Is insulation boarding really needed for UFH?

[muymalestado]

Hello to all.

Where we have a good flat and sound suspended wood plank floor in the bathroom we are advised by carpet/lino/tile shops that UFH insulation boards are not required if the mode of use is intermittent, ie, once per evening.

Laminate planks will be the top surface flooring lying on the UFH. It is planned to lay a reflective sheet below the UFH with no other layers installed.

Does this sound reasonable?

Thank you.

 

[Stewart]

Is the type of heating you are planning to use specifically designed for under laminate wood floors....?

 

[muymalestado]

Thanks Stewart - we had got as far as seeing several and deciding Pergo looked like good stuff and we'd use their laminate and UFH system. That isn't in stone yet. I suppose the answer is yes we'll stick to a purpose designed system.

edit: Though I see elsewhere on here that a void under a wood floor can suck away a high proportion of the heat.

 

[Mike]

backerboards will deflect the heat back up and not only will they save you money but the floor will heat up quicker and stay warm longer. without them you'll just be wasting your money heating up the void in your joists

 

[DHTiling]

If you are using laminate and not tiles then yes use the reflective UFH sheeting.. and welcome..

 

[Ajax123]

As per Mike reply. No insulation will cause massive inefficiencies with the heating system. Wood is a reasonably good heat sink so you will lose most of your heat into the void and timber and very little will come upwards to where you need it. Once per evening will turn inot pretty much permanently being on due to the time lag between cold and warm.

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

Hi and:welcome:

 

[muymalestado]

Got that message (after the power has come back on!) thanks to all.

 

[Max@ableskills]

Hi and welcome to the forum

 

[Dan]

As above. There's foil or carbon underfloor heating systems for under-laminate but it's not brilliant to be honest. On the flipside laminate isn't that cold to touch.