorings are durable and stable in different temperatures. They are so convenient that you can modify the subfloor with warm or cold modification. For example, an underfloor heating system, air-conditioning system, etc., can be installed with the vinyl floor.
So, if you want to modify your floor with a heating system, you can do it with a vinyl floor. Vinyl floors can bear heat to a certain temperature.
Can vinyl flooring be used with underfloor heating?
Yes, you can use vinyl flooring with underfloor heating. Vinyl flooring is suitable for the underfloor heating system. Vinyl floors can bear a specific range of temperature. So, too much high heat loss can be defective for the vinyl floor.
Vinyl floors get heated and cool down easily. So, heat loss capacity on the vinyl floor is high. So, the heat conductivity of the vinyl flooring is also good. When the underfloor heating system starts, the vinyl floor can heat up the floor quickly.
Moreover, when you don’t need to heat the floor, the vinyl floor will cool down quickly. This feature of vinyl floors is so convenient that people are installing vinyl floors in their houses. They are using vinyl flooring with an underfloor heating system.
Can you put radiant heat under vinyl plank flooring?
Yes, you can put radiant heat under vinyl plank flooring. Vinyl flooring has different forms, for example, vinyl sheet, vinyl plank, vinyl tile, etc. They all are suitable for putting radiant heat under vinyl plank flooring.
The floorings which have good heat conductivity are good for a radiant heating system. Vinyl flooring is pretty good heat conductive. Moreover, thick flooring is suitable for radiant heat. Similarly, vinyl flooring is thick and has multiple layers.
Vinyl floors don’t have the possibility of damage from moisture. Moreover, the vinyl floor’s tendency to expand or contract makes it suitable for putting radiant heat under it.
How to install underfloor heating under vinyl?
Vinyl flooring is comfortable than other floating floors. But in cold weather, you might think of installing an underfloor heating system to keep your floor and home warm.
Installing underfloor heating is getting popular under especially luxury vinyl planks. So, let’s see how you can install underfloor heating under the vinyl floor.
Preparation:
First of all, you have to prepare the subfloor for installing underfloor heating. Clean the subfloor well and sand off any uneven debris. Moreover, fill up any hole or air leaking vent. Chalk lines on the subfloor with measurements of the heating system.
Install the heating element:
Test the heating element and lay the heating elements according to the measurement. Attach the mesh part of the heating element with glue, staple, or nail. But never staple or nail down the cable of the mesh part.
If you don’t attach the mesh part well, it might move after the floor installation and will not able to provide heat.
Place other parts of the heating system:
After installing the mesh part, place a sensor so that the heat might not rise over the bearable limit. Stick the sensor with glue and make sure that the sensor might not cross the heating element. You can check the sensor with an ohmmeter.
Embed the heating element with 3/8 inches cement. This cement layer will secure the heating element in place and also make the vinyl floor even.
Install the vinyl flooring:
Over the subfloor, now you can install the vinyl plank, vinyl sheet, or vinyl tiles. Make sure to install the vinyl flooring correctly from left to right. Besides, leave an expansion gap at the edges of the wall.
Connect the thermostat:
After installing the vinyl flooring correctly, connect the thermostat to run the heating system. Moreover, set up the maximum temperature limit with the thermostat.
What temperature can vinyl flooring withstand?
Vinyl flooring can withstand more than -30 degrees Fahrenheit (-34 degrees Celsius) and less than 155 degrees Fahrenheit (68 degrees Celsius). Vinyl flooring is one of the best floorings for underfloor heating. They can withstand pretty high temperatures.
Generally, vinyl floors have the appearance of wood. But they are not natural wood. People might think that vinyl floors can damage in cold and high temperatures. But that is not true! The vinyl floor can be in good condition in cold weather.
Moreover, vinyl floors can be heated. An underfloor heating system can be installed under the vinyl floor. Vinyl floor can easily withstand up to 155 degrees Fahrenheit.
Transfer of heat limits on vinyl flooring
Vinyl flooring is suitable for use with underfloor heating. But the vinyl flooring has a specific temperature limit that the vinyl flooring bears without damage. Vinyl flooring is also heat-conductive. So, they also have a heat limit to transfer.
The vinyl flooring, underlay, and other layers above the underfloor heating need to be in the range of transfer of heat limit.
You can notice the following table to know the transfer of heat limits on vinyl flooring for electric underfloor heating. You should not exceed the limits while installing the underfloor heating.
| Transfer of heat limits | |
| Tog | No more than 2.5 |
| RSI | No more than 0.25 |
| R-Value (US) | No more than 1.42 |
| U-Value | No less than 4.0 |
How does heat affect vinyl flooring?
Vinyl floors can be heated but for a certain amount of heat. If the vinyl floor is exposed to heat, the heat can affect the vinyl flooring. Let’s see how heat affects the vinyl flooring.
Melt:
High heat can melt down the vinyl flooring. Sometimes, refrigerators, dryers, and ovens don’t work properly and generate excessive heat. This heat can melt down the vinyl floor and damage permanently.
Scorch:
Sometimes, when any highly heated object falls on the vinyl floor, the floor might be burnt or scorched. For example, a heated cooking pan can fall on the kitchen vinyl floor and make the floor scorched.
Discolour:
When the vinyl floor comes in contact with high temperatures, the vinyl floor might be discoloured. The patterned vinyl might also distort the pattern with high temperatures.
Does the heat cause any shrinkage, expansion, or warping of the vinyl flooring?
Yes, vinyl flooring has a natural feature of shrinking or expanding with temperature. That’s why an expansion gap is kept while installing the vinyl flooring.
Generally, vinyl flooring is durable and strong. This floor doesn’t get damaged so easily. But too much heat or cold might cause problems to the flooring.
Excessive heat can melt or scorch the vinyl flooring. While melting, the floor might shrink. Moreover, the floor might get discolored when it comes to high temperatures. Sometimes, sudden high temperatures can warp or buckle the vinyl flooring.
What kind of floors can be heated?
Heating the floor is pretty essential sometimes. When it comes to the cold weather of winter, the floor becomes so cold that heating is a must. In this case, subfloor heating can be the best option to make the floor warm.
The floors that have good thermal conductivity, thick, and transfer heat quickly are the best to be heated. For example, tile and stone are suitable for heating. They have high thermal conductivity, and they are also pretty thick.
Ceramic and stone tiles, polished concrete, slate and flagstone, vinyl flooring, etc., are suitable for heating.
How do I make my vinyl floor warmer?
Making the floor warmer in the cold weather is necessary. You can follow many different ways to make your floor warmer. Some of the ideas are here that you can apply to make your floor warmer.
- You can use mats or rugs on the floor to keep your vinyl floor warmer.
- You can install an underfloor heating system to make your floor warmer.
- You can use a padded vinyl floor to keep the floor warmer.
- You can insulate your vinyl floor to make the floor warmer.
- You can install a radiant heating system under the luxury vinyl floor.
Vinyl floors are suitable for heating. In cold weather, the floor becomes so cold that you might need a heating system to keep the floor warm. Sometimes, mats, rugs, or external heating ways aren’t sufficient.
You might want to heat the floor from the underfloor heating system. In this case, vinyl floors are safe to install underfloor heating and radiant heating systems under it. You can find the installation process in this article.