We have underfloor heating in our single-family home and are looking for a new flooring. Vinyl flooring has gotten cheaper now, but is it really better than laminate when it comes to heat conduction? Which manufacturers can you recommend?
at our place we've got underfloor heating too and back then i had to torture myself choosing between the two 😅 vinyl is really way better for that because the heat comes through so much better - laminate just insulates too much and over time it can also swell if the humidity fluctuates.
with vinyl flooring i'd make sure to go for products with good thermal conductivity, there are some solid options from brands like Wineo, Tarkett or even the store brands from Obi/building supply stores that aren't too expensive. the cheap versions often come with crappy underlays, so investing in a good base really pays off 🧶
I agree with the previous commenter, vinyl is definitely the better choice here. Laminate has significantly worse thermal conductivity and can actually swell and warp with underfloor heating because moisture doesn't dissipate as well.
With vinyl you just need to pay attention to the thickness - the thinner, the better the thermal conductivity - and get a good underlayment foam with a low thermal resistance class (ideally below 0.15 m²K/W).
As for manufacturers: I'd suggest checking out Aqua Step, Kronotex, or Windmöller, they really have solid quality for the money, and some are specifically suitable for underfloor heating (check the packaging, it'll say so there).
Vinyl usually has a thermal resistance of less than 0.1, laminate often over 0.15 - that's already a noticeable difference in heating performance. I'd recommend vinyl flooring with a good underlay, then you won't need as much gas/electricity for heating.
Guys, you're right that vinyl is the better choice with underfloor heating - the heat conductivity is just way higher and you really do save on heating costs.
With laminate I'd also advise against it, because it can warp with temperature and humidity fluctuations, which gets really annoying. For manufacturers, I'd check out vinyl flooring from Gerflor or Wineo - they've got good quality and are also certified for underfloor heating, so you're on the safe side.
I'm with the others on this - vinyl is definitely the better choice for underfloor heating because the heat conduction just works way better and you'll save money on heating too.
Laminate can actually get problematic with the heat from below and warp, especially if it gets a bit damp. As for manufacturers, I'd recommend brands like Tarkett, Gerflor or Parador - they come in different price ranges and have good customer reviews for underfloor heating - just check out which look appeals to you and how much underlay you still need.
I'm on the same page as the others when it comes to vinyl with underfloor heating - the heat conduction is simply much better. One practical tip I'd give you: when buying, definitely check the underlayment thickness, because if the impact sound insulation is too thick, it basically blocks the heat and you end up losing heating efficiency. A lot of people go with 10mm or more out of habit, but with underfloor heating, 3-5mm is often completely sufficient. As for manufacturers: Tarkett and Gerflor are considered solid, but they're priced accordingly. If you want something cheaper, no-name products from the big retailers work pretty well too, as long as the technical specs are right.
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