Tack/Stud

Tacking underfloor heating pipes is done with plastic tacker staples that secure the pipe to insulation boards. This method is used when a sand-cement screed still needs to be poured and there is no or insufficient possibility to insulate from below.

The pouring of the screed is carried out by a third party. The screed sits 5 to 7 cm above the insulation boards. One week of drying time applies per centimetre — so expect 5 to 7 weeks during which the underfloor heating must remain switched off.

Stud plates offer an alternative solution for insulating on top of the concrete floor. Above the underfloor heating pipe, at the height of the studs, a sand-cement screed of at least 3 cm must still be poured. The thickness of the stud plates varies from 28 to 53 mm, bringing the minimum build-up height to 58 mm. The drying time for this is 3 weeks.

As with the steel mesh method, the pipes sit deep within the screed. It therefore takes longer for the heating to reach temperature, but the mass of the screed acts as a heat battery — it also stays warm longer. The heat source needs to cycle less, which is beneficial for energy consumption.