A pivot door is a swing door that pivots around a floor and ceiling point. It is anchored at the bottom with a pivot hinge. Do you have underfloor heating? Then installing a pivot door requires extra care. It involves drilling 1 cm deep into the screed and, of course, you do not want to touch any pipes or the heat distribution.

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Why underfloor heating is a concern

The bottom plate hinge of a pivot door is drilled and anchored one centimetre deep into the floor. It is also drilled four centimetres deep into the ceiling. Drilling in the wrong place? Then you might damage the underfloor heating system: with water-based underfloor heating systems, this leads to leakage, pressure loss and water damage.

Because every underfloor heating system has different risks, installing a pivot door in combination with underfloor heating is not a do-it-yourself job. So leave the measuring and installation to the experts at Aluwdoors. They will check the drilling location and anchor your pivot door safely, without touching any pipes. It does depend on how the underfloor heating has been laid.

Is it not clear exactly where the pipes are? Then the pivot door cannot be installed immediately. It must first be clear exactly where the underfloor heating is located. So first check the building plans or the underfloor heating engineer.

Types of underfloor heating and suitability

With underfloor heating in a cement screed, a pivot door is usually easy to install. With milled-in underfloor heating systems, the hoses are shallow. Mounting these is only possible if there are no pipes in the way or if the system is moved from the door. Electric mats for underfloor heating are located directly under the top floor. Drilling for pivot doors in this case will almost certainly result in damage. Rather, choose an alternative to a pivot door, such as a hinged door with frame.

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Monitoring and preparation

Always check where pipes run before installation. Turn on the underfloor heating for 20 to 30 minutes and examine where the hot water pipes are with a thermal camera or infrared thermometer. Mark pipe-free areas on the floor with painter's tape.

Use a handy pipe locator/scanner. For water-based underfloor heating systems, a thermal scan works best.

Pay attention to risk spots such as cut-in bends and at door passages. You are responsible for the initial inspection and supplying correct information.

Alternatives in high-risk situations

Can't drill into the floor? Then there are two simple options. Choose an ordinary hinged door with hinges in the wall or in the frame. There is no need to drill into the floor. However, take into account a turning circle.

Advice for safe assembly

It is smart to plan the installation of your pivot door step by step. Start by determining the type of underfloor heating: do you have a cast-in, milled-in or electric underfloor heating? Then ask for the laying plan of your heating, turn on the heating for 20-30 minutes and read the pattern of the pipes with a thermal camera or pipe locator.

Consider the floor anyway. Will you have a tiled floor? Then it is often already one centimetre thick, which means that a pivot door is possible with all types of underfloor heating in that case. A PVC floor is slightly thinner. With such a floor, you have to take underfloor heating into account.

Lay down the dimensions and the desired pivot point and consult with Aluwdoors. Then plan further: will it be a pivot door in the released place, do we move the pivot point, or choose an alternative (wall hinges or tube)? Finally, plan the measuring in. As soon as you are ready, simply make an appointment with Aluwdoors. Take contact us on to schedule the measurement moment together.