Can I combine laminate and underfloor heating or cooling?
Yes, you can combine laminate flooring and underfloor heating or cooling. Easy to install and a pleasure to walk on. You’ll be cherishing this combination for years to come.
In addition to the following, it is always advisable to check local regulations, as these may differ in certain cases.
Types of underfloor heating
All Quick-Step laminate floors, except the Quick-Step Thermolevel underlay, can be combined with underfloor heating or cooling at low temperature. This means that the maximum permitted contact temperature (= contact surface of the floor with the feet) is 27°C. This maximum temperature is more than sufficient. Be sure to inform your installer. They can easily adjust your underfloor heating system accordingly.
Your Quick-Step floor can be installed on:
- Hot water systems:
- Wet systems (= incorporated in a screed)
- Dry systems (= installed on a dry base floor)
- Electrical systems:
- Wet systems (= incorporated in a screed)
- Dry systems (= installed on a dry base floor)
The underfloor heating must be installed in accordance with the supplier’s instructions and generally accepted rules and regulations.
Laminate with underfloor heating: Please remember:
- Please ensure that the total thermal resistance does not exceed 0.15 m² K/W. The higher the thermal resistance, the longer it takes to heat up your floor and the less efficient your floor heating will be. Except for the use of a Thermolevel underlay, this value is achieved for all our Quick-Step laminate floors in combination with all Quick-Step underlays. The Silent Walk underlay is the most suitable underlay in combination with floor cooling, as this underlay has the lowest thermal resistance.
- The thermal resistance of Quick-Step laminate in combination with one of our underlays can be found in the specific guidelines for underfloor heating.
- It is also important to apply an insulating layer beneath the underfloor heating, which insulates better than the laminate. This enables the heat from the insulation layer to be reflected and conducted through the floor.
Laminate and underfloor cooling
Underfloor cooling works according to the same principle as underfloor heating, but uses cold water instead of hot water. That's why it's important to use an advanced control and safety system to prevent internal condensation when using underfloor cooling. This prevents water damage to your floor. Such “condensation monitoring” is already installed as standard in many systems. We recommend that you check with your installer to be on the safe side.
- For underfloor cooling, a thermal resistance of less than or equal to 0.15 m² K/W is recommended. Apart from the use of a Thermolevel underlay, this value is achieved for all our Quick-Step laminate floors in combination with all Quick-Step underlays.The Silent Walk underlay is the most suitable underlay in combination with underfloor cooling, as this underlay has the lowest thermal resistance.
Installing a laminate floor with underfloor heating
When installing a laminate floor with or without underfloor heating, make sure that the laminate is always installed floating. For best results, we recommend the combination of Quick-Step laminate with a Silent Walk underlay. The general installation guidelines still apply, unless our specific guidelines for underfloor heating specify otherwise. You should always contact your dealer if you are unsure.