Quartz vinyl tiles are a durable, environmentally friendly floor covering, the main components of which are sand and shell rock (up to 70% of the total mass of the material). These components are connected to each other using polyvinyl chloride, which is completely harmless to humans and the environment. PVC is a chemically neutral ingredient that provides flexibility, strength, moisture resistance and bacterial resistance.
Is it possible to lay heated floors under quartz vinyl tiles?
Since the composition contains polyvinyl chloride, many people ask a similar question. The answer to this can be very simple: everything depends directly on the quality of materials and manufacturing methods, that is, on the integrity of a particular manufacturer. Quartz vinyl is a rather expensive finishing material and it is no wonder that some industries may decide to save on production. Thus, recycled materials can be used in its creation. Then the use of such a product in a heated floor system may have a negative impact as a result of harmful compounds entering the air from heating the surface. As a rule, these are cheap options that do not meet the characteristics of quality products. The coating must be made in compliance with all necessary standards, then it will not release any substances into the air that have a bad effect on the body when exposed to strong heat. It is used for finishing floors in children's rooms and medical institutions. In addition, it does not burn and is a dielectric.
Heating mats
Heating mats are the ideal warm electric floor under tiles. Which is better, heating mat or cable systems? In terms of installation, of course, heating mats, since it is enough to lay them flat on the floor (you can even only place them in those places that need to be heated, avoiding furniture and plumbing fixtures). However, such a convenient design affects the price, and on average, heating mats will cost slightly more than cables to purchase.
Today, many well-known reliable brands produce electric underfloor heating. The rating of manufacturers includes such companies as Teplolux, Caleo, Electrolux and STOUT.
It is POSSIBLE to lay warm floors under a quartz vinyl coating, but is it necessary?
It is worth noting that this coating itself is warm and comfortable (comparable to a wooden floor) due to the unique thermal conductivity properties of the material. If you plan to lay it on a concrete floor above an unheated room or on a concrete screed laid on cold ground, then you can use a warm floor system of any type.
If you think that the room where quartz vinyl will be used requires additional comfortable heating, then feel free to proceed to choosing a heated floor.
Comparative table of heat loss and thermal expansion
| The basis | Heating up to 28°C* | Heating up to 40°C** | ||
| Thermal expansion | Heat loss | Thermal expansion | Heat loss | |
| SPC | No | 0.5°C | 0,04% | 0.5°C |
| WPC | No | 6.5°C | 0,21% | 6.5°C |
| LVT, quartz vinyl | No | 1.5°C | — | — |
| Rigid Vinyl | No | 1.5°C | 0,21% | 1.5°C |
* - Up to 28°C. Heating floor.
** - Up to 40°C. Enough to heat the room, the maximum permissible temperature for comfortable walking on the floor.
Laying quartz vinyl tiles on top of a film, infrared heated floor
This is the simplest possible way. The heated film floor is laid out on a well-prepared, level and clean base. Very soft porous materials cannot be used as a reflective substrate, since the quartz vinyl tile itself is a flexible material. It is permissible to use a cork construction sheet, in which the necessary cutouts are made for laying connecting wires. A quartz vinyl coating can be immediately laid on top of the film floor. However, it is worth considering that with this method you can only use tiles with locking connections.
General recommendations for laying heated floors under quartz vinyl flooring
- Quartz vinyl flooring is suitable for installation under any heating system;
- Quartz vinyl tiles cannot be laid on top of soft materials;
- The temperature should not exceed 40 °C;
- There should be no furniture above the heated floor without high legs, etc. that would interfere with the passage of heated air;
You can turn on the heated floor only after the adhesive solution has completely dried (no earlier than 24 hours). If tiles with a locking connection are used, then the heated floor can be turned on immediately after installation.
Conclusion
If you really need a comfortable, environmentally friendly, reliable and at the same time easy to install heated floor that does not cause much trouble with cleaning, then all these characteristics are combined in one modern coating - quartz vinyl.
It has practically no restrictions. It can be laid in both warm and cold rooms. It is not capable of transmitting moisture, and therefore is convenient for use in areas of high humidity - for example, in bathrooms, saunas, bathrooms and baths. This floor can withstand both increased mechanical loads and high thermal loads.
This modern, high-quality coating is already becoming the most popular for use in private housing, as well as in commercial premises and places with high traffic.
The most suitable brands of heated floors for vinyl covering: | ||||||||
PVC tiles - what is it, structural features
Quartz vinyl is easy to install, just like laminate, but its performance is equal to that of ceramic tiles. Based on the installation method, there are two types of coatings – adhesive and locking.
Produced by pressing several layers:
- UV layer protects the next PU layer? Including from light.
- Polyurethane layer, protection against abrasion, mechanical damage, stains.
- PVC layer, additional protection against abrasion. Creates a feeling of real surface texture, thanks to embossing in wood or stone register.
- Decorative layer imitates natural materials.
- The fiber optic layer reflects light, which makes the decor more realistic. Absorbs vibrations.
- Double reinforcing fiberglass is responsible for the flexibility and strength of the structure, resistance to deformation and changes in geometric shapes during operation.
- The quartz vinyl layer takes on the main loads. Thanks to quartz, it is resistant to temperature changes and maintains geometry.
- Another double reinforcing fiberglass.
- PVC layer, stabilizing.
This structure provides a number of advantages:
- resistance to changes in humidity and temperature;
- 100% water protection;
- elasticity;
- antistatic properties;
- fast warm-up.
You can find out more about the pros and cons of PVC tiles in our article.
Easy to install
This advantage is one of the first to be announced. Many people report that they installed the flooring themselves. Those who did it on their own claim that even a teenager can handle quartz-vinyl tiles.
What is especially important is that quartz vinyl is easy to cut (it turns out much easier and cleaner than with laminate).
Laying modules is easier than laying a large canvas. A roll of linoleum is heavy. You definitely need an assistant to carry it, move it, lay it out, measure it, pull it up... You can work with quartz-vinyl tiles alone.
If you make a mistake somewhere, it’s not so scary. Well, just change one or two dies. When working with a solid canvas, you need to be much more careful.
From the forums
“When we were buying, the seller told us: “You put it in yourself, it’s easy, I’ll explain everything to you now,” and we saved a lot because we put it in ourselves.”
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“But if you do it yourself, then a woman can lay (cut) quartz vinyl, no backing is needed, there is no dust, and you can use it right away. But not everyone can do it on their own with ceramics, and equipment is required (whereas for quartz-vinyl - only a knife and a ruler).”
Quartz-vinyl flooring in the interior
Care Tips
After installation, you should wait two days before placing furniture. The floor can be washed after a day.
Vinegar is suitable for wet cleaning; it will gently clean the material and give it shine. You can also use a soap solution. White spirit is suitable for removing stubborn stains.
Despite its resistance to mechanical damage, you should not use a hard metal brush for cleaning: it leaves micro-scratches on the floor.
May make routine cleanliness difficult
Manufacturers of quartz-vinyl coatings paint a rosy picture here too: their floors are very easy to clean, and dirt does not linger on it. But if something is not washed off, you can use any detergents. However, it later turns out that not just any kind - abrasives are not allowed, chlorine-containing products are prohibited. It is also recommended to periodically treat the floor with mastic, because the top protective layer wears off over time. In general, if you dig deeper, everything is not so ideal.
In fact, users give quartz vinyl a low rating on this very point. Keeping tiles, porcelain tiles and even laminate floors clean is much easier. And dirt sticks to quartz-vinyl - going over it with a wet mop is not enough.
From the forums
"Here! Everyone is silent about cleaning the floors. Of course, I mop, I have a floor like this in my kitchen. But once every 1-3 months I crawl along with a sponge and intensively “brush off” the dirt. For example, if you trampled on a piece of chocolate, you can’t wipe it off with a mop, like you can with laminate/linoleum/tiles—you need to rub it.”
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“The tiles are embossed, I wash them only with my hands, not with a mop. Or with a steam generator, it also cleans well.”
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“It washes out very poorly. The dirt eats in, and my floor is not mine, the floor always looks dirty.”
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“I haven’t seen smooth quartz vinyl. What I came across had a textured surface, into which dirt very readily gets packed. No, dirt, of course, is washed away, but it requires more energy than laminate. Everything is based on personal experience of owning quartz vinyl on the loggia and in the kitchen.”
Quartz-vinyl flooring in a modern interior
Quartz vinyl (especially adhesive) requires a perfectly flat base
The optimal base for adhesive quartz vinyl is plywood. The screws are recessed, all joints and recesses are puttied.
If you glue quartz vinyl onto a screed, even an almost perfect one, nuances will appear: bumps, dents and other errors. Any speck hiding under the covering can make itself known loudly.
From the forums
“I’m also not very happy with my tiles (quartz-vinyl). I expected more. We have it in the hallway. We laid it directly on the concrete floor, which seemed to be level. But at a certain angle, small bumps and unevenness of the seemingly even floor are still visible. We bought it a year ago at the price of a good class 33 laminate. It would be better if they took him.”
Resistant to moisture
Not a single layer of quartz-vinyl tile is afraid of moisture. Even if water gets deep, nothing will probably happen to the tiles.
Craftsmen from the construction forum described their own tests, carried out out of curiosity. Quartz vinyl was poured, soaked, damaged and soaked again - no change.
Thanks to this quality, quartz vinyl is perfect for the kitchen, bathroom, balcony, and hallway. Ceramic and porcelain tiles look, of course, much more solid and last, as a rule, longer, but quartz-vinyl is not a bad alternative with a lower cost and much easier installation.
From the forums
“We are very happy, considering that we have already been drowned a couple of times. Laminate would swell, but quartz-vinyl tile would not.”
Quartz-vinyl tiles in the kitchen
Scratched
Scratches quickly appear on the surface of quartz-vinyl tiles. In certain lighting they can be very visible. This is reported by many registered forum participants.
It’s hard to say whether any quartz vinyl scratches or whether its resistance depends on the manufacturer. In any case, you should be prepared for such a turn of events so as not to be disappointed later.
From the forums
“My parents did everything throughout the apartment, except for the bathroom. They were told that there were no visible scratches on it, but everything is visible.”
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“Well, by the way, our quartz vinyl is already 2 years old, there are still scratches, I don’t know what we used to scratch it.”
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“We have less than a year. He gets scratched by anything. But the pros outweigh the benefits, and the scratches are only visible from a certain angle.”
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“And they scratched us during the renovation.”
Quartz vinyl in the interior
