Tile and stone floors work perfectly with underfloor heating as they are natural conductors. One thing to remember with these floor finishes is the thicker they are, the longer the warm up and cool down times will be. If you want rapid heat up and cool down times, it’s best to avoid very thick natural stone (thicker than 20mm).
Nowadays there are manufacturers and suppliers who make tiles with a wood effect. This gives you all the benefits of using a conductor with underfloor heating and the visual effect of wood.
These guidelines have been created to help you confidently install tile and stone floor coverings over your Wunda Rapid Response® boards as part of a complete Wundafloor® system.
When installed correctly, your Wundafloor provides a stable, efficient, and highly responsive heated floor designed to work seamlessly with tile and stone floor finishes.
Tiles and stone can be installed on the Rapid Response boards using some different methods.
Small form factor tiles, less than 10cm x 10cm, such as mosaics, the application of an approved self-levelling compound is required prior to tiling. This creates a consistently level surface, which is particularly beneficial for accommodating the intricate layouts and smaller size of mosaic tiles, ensuring a professional and even finish.
Installing ceramic and porcelain tiles on a Wunda Rapid Response Boards
The porcelain and ceramic tiles can be fixed directly onto the panels. However, it can be difficult to remove tiles without damaging the surface of the boards when tiled to directly. If in the future the tiles are to be removed or changed in the future it may be worth using an approved levelling compound on top of the Rapid Response panels first.
Installing Natural Stone on a Wunda Rapid Response Boards
When using Ultra ProFlex S2 tile adhesive & Prime IT multi surface primer, natural stone can either be bonded directly to the rapid response boards or with an approved levelling compound as an intermediate layer. When using Mapei Kerabond T & Isolastic tile adhesive, natural stone needs one of the approved levelling compounds as an intermediate layer and can not be bonded directly to the surface of the panel.
When tiling direct:
When Tiling direct, perimeter strip is necessary to be fitted around the room to allow expansion.
Wunda recommended adhesives: Mapei, Kerabond T & Isolastic
- Mixed in a ratio of 100:33 (20Kg of Kerabond T to 6.6l of Isolastic).
- This is a highly deformable slow setting cementitious tile adhesive.
- No primer is necessary, it can be used for tiling directly to boards.
When Using Ultra ProFlex S2
Boards and pipe must be primed with their Prime IT multi surface primer, including empty pipe channels.
Is mixed with water. 20Kg to 4l of water.
This is a highly deformable fast setting cementitious tile adhesive.
Alternatively, an approved levelling compound can be used as an intermediate layer to give a smooth surface for the tiles. This would also mean perimeter strip is necessary to be fitted around the room to allow expansion. Once this has naturally cured, it is recommended to then use an approved tile adhesive from the list above.
It is important to carry out a pressure test of the floor heating system and pipes prior to applying any primers and levelling compounds.
Before pouring any levelling compounds, ensure that all Rapid Response® boards are securely bonded to the subfloor and that there is no movement in the boards. It is important that any movement in the boards or joints between boards is addressed and remedied before levelling compounds are poured. Additional Secure fixing of the boards may be required using large washers and screws, if movement is detected.
The aluminium of all unused pipe channel’s must be cut to expose the empty channel, ready for filling with your chosen levelling compound.
It is crucial to always prime the boards first with the approved and relevant primer, before laying the approved self levelling compound.
The Wunda Approved Levelling Compounds and Primers are:
- ‘10mm Ultra ProLevel Ultimate’, when primed first using ‘Ultra Prime it multi surface primer’.
- ‘10mm Mapei Ultraplan Renovation Screed’ when primed first with ‘Mapei Eco Prim Grip’.
The levelling compounds and primers are not provided by Wunda. They can be sourced from local merchants or online and the relevant ratios will be included on their instructions.
Self Levelling Compound and Tile Adhesive Curing Time
Tile adhesives and levelling compounds/screeds must be allowed to cure naturally. Be sure to check the manufacturer’s specific requirements. Do not use the underfloor heating system to accelerate the curing process.
When activating the heating, increase the temperature gradually. If you have a mixing valve begin with the it set to the minimum position and increase slowly by up to 5°C each day until the desired operating temperature is reached. If you are coming from a low temperature heat source, ensure the flow temperature supplied is low to start and slowly increased by up to 5°C each day until the desired operating temperature is reached.
Ditra matt & decoupling membranes
When tiling onto our systems, the use of Ditra mat or other decoupling membranes is fine. While some tiles can be installed directly, certain tilers may prefer to use a decoupling membrane. Tile adhesive is applied both to fix the Ditra mat to the system and then again to fix the tiles to the Ditra mat. Approved tile adhesives should always be used for a secure installation.
Grout:
Any flexible grout can be used.
These instructions are strictly for use with Wunda systems only — using them with any other system may result in serious performance issues, system failure, or invalidation of your warranty.
Download Wunda Rapid Response® floor coverings information