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!
34 comments
Im gonna install TermaCore over concrete subfloor , but customer wants electric radiant heat .They want comfort underlayment on concrete, then heat pad and TermaCore vinyl .Can be TermaCore install on top of electric pad?
Hi Mark, thanks for your question. I am not familiar with TermaCore, so I would recommend reaching out to the manufacturer for specifics on this product.
We have radiant heat inside our concrete floor. It is cooper tubing in which hot water flows from a boiler. Our first question is about toxic off gazing. Are the chemicals used in the manufacture of vinyl plank flooring a health hazard? Second, we’ve heard that the temperature of the radiant floor heat should not exceed 80 degrees F. How long can vinyl plank flooring endure a higher temperature and what will occur if that happens? These are questions we’ve asked of countless retailers and contractors but the only answer we ever get is “I don’t know”. Could you please help us?
Hi Jodie, thanks for the question. Vinyl flooring is regulated and is certified healthy for homes by FloorScore ratings. Be sure to look for the floors rating before you buy to ensure it has been cleared. For vinyl, it can shift shape when heated, which is why it is important not to allow it to get too warm. It can weaken the joints and become more pliable when heated to higher temperatures. It will also depend on which type of vinyl you are using. Feel free to give us a call at 800-520-0961 if you have more questions
I have radiant heat in my concrete flooring. Does the thickness of the plank flooring make a difference. A couple of sites recommended product thickness of 12mm but wouldn’t that cut down on the amount of heat in the room?
Hi Fabian, thanks for the question. Your radiant heat will still be effective, however, it may take longer to heat with a thicker floor and/or thicker core, such as WPC or SPC that is more dense.
We have a walkout basement with an exterior door in the center of a wall, and as we finish the basement (with carpet in most of the room), we’d like to put a vinyl/tile “landing” inside the door. Approximately 4′ x 8′, with a wall only on one side. The carpet would be on the other three sides.) And we’d like to have electric radiant heat (under the landing only–not under the carpet).
Is this practical to do with vinyl? Most instructions I’ve seen (including this article) suggest using floating tile (not anchored down), which concerns me seeing that it’s not wall-bounded. Also, I’ve seen some vinyl manufacturer’s instructions say to use their product only at least 1/2″ above radiant heat sources–which is too much of a height transition for this location.
Is there a way to make it work? Or am I stuck going with ceramic or porcelain?
Hi Bill, thanks for your question! Since you will not have walls, you should go with a glue-down vinyl in this situation, but you should always follow the manufacturer instructions. So if the height difference they recommend is too much, then you should stick with porcelain or ceramic tile.
Hey Steve. How do I install a carpet reducer on a heated concrete floor. I believe I wouldn’t want to drill into the concrete, right?
Hi Mitch, this may be a good video to check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGv5OeCs98s!