Underfloor heating… are they really going to warm our hearts?

Under-floor Heating is revelling in such popularity these days; however do they really warm our hearts, or do they just burn a hole in our pockets?

Under floor heating is a luxury that many of us would love to have. It not only gives us bragging rights, but it also is a wonderful addition to any home. After all, who wouldn’t want to jump out of bed in the morning and not have to put on slippers? All over the globe people are taking off their socks and switching to under floor heating.


It is certainly becoming a ‘must have’ heating alternative: as well as having the assets of being clear-cut, efficient and a comfortable heat source, it purely avoids the need for all those unsightly wall hung radiators.


Under-floor heating has been around since the Romans, and yet we are only just grasping on to the idea…. whilst the Romans relied solely on the circulation of warm air beneath the floor, these days the options are a bit more sumptuous with either electric or wet systems.

Certain rooms, benefit further from under-floor heating in comparison to others, such as kitchens and bathroom, as this heat source are more efficient living beneath ceramic tiles, vinyl and linoleum. Conversely they still are effective crouching underneath timber and carpet, despite the myths.

Wet systems use pipes that link directly to a central boiler, and mean that the majority of users are home owners, that have recently constructed a new build, compared to existing buildings. The disadvantage to having this ideal luxury is that the installation requires a skill that not one trade can solely achieve, but rather two, which allows for a greater money loss as well as time.

Whereas electric under-floor heating systems possess the advantages of needing a far lower skill base for installation then the wet heating systems. Electric systems are suitable for installation for almost every type of floor, from concrete or timber. The key benefit of electric systems is the minute height of the all system: which accounts for only 10 to 15mm, including the floor covering.

The electric under-floor heating system seems a little more tempting then the wet system, but that is not everything you need to know about it. There are in fact two types of electric heating available: cable and foil.
Foil under-floor heating systems have the edge of being the considerably thinner out of the two, however are less flexible since the foil sheets are only available in either a square or rectangular format, unable to be cut into awkward shapes.

Conversely cable mat systems are specifically designed for a speedy installation, bend, cut and fit around items and can even accommodate peculiar room sizes. Additionally finding a fault is effortless, and can a break in the cable can be isolated to within 20mm2 tile areas, meaning a swift effective repair can be made.

In all under-flooring heating systems control is by electronic thermostats, thus conserving energy, minimising running costs and providing the user with exactly the required temperature.

It may sound all too pricey, however can we really price tag something that we need, want and all love? It is a must have for the rich, a need for the working class, and a luxury for the middle class… and yet we can all have it for a small investment. The big question now is, are you ready to revolutionise your home?