Which LVT for overlay underfloor heating?

Hi, I've fitted polypipe overlay underfloor heating so the pipes sit in the these panels that are laid over wood floorboards directly.

I was planning to lay laminate directly on top but have thought about using LVT and have a few questions I'd like to ask.

1) advice on whether LVT or laminate would be best?

2) which LVT or laminate brand/line would be good and suitable for laying directly on top of "exposed" underfloor heating. I've seen a lot of LVTs saying they are suitable for UFH but not to go over 27C. I think in most UFH systems it is pretty likely to go over 27C?

3) Can LVT be laid directly on top or would it still require some kind of underlay? And if so, which type of underlay would be recommended?

4) Are click type LVTs recommended over normal tiles which have to be glued down? Supposedly much easier to fit so the can be done by a casual DIYer and the premium paid is worth more than paying a fitter + normal LVT?

5) I've been recommended LVT called Adore Touch in a local shop which I've seen online prices at around £30/sqm. The idea is that LVT doesn't need expansion gap, this one is a click system so easy to fit/remove. For this type of price range, does anyone have better recommendations?

Many thanks for all your help

 

You not putting plywood over the top of the polypipe?

 

I wouldn't put click down as it expand and contract. Better fully stuck so no movement.

 

Wasn't planning to put plywood on top, as want to minimise the amount the floor is raised and also maximise the heat transferred upwards into the room. So unless it is absolutely necessary, prefer to lay the flooring directly on top which is also what Polypipe says you could do?

 

Seen that system and personally I wouldnt go near it, im sure it tells you to loose fit ply over the top of it which to me is asking for trouble, to answer your question stick with laminate.

 

Sorry Phil, but what finish is it now?

 

If it's done on the cheap, it will fail. Everything will expand in heat over 27 degrees on the floor apart from ceramics etc

 

Laid over polypipe twice with lvt.
12mm SP101 plywood over the pipes screwed down into the panels by the builder. I then primed and screeded it with level flex screed and laid the floor with distinctive planks. No issues.
Polypipe said you could use 6mm ply then feather the floor but I decided that was a risk.

 

Gone over the system a couple of times. Used 6 mm ply first time screwed between pipes then feathered. Used 9 mm then flexi on 2nd one.
Also gone over with engineered wood

 

floated or stuck?

 

Screeded 1st then floated engineered.
Tried to get the ufh, wood and adhesive manufacturers to say which way to install flooring. I wanted to filly bond. Ufh said you could do it but wouldn't put it in writing. Adhesive wanted samples of board to test before saying yes. Wood said yes but not in contact with pipes

 

The overlay boards are made of a type of plaster a bit like an hydrate

 

Thanks for all the comments.

Based on how Polypipe say the flooring can be laid directly on top, it seems to me that the pipes are actually heating the overlay panels to radiate the heat up similar to screed, so the actual "surface temperature" in contact with the flooring will be much lower than the 50C water running through the pipes?

It also sounds like just laying laminate on top will be the easiest option rather than laying plywood (and possibly screeding again as some have suggested) and then LVT as the whole purpose of the overlay system was to avoid screeding?

If my understanding seems right, anyone recommend a laminate brand/line to use?

 

Quickstep is one of the best. Maybe have a look at them to see how they are with underfloor heating