The benefits of tile flooring – and why it’s ideal for underfloor heating!
The tiling market is heavily dependent on demand from both the residential and commercial sectors.
Despite a drop in value as a result of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic, the tiling market emerged from the pandemic as one of the better performing construction product sectors – with particularly rapid market value growth in 2021.
When it comes to underfloor heating, hard surfaces such as stone and ceramic tiles are the best choice because they are the most thermally conductive of all floor coverings.
As a leading provider of underfloor heating to the trade, we’ve taken a look at the tiling market, the benefits of tile flooring – and why it’s the ideal pairing for underfloor heating!
Benefits of tiles
With 78% of the market, ceramic and porcelain tiles continue to dominate the product mix. However, niche products such as glass or metal are gaining popularity with consumers looking to create decorative panels or feature walls.
When it comes to flooring choice for underfloor heating, there are many suitable options including wood and stone flooring, but tiles are amongst the most popular.
This is because they conduct heat well, meaning heat is transferred to the tiles easily, heating a room quickly. Tiles are also good at retaining heat, helping to improve the overall efficiency of underfloor heating.
A tiled floor comes with many benefits, such as:
Easy to install
Compared with other flooring options, tiles are one of the most cost-effective and simple to install as minimal base floor preparation is required.
Laying floor tiling is also time-saving and convenient unlike some other materials. Whilst it can take two weeks to lay alternative flooring – such as marble – tiling the same area would only take a few days.
And, as underfloor heating – especially electric systems – is also extremely quick and easy to install, creating a heated tiled floor is a simple job.
Durability
Tiles are extremely resilient when it comes to staining and abrasion, making them the ideal choice for high traffic areas of a house, such as kitchens and bathrooms.
Whilst wood and carpets will show signs of wear and tear after a few years – especially in busy areas – tiles are known to last 10 to 20 years, possibly even longer, depending on maintenance.
And, with electric underfloor heating systems not requiring maintenance which involves taking up the floor, it’s the perfect choice for a long-lasting heated tiled floor.
Low maintenance
Unlike hardwood floors and carpets, tile flooring is low maintenance and doesn’t require much upkeep or money spent on it.
Ceramic tiles have a glazed protective layer on the surface which makes them impervious – a key consideration for protecting underfloor heating from water damage!
Providing a good quality grout or sealant has been used, tiles make a great choice for keeping a residential or commercial building free from water seepage and the potential damage it can cause.
They are also naturally resistant to humidity, making them ideal for flooring an area which becomes hot or moist – such as bathrooms.
Plus, if a tile has a chip or crack, it can simply be replaced without having to remove the whole floor, making it a cost-effective choice of flooring too.
Easy to clean
One of the biggest advantages of tiles is that they are extremely easy to clean. Compared with cleaning wood flooring, which requires special sprays, tiles can be easily cleaned with a damp sponge or mop and standard household cleaners.
This is particularly beneficial in rooms which should remain as sterile and hygienic as possible – such as bathrooms and kitchens.
Plus, with tiles being dirt, odour and stain-resistant, it’s easy to keep a tiled floor sparkling clean with minimal effort.
Environmentally friendly
As the world is becoming more eco-conscious, homeowners and businesses understandably want to create a more sustainable environment.
Tiles are usually made out of raw materials like glass, sand and clay – often combined with other recycled materials to form ceramic tiles.
As they keep a house cool in the summer and warm in the winter by serving as a form of insulation, tiles can also help reduce energy usage to keep heating bills low.
This energy efficiency can be maximised even further by pairing tiles with underfloor heating – a more sustainable way to heat a building due to its lower running temperature.
Combining environmentally friendly flooring with a more sustainable heating method is a great way to improve the eco-credentials of any residential or commercial building.
Tiles have many benefits – they are easy to install, durable, low maintenance, easy to clean and environmentally friendly.
Combined with their ability to conduct and maintain heat better than any other flooring type, they’re the ideal partner for underfloor heating systems.
How can Amber Underfloor Heating help?
Here at Amber, we have been providing underfloor heating services to the tiling market for more than three decades.
Backed by our knowledge and expertise, we are the UK and Ireland’s leading supplier of electric underfloor heating to the trade, reaching tradespeople through our comprehensive network of stockists.
We supply highly efficient, effective and durable electric underfloor heating systems through wholesalers, distributers and kitchen, bathroom and tile showrooms.
Alongside our unique and comprehensive range of Amber branded products, we are also the leading supplier of DEVI products in the UK and Ireland.
For more information about our electric underfloor heating range – or becoming an Amber reseller – get in touch today. Click here.
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