As you build a new home in High Wycombe, you will no doubt install underfloor heating. This has many advantages over and above a traditional radiator system, including lower costs to run. Tile and stone are best suited for underfloor heating. Both materials have high thermal mass, meaning that they absorb and retain heat. This reduces the amount of energy needed to heat a room to your desired temperature, saving you money on heating bills.
Wood flooring, made from the wood of various trees, adds warmth and beauty to a home.
When combined with underfloor heating, wood flooring provides an efficient and comfortable heating system. The key to this is the thermal conductivity of the wood. The thinner and more dense the wood used for flooring, the faster it will heat up and therefore the more efficient the whole system. Heating a room using a wood-floored space should not exceed 27°C (80°F), which is warm enough to heat the room but not too hot to damage the floor itself.
You can also use vinyl flooring with underfloor heating. Different types of vinyl will have different requirements, so check with the manufacturer to ensure that it is compatible with your particular system. As with wood, the temperature should not exceed 27°C. You might choose to install laminate flooring, which is also a good choice. Thin, dense materials conduct heat better than thick ones do. They will heat up more quickly and use less energy to warm the room.