--- title: Under which floors can you install underfloor heating? description: Are you going to install underfloor heating? Our BerryAlloc flooring expert explains what you need to pay attention to and which type of floor you should choose. image: https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/hubfs/crush%20brown%20natural_lam_v4_1288x190_berryalloc_rsh_011000x500.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/en/practical-advice/installing-underfloor-heating#main-content) [![logo_berry-alloc black](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/hubfs/logo_berry-alloc%20black.svg "logo_berry-alloc black")](http://www.bintg.com) [![logo_my-floor-style brown](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/hubfs/logo_my-floor-style%20brown.svg "logo_my-floor-style brown")](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/) - [Choose my floor](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/tag/choose-my-floor) - [Interior & colour](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/tag/interior-colour) - [Practical advice](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/tag/practical-advice) - [Choose my floor](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/tag/choose-my-floor) - [Interior & colour](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/tag/interior-colour) - [Practical advice](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/tag/practical-advice) - [English](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/en/practical-advice/installing-underfloor-heating) - [Français - Belgique](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/fr-be/conseils-pratiques/installer-chauffage-par-le-sol) - [Français - France](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/fr-fr/conseils-pratiques/installer-chauffage-par-le-sol) - [Nederlands - België](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/nl-be/praktisch-advies/vloerverwarming-leggen) English [Visualise in my room](https://www.berryalloc.com/global/en/floorfit) [Find a dealer](https://www.berryalloc.com/global/en/dealers?location=London%2C+United+Kingdom) # 8 tips for installing underfloor heating written by: Olivier, Full-fledged Flooring pro date: 13/05/2026 reading time: 7 minutes ![BerryAlloc - 1200 x 839_01](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BerryAlloc%20-%201200%20x%20839_01.jpg?width=2000&name=BerryAlloc%20-%201200%20x%20839_01.jpg) > Are you going to install underfloor heating? Then you probably have many questions about the floor construction for underfloor heating, the possible materials, and much more. That’s why we’ve listed the key points for you. This way, installing underfloor heating becomes almost child’s play! ## Underfloor heating under every floor We can already reassure you: in principle, you can install underfloor heating under any type of floor. [Laminate](https://www.berryalloc.com/en/laminate), [parquet](https://www.berryalloc.com/en/parquet), [vinyl](https://www.berryalloc.com/en/luxury-vinyl-planks-and-tiles), and [high pressure floors](https://www.berryalloc.com/en/high-pressure-floors) — they are all suitable. So you can simply choose your favorite flooring material! Glue or not? You can install underfloor heating under both a glued and a floating floor. With a floating floor, there is an extra air layer, which means the heat passes through just a little less quickly. A glued floor is therefore slightly more energy efficient. [![Laminate - Ocean+ - Select Light Brown](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BerryAlloc%20-%20956%20x%20643_01.jpg?width=900&height=605&name=BerryAlloc%20-%20956%20x%20643_01.jpg)Laminate - Ocean+ - Select Light Brown](https://www.berryalloc.com/global/en/laminate/oceanplus/ocean-8-v4?page=3#ocean-8-v4-select-light-brown) ## Floor construction for underfloor heating Whichever type of floor you choose: correct installation of underfloor heating is always crucial. Our floor experts recommend that you always take the following points into account: ### 1. Work clean and dry Installing a floor with underfloor heating should be done on a clean, dry, flat, and hard subfloor. Otherwise, you’ll get unevenness and/or moisture problems. [![Laminate - Ocean+ - Epic Natural](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/epic%20natural_lam_v4_1288x190_berryalloc_rsh_6.jpg?width=366&height=550&name=epic%20natural_lam_v4_1288x190_berryalloc_rsh_6.jpg)](https://www.berryalloc.com/global/en/laminate/oceanplus/ocean-8-v4?page=2#ocean-8-v4-epic-natural) ### 2. Turn off the heating for a while Of course, first and foremost, your screed must be completely dry, which can take one to several weeks. But before you place the floor on the underfloor heating, it’s also important to switch off the underfloor heating for a few days. Then let the room warm up gradually — not immediately on the hottest setting. This way, you avoid problems in the floor surface caused by large temperature differences. ### 3. Ensure a controlled environment During the installation of the floor, monitor the temperature and humidity in the room. Ideally, a temperature of 18 to a maximum of 20°C and a humidity level of 40 to 60 percent. ### 4. Place a vapor barrier A vapor barrier is a waterproof foil that prevents water vapor or condensation from the subfloor from damaging the installed floor. It’s best to place a vapor barrier of at least 0.2 mm thick, or choose an underlay with integrated foil such as[Excellence Plus](https://www.berryalloc.com/en/accessories/underlays). ### 5. Insulate well To minimize heat loss, place an insulating layer under your underfloor heating of at least 5 cm, but you can even go up to 15 cm. A floor with underfloor heating requires a thicker insulation than a floor without underfloor heating. ### Tip: ##### Be sure to check whether you are eligible for a government grant for your floor insulation. ![dreamclick installation live_lvt_berryalloc_ubr_05](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/dreamclick%20installation%20live_lvt_berryalloc_ubr_05.jpg?width=1440&height=1080&name=dreamclick%20installation%20live_lvt_berryalloc_ubr_05.jpg) ### 6. Watch out for expansion joints Regardless of the type of floor, with a floating installation you must provide enough expansion joints so that the flooring material has room to “move.” Due to temperature differences, your floor can expand and contract. Without expansion joints, you risk a floor that doesn’t stay flat, or other problems. ### 7. Heating capacity For an electric heating system, a maximum capacity of 18 watts per meter of cable or 60 watts per m² is recommended. ### Tip: ##### How do you apply this rule? Multiply the number of m² of the room by 60 so you know the maximum capacity of the heating system. For example: 26 m² × 60 W = 1,560 W. So the system may have a maximum capacity of about 1,500 W. ### 8. Avoid large rugs A rug feels wonderfully soft under your feet, we understand that. But if you choose underfloor heating, it’s not a good idea to cover a large area with a rug. That prevents the heat from passing through properly, resulting in a higher energy bill and possibly problems with your floor. ## Surface temperature of your floor In addition, for parquet as well as other floor types, you must check the surface temperature. Your floor should not get warmer than 27 to 28°C. Do you have a water-based heating system? Then your supplier must calculate the maximum incoming and outgoing water temperatures so that the surface temperature does not exceed that level. ## Thermal resistance of your floor The cumulative thermal resistance of the floor also matters: the thermal resistance of the vapor barrier plus the underlay or subfloor plus the floor itself. When you add this up, according to the European standard (NF EN 12667), it may not exceed 0.15 m² k/W. [![Laminate - Ocean 8 V3 - Gyant Natural Lam](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/gyant_natural_lam_1288x190_berryalloc_rsh_03.jpg?width=900&height=600&name=gyant_natural_lam_1288x190_berryalloc_rsh_03.jpg)Laminate - Ocean+ - Gyant Natural](https://www.berryalloc.com/global/en/laminate/oceanplus/ocean-8-v4?page=2#ocean-8-v4-gyant-natural) ## What about cooling? Nowadays, there are systems that combine underfloor heating and floor cooling. Handy on hot summer days. But floor cooling does carry a risk for your floor. If the **temperature of the cooling water** drops to the so-called dew point, this causes condensation, which can lead to various issues: mold with vinyl, swelling with wood (laminate and parquet), etc. Are you installing a cooling system under your floor? Then pay attention to this: - **Never** let the water temperature in your heating/cooling system **drop below 18°C**. - Make sure the **temperature difference** between the floor and the room is never more than 6°C. A floor of 20°C in a room where it’s 30°C? Not a good idea. - Choose a cooling system with an **anti-condensation control system**. This automatically regulates the temperature of the incoming water. - Double-check with the supplier of your underfloor heating/cooling system **whether it is compatible** with the specific laminate floor you plan to install. Are you going to install your floor yourself? Then prepare well with the following tips. [Discover the 8 steps](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/practical-advise/lay-your-own-flooring?hsLang=en)       Share: [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%208%20tips%20for%20installing%20underfloor%20heating%20&body=Check%20out%20https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/en/practical-advice/installing-underfloor-heating](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%208%20tips%20for%20installing%20underfloor%20heating%20&body=Check%20out%20https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/en/practical-advice/installing-underfloor-heating) [previous](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/practical-advice/repair-floor-damage?hsLang=en) [![icon](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/hubfs/overview.png) overview](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/tag/practical-advice) [following](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/interior-and-colour/furnishing-apartment?hsLang=en) ## Read these next! You’ll probably like these articles as well. 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Read full article [![How to choose the best flooring for underfloor heating and cooling](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BerryAlloc/Myfloorstyle/BerryAlloc_family-398x344.jpg?width=300&name=BerryAlloc_family-398x344.jpg)](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/choose-my-floor/best-flooring-for-underfloor-heating?hsLang=en) #### [How to choose the best flooring for underfloor heating and...](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/choose-my-floor/best-flooring-for-underfloor-heating?hsLang=en) #### [How to choose the best flooring for underfloor heating and...](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/choose-my-floor/best-flooring-for-underfloor-heating?hsLang=en) There’s something undeniably pleasant about stepping onto a gently heated floor. It’s that small... 11 min. Read full article [![Does my parquet need an underlay?](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BerryAlloc/Myfloorstyle/albatre%20naturel_398x344.jpg?width=300&name=albatre%20naturel_398x344.jpg)](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/practical-advice/underlay-parquet?hsLang=en) #### [Does my parquet need an underlay?](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/practical-advice/underlay-parquet?hsLang=en) #### [Does my parquet need an underlay?](https://myfloorstyle.berryalloc.com/practical-advice/underlay-parquet?hsLang=en) The underlay plays an important role in the installation of floor coverings, especially with... 9 min. Read full article ## Stay informed. **Stay inspired.** Not sure yet which direction you want to take with your floor or interior? Want to check if you're really up to date with the latest trends? We’re happy to provide you more information and inspiration! 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