Home Vinyl FlooringBuying Can I Use Vinyl Plank Flooring on Top of Radiant Heating?

Can I Use Vinyl Plank Flooring on Top of Radiant Heating?

by Bestlaminate
Published: Last Updated on 34 comments 3 minutes read

With technology advancing as it is today, one of the best inventions as of late is radiant heating! For those who don’t know what it is, radiant heating is a special type of heating that is placed underneath the flooring. The heat radiates through the flooring, making it warm on your feet. Many people love these floors in bathrooms and for good reason! No one likes stepping out of a shower onto a cold floor. And since you’ve kept up with our blog, you know that vinyl plank flooring is one of the best choices for bathrooms. But can you use vinyl plank flooring on top of radiant heating?

Yes, You Can!

Vinyl plank flooring is a great option for on top of radiant heating, especially if you need a flooring that is waterproof! Be sure to keep the radiant flooring heat under 80 degrees Fahrenheit. You don’t want the heat too high, as you could compromise the integrity of the flooring. Be sure to check with the manufacturer for specific heat restrictions, as not all floors are created equal.

Warning: Be sure to always check your warranty to make sure installing your vinyl plank flooring will not void your warranty! Most vinyl flooring should be alright over radiant heat, but be sure to follow all manufacturer’s recommendations for your flooring!

Be Sure To Use A Floating Vinyl Flooring

Using a floating (or click-lock) vinyl plank flooring is your best choice over radiant heating. This floor does not glue down or staple into the subfloor, giving it the space your radiant flooring wires need. You may need to lay down a vapor barrier or thin underlayment underneath the flooring to help allow it to float evenly over the radiant heat flooring. Be sure to check with the manufacturer of your flooring and the manufacturer of the radiant heat to choose an underlayment that is suitable for both!

Have any tips you would like to share? Questions? Please feel free to contact us using the comment section below!

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34 comments

Jaymi March 5, 2020 - 4:52 am

HI,

We have just moved home and the conservatory has underfloor heating and has terracotta concrete tiles on top. I hate them!
I was thinking of painting them then I saw you can get stick on floor tiles, will this be ok with the underfloor heating?

Thanks

Reply
Alana Kane March 9, 2020 - 2:14 am

Hi Jaymi, you will have to consult with the manufacturer of the stick on tiles you would like to use.

Reply
Ralf January 21, 2020 - 11:37 pm

We have routered out channels in our wood sub floor and installed 1/2 hydroponic pipe in those channels. The top of the pipe is flush with the top of the sub floor. I would like to overlay VLP perpendicular to the pipe. They will span a slight gap. Do you think this will be an issue.

Reply
Alana Kane January 27, 2020 - 10:29 am

Hi Ralf, I don’t think this should be an issue, but I am not extremely familiar with radiant heat. I would check with the manufacturer of the radiant heat system to see what they recommend for other materials over the install.

Reply
Tom January 14, 2020 - 11:57 pm

Hello,
I just finished building a tiled shower stall and need to finish the rest of the bathroom floor outside of my shower. It sounds like vinyl plank flooring would be a lot quicker and easier to install in the remainder of my bathroom. (Plus I’m sick of tiling) Do I need to put thinset over the radiant heat coils or can I put the vinyl flooring right on top of the heat coils and keep under 80 degrees? Thanks.

Reply
Alana Kane January 15, 2020 - 10:46 am

Hi Tom, thanks for the question. I would recommend cross referencing both the radiant heat and flooring manufacturer guidelines. I believe you will need a layer of either leveling compound or plywood between the coils. Vinyl flooring is susceptible to damage with heat, so I’m thinking there needs to be a barrier of some sort.

Reply
Meagan Gore December 9, 2019 - 11:01 pm

We are building a new home and are almost to the flooring phase. We have a hydronic radiant heating system that we installed in our slab (aka pipes of hot water running through the concrete). I don’t care for tile flooring and would prefer to use a floating luxury vinyl. If we decide to use LV do we need to put some kind of moisture barrier down before installing the LV or will the included pad be sufficient if the floor should sweat? We did put a moisture barrier down under the slab before we laid the pex and poured the concrete so the only moisture would be from the actual radiant heating system itself. Also, is there a thickness range of the flooring itself that we should try to stay in? Which is better for heated flooring, thicker or thinner? Is there a specific brand or type of material that would be better for radiant heating?

Reply
Alana Kane December 11, 2019 - 8:04 pm

Hi Meagan, thanks for the question. I would check with the flooring manufacturer if they recommend any specifics for radiant heat. Usually, you will be good with the standard procedures and not need to add anything else. I do not believe radiant flooring is supposed to sweat or have condensation. If it did, it would cause issues with most floors. As for thickness, this is a personal choice. I would recommend a 4mm-8mm either LVT or WPC vinyl.

Reply
Amber October 17, 2019 - 10:30 pm

We have in radiant floor heating in concrete, which
Is a better conductor of the heat vinyl tiles or porcelain
Tiles?

Reply
Alana Kane October 21, 2019 - 3:23 pm

Hi Amber, thanks for the question. I believe Porcelain Tiles will be the best with conducing heat, however, vinyl is still a great option. The vinyl will naturally feel warmer than a tile all year round.

Reply
Cindy D November 11, 2019 - 2:12 pm

We are installing a vinyl plank flooring over a radiant heated floor. One room is concrete, we removed carpeting. The other rooms have vinyl stick tiles that are coming up in several places.

Question 1 – Do we need to remove the vinyl tiles or can we go over?

Question 2 – Do we need an underlayment if we remove all tiles so all is concrete?

Question 3 – If we can leave the surfaces as is, do we install an underlayment on the concrete floor?

Question 4 – Some flooring says that it has the underlayment attached to the flooring, is that sufficient?

We are concerned with so many layers that the heat will not conduct adequately through the floor. Thank you in advance for your response.

Reply
Alana Kane November 12, 2019 - 3:06 pm

Hi Cindy, thanks for the questions.
1. I would recommend taking up the tiles if they are not in good shape. You will need to start with a flat, level subfloor, so that means removing any adhesive that may be stuck to the floor.
2. For vinyl flooring, you can install directly on top of the concrete. If you want added thermal properties or cushion, you can add an underlayment.
3. You can install on top of vinyl tiles, but again, you need to make sure the subfloor is level and flat.
4. Attached underlayment is a great option and saves you an installation step.

Your radiant heating should still work with a vinyl on top of the concrete. Be sure to check with the flooring manufacturer about radiant heating specifications when you decide on a plank.

Reply
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