From A to Z: How to Install LVT with Floor Heating

Today we're going to be discussing the complete process of installing luxury vinyl tile with floor heating. My name is Julia Billen, and I am the owner of WarmlyYours. Joining me is my lovely sidekick, Scott. Scott, would you like to introduce yourself?

Hi, I'm Scott from WarmlyYours. Thank you so much for joining us today.

Today is exciting for a couple of reasons. First, it's the first time we're going live on Facebook, and I'm thrilled that our over 30,000 fans have a chance to see this, especially to see you, Scott. The second reason this is exciting is that we are both working remotely. I'm broadcasting from my home, and Scott, I believe you're in the North Pole, is that correct?

Yes, I am, and we are experiencing a lot of echoes here, so I'm trying to work through that right now.

Thank you for your behind-the-scenes magic, Scott. We want this to be very interactive, as we are in your homes, and I assume most of you are remote right now. We have an expert here; Scott has been with WarmlyYours for what seems like forever. Would you agree with that, Scott?

Yes, speaking of echoes, I guess no one else can hear them.

I can't hear them either, so I will just pretend I'm talking overseas to you folks. It's those strange voices you usually hear in your head, Scott.

We do have our sidekick, Olivia, off-camera. If we receive questions through Crowdcast or Facebook, she will shout them out to us. So if you hear another voice, it is indeed someone.

Let's pull up the presentation and get started. As I mentioned, this is very interactive, so please ask your questions. You can see the "Ask a Question" button right there. Use it to get everything answered today. We're here 24/7, and that is the whole purpose of today's webinar.

Moving on to our introduction, we want to give you a general idea of what we will be discussing today. Scott, would you like to take it away?

Sure. We'll be talking about floor heating, project examples, and installation processes, all wrapped around a luxury vinyl tile installation. One of the things I love about these long-format webinars is that we actually go into a real project. It's not just textbook; we provide clear examples of what you can do on-site.

The other great aspect of today’s webinar is that we have Scott, who is not only a textbook expert but also someone who deals with installation questions and troubles daily. He has been on-site and has pretty much seen it all. Would you agree with that, Scott?

Absolutely.

Scott is here to share anything that goes wrong so that the same mistakes don't happen to those watching today. Now that we have the outline, let’s move on. We have actually covered this topic before, and the reason for that is its popularity. I think this is our most popular webinar. There is a lot of buzz and interest surrounding luxury vinyl tile for various reasons.

Scott, why do you love this product so much?

Well, because it is very price-friendly, easy to install, and looks beautiful. I have luxury vinyl tile installed in one bedroom, and it really does look very similar to wood flooring. It has an elevated look at an inexpensive price, is definitely durable, great for high-traffic areas, and great for pets.

Does it have any waterproofing?

Usually, if it's put together correctly, it is very water-resistant. It feels a little warmer than tile and laminate.

There is indeed a lot of buzz around luxury vinyl tile, and people are increasingly using it in rooms where they may want to combine it with heated floors. The reason for this is that they may have a room that is colder than usual, such as one over a garage or a basement. Today, we will be discussing a basement project, which is a beautiful combination of luxury vinyl tile and heated floors, providing an elevated level of luxury to the masses.

Is there anything else you want to share?

One thing to note is that people often confuse this product with laminate. Luxury vinyl tile and laminate heat in two different ways.

We will be discussing more about that, and Scott will share some good tips along the way. I will try to keep up, but I am fighting the battle here with my ears, so if I interrupt you, I apologize.

No worries, we will get that under control.

Now that we've talked about luxury vinyl tile, let's move on to the heated system. Today, we will discuss various ways to implement floor heating, focusing on two main product lines. The reason for this focus is that the floor heating needs to be embedded, which means it has to be installed in a specific way. Most of you who have done tile work will be familiar with embedded systems. We will provide detailed instructions on how to do that.

We will also discuss how it heats, specifically that it uses watts per square foot, typically anywhere from 8 to 15 watts per square foot. We will share when and how that information is important. The key here is that we are pairing our TempZone floor heating products. On the left, you will see a roll product that consists of a heating cable sewn or adhered by tape to a fiberglass mesh. On the right, you see our TempZone cable product, which is a cable on a spool.

How did I do with that explanation, Scott?

Pretty good.

What people typically think about when heating this type of floor is that they want to use the product that has historically been used with laminate.

Now I am getting your echo, Scott.

Yes, absolutely.

The Environnn product is specifically for carpet in the US and for laminate in both the US and Canada.

We will explain why this specific type of product requires a specific type of installation.

Basically, what we are trying to convey here is that when you are doing your luxury vinyl tile application, you can count on us to guide you through the exact product for your application and steer you away from the Environnn heating roll, as Scott mentioned.

Let’s move on to the big picture. We have discussed that the final flooring surface will be luxury vinyl tile, and we know we will be installing a heating cable underneath. However, there is a whole sandwich that must happen from the subfloor to that final flooring surface.

I will start at the top. At the top, we have the luxury vinyl tile plank, which is an embedded system as indicated. This means it will be embedded in an adhesive called self-leveling cement. Most of you are familiar with that. Essentially, once you install from the subfloor up, you will float in that self-leveling cement over the top, and you will see the next part of the sandwich over the floor heating system.

In this particular application, let me introduce another product: Cerazorb. This is an underlayment, and we use Cerazorb because it is over a concrete floor. Scott, you are the champion of this because you take a lot of tech support calls. Anytime you have a concrete subfloor, especially in a basement or sunroom, it is crucial to isolate the floor heating from that concrete subfloor. The concrete will draw the heat downwards rather than allowing it to radiate up and out.

Will you get a warm floor?

Well, if you are in a warmer climate, yes. If you are in a colder climate, I like to say, eventually.

We are showing that in the sandwich for this particular application because we are on a concrete subfloor.

I had a couple of questions that pertain to this slide, so I will jump in and address those if that's okay.

Sure, go ahead.

The first question is from Kristen A. Can it be used with any luxury vinyl tile and what other types of flooring?

With this technique of self-leveling cement, you can essentially use any flooring surface above it. The second layer is self-leveling. Above that could be tile, any type of wood or stone product, or even carpet in the US, but not in Canada.

If you use self-leveling cement to embed the heating element, yes, you can use any flooring type above it, as long as it is a nice smooth surface. We will talk about the different types of luxury vinyl tile a little later in the presentation.

Are you okay if I skip over to that, Scott?

Absolutely.

I have one more question about this slide, and that is question number six from Becky. How will this benefit me as a selections coordinator, specifically as a specifier?

Understanding those different layers can help you assist your customers in specifying the right sandwich, if you will. Depending on the subfloor and the final flooring surface, which in this case is luxury vinyl tile, various things can happen. For instance, rather than self-leveling cement, we might suggest using thinset. We would help you specify that or coordinate it with the selection process for your customer.

If we take it one level down, we are using TempZone Flex Roll here, but depending on the application, that could change. It could be a cable product or a custom product that we work with you on. The next layer is Cerazorb. If you are in a warmer climate or not on a concrete subfloor, that could change. Cerazorb could potentially be eliminated or replaced with another product like cork if we are doing more of a carpet install.

We can definitely help you specify exactly what you need.

Scott, can you hear that?

I heard part of it, but some of it broke up.

Okay. Let’s move forward in the presentation. The key for us is understanding the subfloor and the final flooring surface. From there, we can decide what happens in between.

Now, let’s discuss embedding versus floating floor heating. Earlier, Scott, you mentioned that many people are confused between luxury vinyl tile and laminate. They might assume they are similar in terms of installation and products used, but you like to make a distinction between the two.

The thing about LVT is that it is more pliable than laminate, nine times out of ten. Laminate is more resilient. Over time, LVT can start bending and conforming to what’s underneath it, which is what this picture shows.

Let’s do a reality check with Olivia. Olivia, can you hear us okay?

Yes, I can hear both of you fine.

We have someone else watching on staff, and they said that you both sound good too.

Perfect.

Scott, talk me through this image that I’m looking at here.

Usually, LVT has much more stringent requirements when it comes to flatness during installation. Laminate is more resilient and stays straight. Because of that ability to stay straight, laminate can be heated with our Environnn product, which sits directly under it, because it can hide any imperfections caused by the wires in that particular product.

With LVT, it can either conform to that right away or over time, you may start to see the cables in the top surface. You don’t see the cables themselves; you just see the bends from going over the cable.

So, that’s why all luxury vinyl tiles must be embedded. They cannot float, correct?

Yes, you will see people say, “I’ve got SPC, or I’ve got this type or that type.” If you look at the flatness requirements for installation and the requirement for embedded heat, those are the two reasons you go into this installation type that we are showing today.

The clear takeaway here is always embedded, never floating, correct?

Correct.

Next, people are always asking what to look for when purchasing luxury vinyl tile. One thing you prefer is no or minimal backing. The reason for that is to ensure the R-value is as low as possible, ideally one or under.

We don’t want to trap the heat or make it take longer than necessary to warm the room and the objects in it. We want to achieve the most efficient heat transfer. When you have a high R-value, that heat transfer can be compromised.

To answer the question, is this possible for all luxury vinyl tile flooring? Yes, as long as you contact the manufacturer and ensure that anything on the backing has an R-value of one or less.

Another important factor to check is the warranty. Make sure that with embedded electric floor heating, the warranty is not voided. If the product has a warranty for hydronic radiant heating, it should also have a warranty for electric floor heating.

Scott, you love to talk about that, so why don’t you share your thoughts?

The key here is to ensure that heat can pass through the flooring. The two main things to check when purchasing flooring are the maximum temperature allowed and whether it is warranted with radiant heating.

We had a question from Laylan: How does this heat compare with hydronic radiant heating that uses a combi boiler system?

Heat is heat, but electric is much easier to regulate. When hot water enters a room, it is hotter where it enters than when it leaves. With electric, it is the same temperature at the beginning as it is at the end. We can regulate that temperature within one degree, which is not possible with hot water.

Hot water temperatures will overshoot and undershoot, fluctuating throughout the day. They take the average, which is sometimes not even controllable because they don’t have a sensor in the floor.

What we have is a sensor in the floor that allows us to know exactly what the temperature is and regulate it accordingly.

When looking for whether there is a warranty, again, ensure they understand that you are embedding this, not floating. It is similar but better than hydronic heating.

We will be discussing temperature further, but one thing I like to share is that when looking at luxury vinyl tile, you should talk to the manufacturer about the maximum temperature they want the luxury vinyl tile to reach.

That is usually a temperature that we can maintain within a one-degree delta, correct, Scott?

Yes.

We have a few questions here. I had a feeling this would be a good spot for many questions.

The first question is: Is the heated element allowed to be installed over SPC or WPC flooring of LVT?

This product has to be embedded in self-leveling, so it cannot be a flat, self-leveled system.

You can put any type of flooring on top of that, as you said earlier, Julia—carpet, LVT, squares, planks, and so forth.

I think we answered that question.

What thickness is required for the self-leveling cement for LVP?

That is typically 3/8 of an inch to half an inch.

That is true for luxury vinyl tile, correct?

Correct.

We have another question that has come up, which is great.

With the embedded system, is the LVT still considered a floating floor?

That depends on the installation requirements of that particular flooring.

Some flooring may say, “Hey, we want this to be glued down,” while others may be purely floating. The good thing about this installation we are showing is that it allows for either option.

You have that smooth finish, and on that smooth finish of the self-leveling, you can then glue down or float over it with your luxury vinyl tile.

We had another question from Victoria: What adhesive can be used for heated floors that won’t be damaged?

You must keep in mind that we will be discussing temperature limits a little later. This flooring will only reach a certain temperature, usually 82, 84, or 85 degrees, depending on what the manufacturer specifies.

If you think about that, she had a question about what would be used to glue it down if it requires glue. Will this heat damage the glue?

This heat won’t damage the glue because it is only 80 degrees or 82 degrees. The temperature of the floor when it is hit by sunlight during the day can easily reach 100 to 120 degrees.

This 80 degrees from radiant floor heating is not going to affect anything regarding that glue.

I have done reality checks and looked at the glue being used for the particular job site. There are usually recommendations right there in the directions, or you can contact the manufacturer. Most glues used for flooring adhesion can withstand those temperatures and more.

We had a question from John while we’re on this particular slide. Will the radiant heat affect the attached rubber or cork backing on the LVT?

No, we are talking about 84 degrees, 82, or 85, whatever it is.

So the sun shining in at some points in the summer will cause more heat than the radiant heating system. So absolutely not.

Those are all great questions and they lead us to our next slide. Scott, you did a good job there.

Let’s focus on the temperature limit that you just mentioned, Scott. The whole reason for this is to show you that there are controls that come with the floor heating system. This control allows you to do a lot of things, but one very important aspect when it comes to luxury vinyl tile, laminate, and any type of wood flooring, is that it allows you to set the temperature so that the floor does not exceed the manufacturer’s limitation.

As you can see, the default is 82 degrees. It says laminate, but it is the same for luxury vinyl tile. You can even make that a custom degree as well.

Certain woods and laminates will allow you to go up to 84 degrees, while others may want you to stay at 80. So know that number, and know that we have a control that will accommodate it.

Is there anything else you want to share about that, Scott?

This is the only place where the worlds of laminate and LVT come together, and that is in the temperature limitation. It is crucial to set this correctly because if you do, you don’t have to worry about warping.

One question that Mary P. had was: Do you have to worry about warping?

No, because we can control the temperature so tightly.

One thing you might want to ask the manufacturer of the flooring is whether they have a rule about offsetting temperatures, where it is comfortable during a portion of the day and colder when no one is on it. Sometimes they might have one, and it could be three degrees, or they may not have one at all.

Are you referring to the fact that the laminate, LVT, or wood manufacturing in general may want you to do a slow ramp-up and a slow ramp-down rather than quickly heating it up and then quickly turning it off?

Yes, it refers to the setback that these thermostats offer.

So, they may limit that. What would be the question they would ask the manufacturer specifically?

Does this have a setback restriction?

Thank you for sharing that, Scott. I didn’t even know about that, so good stuff.

Now we get to go into the real world. We’ve talked about the control, what to look for with your luxury vinyl tile, and given you a general overview of the sandwich that includes everything. We’ve discussed the floor heating, so let’s take all that great knowledge and drill it into a real project.

This is a basement project. Again,