Amber Underfloor Heating’s technical manager, Steven Burnett, shares the reasons why tiles are one of the best choices for underfloor heating, including his expert installation tips.
Why tiles work so well with underfloor heating
- Excellent thermal conductivity – ceramic and porcelain tiles transfer heat effectively
- Low thermal resistance – tiles help the floor reach the desired temperature faster
- Heat storage (thermal mass) – tiles absorb and store heat, maintaining a consistent room temperature
Installation top tips
Consider tile thickness
- Thicker materials increase heat-up times, although they will likely improve heat retention once warm.
Choose the right tile type
- Porcelain generally offers the best balance of strength and heat transfer.
- Natural stone transfers heat well but has higher mass, so may require longer warm-up periods.
- Thick terracotta and quarry tiles can noticeably slow system response times.
Evaluate adhesive and levelling compound thickness
- Thick adhesive beds increase warm-up times due to increase thermal mass.
- A minimum of 2mm coverage above 4mm heating element is suitable for hard coverings such as tiles. Thinner coverages reduce thermal mass, speeding up reaction times.
Install insulation beneath the heating system
- Insulation boards reduce downward heat loss, directing more heat upwards into the tiled floor to reduce warm-up times and provide greater efficiency.
- Cement-coated XPS tile backer boards, available in thicknesses ranging from 6mm to 60mm, are recommended.
- When it comes to thickness, 6mm offers limited thermal improvement where floor heights are restricted, 10mm is common for residential installation and 20mm+ is recommended where maximum performance improvements are desired.
Installation Dos and Don’ts
Do
- Install insulation boards wherever possible.
- Use a flexible tile adhesive suitable for heated floors.
- Follow the heating manufacturer’s resistance testing procedure before, during and after installation.
- Install a floor temperature sensor centrally between heating runs, within a conduit, or use a second redundant sensor where height does not allow for a conduit.
- Allow adhesives and levelling compounds to fully cure before commissioning.
- Gradually increase temperature during first start-up.
- Keep the cable spacings consistent, following manufacturer guidelines.
Don’t
- Cut or shorten the heating cable.
- Allow heating cables to cross or touch.
- Install heating directly beneath fixed furniture or sanitaryware unless manufacturer approved.
- Turn the system on before adhesives have cured.
- Leave air voids beneath tiles, as these can create hot spots, reduce heat transfer and possibly cause damage.
- Omit decoupling or anti-fracture layers where substrate movement is expected.
Technical support from Amber Underfloor Heating
With a free design and quote service and extensive support, the Amber team helps you get the best from your system.
