Tile Has Higher Thermal Conductivity Than Carpet

Simply put tile is the better conductor of heat than wood or carpet and can take away the heat from your feet faster than the others.

Tile has higher thermal conductivity than carpet. When high temperatures are involved in ovens for instance the influence of temperature has to be taken into account. Thus any statement that tile is one of the coldest floor materials is quite simply a misconception. Wool carpet had a higher insulation value than comparable carpets of other fibre types. The thermal conductivity normally found in tables is the value valid for normal room temperature.

Thermal conductivity explains why walking bare foot on a cold tile floor feels much cooler than walking on carpet even though both are at room temperature. The best type of flooring to use with underfloor heating is tile and stone. Car pet r anks very highl y i e. Tile and stone also retain heat well making the system efficient.

Pvc tile has only 1 3 of the insulation of wool carpet. Wool carpet had a higher insulation value than com parable carpets of other fibre types. Of carpet with its millions of tiny fibres traps air and further increases its thermal insulation. Tile and rocks have a higher thermal conductivity than carpet and fabrics so they can transfer heat away from a foot at a much quicker rate making the tile appear cool to the touch.

Pvc tile has only 1 3 of the insulation of wool carpet. As can be seen from the table the thermal resistance of carpet is significantly higher than that of concrete and plywood two common flooring materials and similar to fiberglass insulation. However because marble tiles are usually twice as thick as ceramic tiles they offer greater protection against thermal conductivity. Tiles feel warmer than carpet when the floor is hot.

Carpet ranks very highly i e. Tile and stone have a high thermal conductivity meaning that the heat from an underfloor heating pipe or wire transfers to the floor surface quickly. Heat conductivity is all about the rate at which the material can conduct heat. Carpet particularly wool and shag varieties provides the best r values among all standard flooring choices.

Thermal conductivity of the material. For example wool carpet rates a maximum r value of 2 1 while other types of carpet can rate as low. So it makes sense that the specific heat of the carpet is lower meaning it will heat up really fast when you step on it making it feel warmer than the tile which has a higher specific heat meaning it takes longer for it to warm up when you step on it and therefor feels cold. Specific heat has to do with how much energy is needed to raise an object s temperature.