ᐅ Older Building: Adding Underfloor Heating on the Upper Floor?
Created on: 12 Feb 2023 16:28
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wirsanieren202
Hello everyone,
We are renovating a house built in 1986 and plan to install a new air-source heat pump. There is already underfloor heating on the ground floor, which will be connected to the new heating system. On the upper floor, there are currently panel radiators; however, for efficiency reasons, we were advised to retrofit underfloor heating upstairs, which we would like to proceed with.
Is there anything special we need to consider? Would it be advisable to hire a structural engineer for an assessment? The ceiling is made of concrete, with an insulation layer (?) on top, followed by a wooden covering. PVC flooring was then installed over that.
Are there any structural risks involved in adding underfloor heating on the upper floor?
We are renovating a house built in 1986 and plan to install a new air-source heat pump. There is already underfloor heating on the ground floor, which will be connected to the new heating system. On the upper floor, there are currently panel radiators; however, for efficiency reasons, we were advised to retrofit underfloor heating upstairs, which we would like to proceed with.
Is there anything special we need to consider? Would it be advisable to hire a structural engineer for an assessment? The ceiling is made of concrete, with an insulation layer (?) on top, followed by a wooden covering. PVC flooring was then installed over that.
Are there any structural risks involved in adding underfloor heating on the upper floor?
I would also take a closer look because, depending on the thickness of the insulation layer, it might be possible to make some adjustments without significantly changing the overall height, as there are very thin heating systems available. I would definitely avoid milling into the concrete ceiling, but you might need a structural engineer for the screed if the floor construction has been very lightweight so far.
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wirsanieren20218 Feb 2023 19:17Hello everyone,
Today, we cut into the floor at one spot. It turns out that on top of the concrete slab there is a layer of mineral wool insulation, and above that, about 4cm (1.5 inches) thick chipboard panels have been installed. The carpet was then glued on top. In total, there is a height of 14cm (5.5 inches), which should actually be enough for underfloor heating.
Today, we cut into the floor at one spot. It turns out that on top of the concrete slab there is a layer of mineral wool insulation, and above that, about 4cm (1.5 inches) thick chipboard panels have been installed. The carpet was then glued on top. In total, there is a height of 14cm (5.5 inches), which should actually be enough for underfloor heating.
With 14cm (5.5 inches), you can fit almost everything, such as wooden beams with loose-fill insulation and underfloor heating, topped with nailed floorboards or OSB with carpet, vinyl, or similar. Or, if the structural engineer approves, you can use polystyrene plus screed, with the underfloor heating embedded in the screed.
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