The Best Tiles for Underfloor Heating

With underfloor heating being an increasingly popular choice for many homeowners, tiling over it is a no-brainer as tiles are great conductors and retain heat well. So, if you’re thinking about installing underfloor heating, then it’s good to bear this in mind.

Some tiles are better suited to using with underfloor heating than others, however, so if you want to find out more about which to go for in your home, then read to the end of the blog for more information.

Underfloor heating will make your bathroom cosy and tiling over it is a popular choice.

Choosing your tiling

The key things to consider when selecting tiles to use with underfloor heating are the material and the thickness of the tiles.

Tile Materials

The most popular bathroom tile materials are porcelain and ceramic, due to their robustness and suitability to using in humid environments. Indeed, porcelain comes out top in terms of non-porous qualities, making it ideal for using in showers and other areas within your bathroom. It also conducts and retains heat very effectively, therefore making it a popular choice for using with underfloor heating systems.In addition to this, there’s also a lot of choice when it comes to tile colours, designs and finishes, so porcelain is an inspired choice in more ways than one.

For example, the Aspen Oak Herringbone Porcelain Tile is a high-quality floor tile with authentic graining detail which gives it a realistic wood-effect finish. As a result, you can get the look of real timber with all the many benefits of tiles – and the added bonus of being able to use them with underfloor heating. Laid in a herringbone effect, this adds visual interest while the natural aesthetic of these tiles also makes them ideal for pairing with a range of décor.

The Aspen Oak Herringbone Porcelain Tile has an authentic wood-effect finish.

With many similar properties to porcelain, ceramic also works well with underfloor heating systems and is available in a variety of tile designs and finishes.

Tile Thickness

Some natural stone tiles, such as slate and granite, also conduct heat efficiently and can work with underfloor heating. However, it's important to ensure that the stone is not too thick, otherwise the tiles might insulate the heat rather than conduct it.

Thin tiles, often referred to as ‘thin porcelain tiles’ or ‘large-format tiles,’ are designed to be lightweight and have excellent heat conduction properties, so work well with underfloor heating systems. For example, the Kalos White Porcelain Floor Tile is a large square tile which is perfect for using with underfloor heating. Made from hard-wearing porcelain this high-quality Spanish floor tile also has a neutral white tone so will match in well with any décor.

The Kalos White Porcelain Floor Tile is a large-format tile which is ideal for using with underfloor heating.

Key benefits of tiling over underfloor heating

There are a number of benefits to using tiles with your underfloor heating, which we've listed below:

• Heat Conduction: Tiles, particularly porcelain and ceramic, as mentioned above, are great heat conductors, so heat will pass quickly through the tiles and into the bathroom. As a result, your space will warm up faster, making it more efficient and convenient for you.
• Flexible Installation: Tiles are very practical and can easily be installed on most types of floors, making them ideal for the majority of homeowners.
• High-quality Finish: With a wide range of tile styles to choose from, there’s plenty of choice when it comes to getting the perfect bathroom floor. You can also choose from modern matt floor tiles as well as from different patterns, colours and tile sizes, so there’s something to suit everyone and tiles to transform every space.
• Durability: Tiles are very robust, especially porcelain, so will last you for years to come and are ideal for high-traffic areas like bathrooms. They therefore won’t need to be replaced very often.
• Easy Cleaning: Tiles are easy to keep clean, making maintenance much more convenient.

There are various factors to consider when installing underfloor heating and what tiles to use with it.

Other factors to consider when laying tiles over underfloor heating

If you’re tiling over underfloor heating then as well as tile materials, you should also consider the condition of the sub-floor, as this needs to be level for the tiles to be laid properly. Levelling your floor and just generally ensuring that the condition is suitable for tiling over – such as replacing any floorboards – is vital if you don’t want to encounter any issues further down the line.

Meanwhile, although you can lay the tiles yourself, we always recommend hiring a professional to do this, especially if you aren't confident with DIY.

Ultimately, when choosing tiles for your underfloor heating, considering the thermal conductivity of the material is key, as the higher this is, the better the tiles will transfer heat from the underfloor heating system to the surface of the floor.

As well as this, always ensure that the tiles are compatible with underfloor heating systems and that the installation process accounts for thermal expansion to prevent cracking. Consulting with a professional installer or supplier can also provide valuable guidance based on your specific requirements and the type of underfloor heating system you have.

We’re also happy to help you with any queries you might have about tiles or underfloor heating here at Tileshack, so just chat to our team online or in-store if you need any assistance.

To view our full range of tiles, visit Tileshack.com and if you have any queries, just email us at info@bathshack.com, call us on (028) 9077 0188 or use our online chat.