What Type of Concrete Is Best for Heating Tiles?

Selection

• The type of concrete used for heating tiles is not as important as the heating system that's used to heat the tiles in the first place. In reality, the concrete you use does one of two possible things. The first of those is that it conducts radiant heat given off by the the thermal heating system. This can be embedded within the concrete itself. The second is that it will simply serve as a barrier and a place upon which to sit the thermal heating system. The tiles are then placed on the heating system and heated in that way. If using tile, finished concrete or ceramic tiles tend to conduct heat the best.

Systems

• A hydronic warming system is one way to warm your floor using a combination of a concrete slab with concrete tiles. In this type of system,the concrete slab is poured around tubes or pipes that remain embedded within the floor. These pipes and tubes have hot water pumped through them. This results in the the desired heating effect. Other systems use similar methods, but do so using either air or electricity.

Barriers

• In conjunction with the concrete slab, the use of a moisture and thermal barrier below the concrete slab can also help to maintain the thermal qualities of the sub-floor system. These barriers can only be used in instances where new construction is taking place since they are placed under the concrete slab. Those installing a heated system on top of an existing slab may need to take additional steps to preserve the heat in an installed system.

Other Flooring

• Although ceramic tile and finished concrete are two of the better heat conductors to install over the sub-floor, it is possible to use either carpet or wood floors as well. The effectiveness of wood floors is something that is still debated by different contractors. Carpet can be used fairly effectively, so long as the carpet is thin enough to allow the heat through rather than insulate it. Both wood and carpet share this insulating tendency.