No Maintenance As there are no moving parts to an underfloor heating system, there is little that can go wrong. If correctly installed, pressure testing of the pipes means any potential leaks will have already been identified at an early stage and dealt with prior to screeding. As a result, one more of the advantages of underfloor heating is there are no regular maintenance costs to incur unlike traditional convection heating.
Comfort Underfloor heating heats the whole floor area in which you live. This generates the opposite heat cycle to that of conventional heat sources and results in warm feet and consistent room temperatures. Compared to conventional radiators, an underfloor heating system generates more radiant heat as opposed to convective heat.
Freedom of room design Heating your floor space allows you the freedom to design your room layout without compromise. You have the flexibility to locate your furniture where you wish, suiting your lifestyle needs and not your heating system as no space is lost to radiators.
Flexible Control Unlike traditional convection heating systems which are often controlled by a single thermostat, a floor heating system provides the flexibility to control individual rooms via thermostats. These can be easily programmed to meet the demands of a particular area instead of wasting energy and money heating areas of the property which are used less often than others.
Safety With lower flow temperatures and no protruding radiators, installing and using a floor heating system means there is no longer a risk to small children and other vulnerable groups sustaining injury from hot radiators.
Health & Well Being Floor heating advantages are also demonstrated by the fact that an underfloor heating system produces less airborne dust than the amounts associated with radiators and convection currents. This is a real plus for asthma sufferers and people with allergies.
It varies depending on the floor area, pipe spacing, stapled system or retro-fit, and number of thermostats.
As a very rough guide £15 per m2, however more thermostats in a relatively small property will increase the cost, up to £25 per m2.
Conversely, 1 thermostat could in theory control a 12 circuit system covering a 240m2 floor area. This would cost around £6-£7 per m2.
In reality though you would most likely want individual room control, typically 6 thermostats/zones for such a floor area.
Type of thermostats you choose will also have an impact on cost, basic dial thermostat, digital, or the latest WIFI smart phone controls.
In short, it is always best to send your plans so our design team can accurately calculate a system that best suits your needs.
Email our CAD team info@ufhtradedirect.co.uk for a same day quote and design
Full colour-coded pipe layouts are sent free with every order
Typically underfloor heating is 35% cheaper to run than traditional radiators. This is achieved as the operating temperature is lower at 40-45C compared to 70-75C.
And due to the even distribution of heat, UFH is an efficient way to heat a property.
Radiators heat up the area immediately around them, which is quickly dispersed upwards, and away from the desired area. This lends to a more stuffy kind of heat, rising to the ceiling, then dropping back down
As a low temperature system UFH works particularly well with tiles and stone, and unlike radiators which are normally switched on and off, UFH can be left on even at night, usually using a set-back thermostat.
With a radiator system the maximum temperature is at ceiling height and the lowestis at floor level. Underfloor Heating provides maximum warmth to the feet and cooler but more comfortable temperatures at head height.
The best floor coverings to use with underfloor heating are shown below in descending order of suitability
Stone and ceramic tiles - typical heat output 130-150W/m²
- The best floor finish used with underfloor heating.
- Maximum heat and efficiency due to excellent thermal conductivity
- Least resistance and transfer heat very effectively
- Tile thickness has little effect, only slight increase on warm up times De-coupling membrane and flexible adhesive must always be used with tiles
Marble and flag stones
- As above but longer warm up times
Laminates and vinyl - typical heat output 100-120W/m²
- Perform extremely well as a floor finish
- Heat up and cool down quickly Note: it is recommended that surface temperature is restricted to 27 C/ (equates to 75 w/m2) in order to protect these floor finishes
- Floor sensor probes can be used to limit heat output in the floor In particular vinyl floors should not be used in high heat loss areas such as Conservatories as higher heat outputs /flow temperatures normally required
Engineered timber - typical heat output 95-115W/m²
- Excellent durability with underfloor heating
- Low moisture content
- Unless laid over a screed slab, If less than 20mm in thickness should supported by additional decking material to add structural support Solid Hardwood
- Can be screwed or nailed to battens or joists
- Or continuously glued on screed floors
- Boards should not exceed 25mm (1”) in thickness
- Moisture content below 10%
Carpets- typical heat output 75-85W/m²
- Least suitable floor finish
- Tog value less than 2.5 for carpet and underlay combined
- Avoid felt and polyurethane underlay, restricts thermal conductivity
Yes you can.
If you don’t have enough floor height available to install a traditional screed system, we have an alternative low-profile product that will raise your floor from as low as 16mm with our retrofit routed boards.
Pipes are laid inside the pre-routed grooves ready for your floor finish. A tile or carpet floor finish will require 6 mm plywood or tile backer board on top of the routed panel first.
The foil reflective routed panel is lightweight and easily cut around fixtures, so install time is greatly reduced. There is also the advantage of no drying times compared with a wet screed system
Please email your floor plans or room sizes for a bespoke design and quote for this system: info@ufhtradedirect.co.uk
We offer delivery to Mainland UK only for online orders. Please contact us for a quote, for delivery to other regions.
FREE STANDARD DELIVERY ON ORDERS OVER £350.00 ex. Vat
Standard Next Day Delivery - £9.99 ex. Vat
Pre-12 Noon Delivery - £20.00 ex. Vat
Pre-10am Delivery - £30.00 ex. Vat
Note: Orders must be made by 3:30pm for next day delivery.