I've seen that many underfloor heating mats (the electric ones) specify the need for tile or stone floor and I'm wondering if it will work as efficiently under a solid oak floor? (or any wood floor for that matter)
Also what will be the difference between 100, 150, and 200 w/m2 in the heating mat? What is usually used in alounge?
Best Answer
We have a water based underfloor heating system fitted under wood (old pine I think, not oak) floorboards which works fine.
It will be less efficient than a tile or stone floor as wood has lower thermal conductivity than stone or tile. You would have to fit a more powerful heat source to gain the same temperature gain in your room. It might even be the case that you can't get mats that are powerful enough - the water pipes we have are too hot to touch with bare hands - if you had enough current to produce that amount of heat you might be in danger of melting the wires.