Wood effect ceramic floor tiles...educate me...

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We are installing UFH in our new house, and our builder has advised the only two real options with this are either carpet or ceramic tiles. The area is about 80sqm, and he says even expensive engineered oak will eventually "cup".

At the moment, I'm leaning towards wood effect ceramic tiles like this...



...for reasons of practicality and looks. I think the wood effect will work in the kitchen, whereas a more traditional square kitchen tile will look odd in the living room. I can also have the whole ground floor in the same finish which will make it "flow" and look bigger.

However I do have some concerns, and was just wondering if anyone has any experience...

Durability...if a piece of gravel gets wedged under a door will it score an arc? What about a dropped saucepan lid in the kitchen? Dining chairs being "swung" on or scraped back clumsily? Bear in mind the floor is block/beam with a load of screed on it, so it absolutely will not flex or crack.

Warmth...no doubt it will be toasty when the UFH is on in the winter, is it just too cold in spring etc? I do intend to have some rugs etc, will these just become a skidding liability?

Do they look convincing in real life? Or is there too much repetition?

Cost...I've got some samples from an online place with costs of between £18 to £26 per sqm, has anyone got any recommendations? The builder recommends Porcelanosa, but I'm guessing it might be a bit "bend over sir".

Any comments/experience, and of course alternative ideas much appreciated!

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Muncher said:

Engineered wood works perfectly well over UFH.

Thanks for this! I'd just taken the builder's comments at face value but the manufacturers seem to confirm what you say. Engineered flooring it is then, as it seems to cover all of my previous concerns.

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stanwan said:

Muncher said:

Engineered wood works perfectly well over UFH.

I agree with muncher. It'll be fine as long as its done properly. Similiarly, cermaic tiles can crack and lift if not properly installed with UFH.

For your floor I would opt to glue the boards to the substrate with UFH compatible adhesive from Sika or F Ball.

Make sure you allow the boards to acclimatise to the room humidity and temp before laying - the longer the better.

After install you MUST ensure stability of the environment. Cupping will occur if you let the temp and humdity swing wildly....

OK, so assuming it's a brand new build, with first fix happening just after xmas, what's the best plan in terms of actually fitting? The house is presumably going to stay cold and unheated as doors are left open as the guys work away on it, what happens come spring when we move in, or the following winter when the UFH gets used in anger?

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Pistom said:

The advice not to go for engineered wood with ufh was good advice.

Yes, if it is done correctly then there shouldn't be an issue but I've never seen it done correctly but seen many jobs where it hasn't.

Hmmm. That's a worry...sounds like you are in the trade or something and know about this?