Carpet sample
Radiant heat warms a room or home by first warming the floor, and the heat then rises to warm people and objects in the room. Different types of floor covering affect the speed and amount of heat reaching into the room. Typical floor coverings for radiant heated floors are ceramic tile, carpet and some types of laminated and engineered flooring.
Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tile floor
Ceramic tile is an excellent choice for covering radiant heated floors. This floor covering conducts and retains heat through thermal storage, requiring less energy to maintain the warmth in the room. Standing on a ceramic tile floor installed over radiant heat feels similar to standing on sun-warmed sand.
Radiant heat cables or piping encased in a layer of gypsum give the floor a smooth surface to install ceramic tile or other types of flooring. Spread mastic with a notched trowel to install the tile in the same manner as an unheated floor. Grout and seal the installed ceramic tile for an easily maintained floor. Allow the new ceramic floor two to three days to cure before turning radiant heat on.
Carpet
Choose carpet and padding carefully for use on radiant heated floors. According to Tyler H. Anderson, Graduate Research Assistant, and Kenneth J. Hellevang, Extension Agricultural Engineer, in a study done at North Dakota State University, the recommended R-Value of carpet and padding combined should not exceed three. R-Value is a measure of thermal resistance to heat flow. Thicker carpet and padding above the recommended level may require a higher setting of the thermostat to maintain the desired comfort level.
Anderson and Hellevang also recommend using a carpet that has a jute backing, in lieu of rubber backing. Install the thinnest carpet padding possible to receive the most benefit from radiant heating.
Wood
Home with hardwood floors
Laminate and engineered flooring are dimensionally stable and work well with radiant heating. Whether installed as a floating floor or attached to the floor with mastic or fasteners, these floors are less affected by the rise and fall of the floor temperature and changes in humidity. Floating floors tend to move as a unit and are less prone to cupping and buckling.
Species of wood recommended for hardwood flooring installed over radiant heated floors are American cherry, American walnut, mesquite and teak. Narrow board widths (under three inches) perform better than wider widths of hardwood; the narrow widths are less affected by contraction and expansion that is inherent to all wood floors.
Always check the flooring manufacturer's recommendations and installation instructions for any type of wood floor you are considering.
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