PVC floors, also known as vinyl, are modern floor finishes that have become very popular in a short time due to their properties. PVC floors consist of different layers of materials. The base material is made of plastic polymer, which is known for its flexibility and durability. On top of that is the carrier layer, made of fiberglass or other strong material. Above this layer is the visible layer – a decorative layer that can contain different patterns and textures to make the PVC floor look like tiles or a wooden floor, for example. Finally, there is a protective top layer that protects the floor against scratches, stains and other damage. The combination of all these layers ensures that the floor is a durable, water-resistant and easy-to-maintain choice for both residential and commercial applications.
When selecting a PVC floor, there is a choice between click PVC and adhesive PVC. The difference between the two types of PVC flooring is in the installation methods. With click PVC, the floor is laid ‘floating’ using a handy click system and with adhesive PVC, the floor is glued directly to the subfloor.
PVC floors and underfloor heating
PVC floors generally have a favourable R-value, which means that this type of floor has excellent thermal conductivity and is therefore very suitable for an underfloor heating system. The heat can be distributed evenly throughout the room without much of the heat being absorbed by the floor covering. Choosing a suitable subfloor is also important for PVC floors. It is recommended to choose an underlay that does not retain too much heat and preferably has a thermal resistance of no more than 0.1.
Which is better for underfloor heating: click PVC or adhesive PVC?
Both click PVC and adhesive PVC are suitable for underfloor heating, each with its advantages and disadvantages. Below is a list of factors that may be important:
Click PVC and underfloor heating
Easy installation: Click PVC is laid floating without the use of glue and consists of a simple click system, which makes installation quicker and easier. Click PVC is therefore often carried out, for instance, by a DIYer.
Flexibility: Click PVC is easier to remove if problems or mistakes have been made during the installation or if access to the underfloor heating or subfloor is required.
Heat conductivity: The heat conductivity of click PVC can be slightly less efficient than adhesive PVC, because there is a thin layer of air between the PVC floor and the subfloor. This layer of air can have an insulating effect, as a result of which the heat transfer can be less efficient.
Adhesive PVC and underfloor heating
Stability: Because adhesive PVC is literally glued to the subfloor, any expansion and shrinkage phenomena are minimised and the floor is more stable than if it were laid floating.
Noise reduction: With adhesive PVC, noise nuisance is limited. Because the floor is glued directly to the floor, less noise can be heard between the floor and subfloor.
Better thermal conductivity: Adhesive PVC has better thermal conductivity because it is glued directly to the subfloor. This means that the heat from the underfloor heating is transferred directly to the PVC floor, so that the floor also heats up faster and more evenly.
