Wood Floor Blog

Electric underfloor heating can be tricky to install with certain types of flooring – with thanks to James Ewing of Flexel we have explained the carbon heating film and how it solves many of these problems.

Traditional methods of installing electric underfloor heating systems in rooms with laminate flooring or carpeted floors involved utilising cable systems covered with difficult to use and time consuming liquid levelling compounds. These tend to be messy and extend the installation time and costs because of drying and curing times.

Flexible carbon heating film is the ideal solution for providing an economic electric underfloor heating solution for a variety of floor coverings. Flexible carbon heating film is ultra thin, robust and is a completely dry lay system for heating under laminate or timber floating wooden floors and even carpet and luxury vinyl floor coverings.

Flexible carbon heating film is supplied in three different widths (300mm, 500mm and 1000mm) and standard lengths between 2m and 10m in 0.5m increments. These mat lengths come pre-wired with a simple two wire mains connection. This means that the heating mats can be installed and the chosen floor covering can be laid long in advance of the electrician providing the 230V mains connection. This saves time and money.

Installation of carbon heating film involves no special skills. Installation is completely dry and is a simple unrolling process. It can be laid on most concrete or timber subfloors when used in conjunction with the correct thermal insulation.

Flexible carbon heating element is ultra thin. Even with the recommended floor insulation layer of closed cell polystyrene the floor build-up is only 6.5mm. This avoids potential problems with skirting boards and door thresholds.

Carbon heating elements are reliable, safe and robust. With no moving parts they are completely maintenance free. Brands of carbon heating film like Ecofilm from Flexel International are fully approved to the relevant electrical safety standard IEC60335-2-96 and comply with the 17th Edition electrical wiring regulations. Ecofilm comes with a 10 year guarantee.

Carbon heating film can be used as an effective direct acting radiant heating system. It can be used as a substitute for traditional convector radiators by providing primary heat or just be used to warm a cool floor surface and provide background heat.

Flexel Carbon Heating Element has become a firm favourite with installers and users because it is simple and economic to install and creates gentle under-foot warmth that heats the entire room, leaving no overheated or cold spots. It offers clean balanced heat distribution at the lowest possible temperature, resulting in high user comfort levels and improved economy. Totally safe, even under wood floors, its radiated heat provides overall warmth and comfort without the usual dust carrying convective air currents of conventional radiator systems.

This form of heating, easily controlled by room thermostats is particularly suited to new build, extensions, hard-to-heat areas, conservatories, hallways, kitchens and bathrooms. It becomes invaluable in many other locations where the absence of radiators is a distinct space-saving advantage. This electric underfloor heating is ideal for use with any of our engineered real wood flooring. (Thanks to James Ewing of Flexel).

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