Under floor heating: is it the thing for you?

Five points to consider if before you choose your under floor heating system.

Under floor heating systems are riding a wave of popularity in the UK at the moment – and there are many good reasons why that is so.

But before you splash out the several thousand pounds it could cost to convert your home to under floor heating, it’s worth taking a look at our list of points to consider.

1. Do you want to free up wall space currently used by radiators?

In many UK homes, potentially valuable space is being taken up by radiators. Where we could put storage space, or move furniture – or even put a door or some other structural alteration – there is so often a radiator in the way.

The beauty of under floor heating is that it removes the need for radiators – meaning you can have blank, uncluttered walls where you want them throughout your home.

2. Do you want a more or less constant heat?

If you do, then under floor heating could suit you. Because under floor heating works by warming up the floor itself, which then radiates the head upwards, it only warms the room once the floor is warm. In some rooms and with some under floor heating systems, this can take up to 24 hours.

Needless to say, this is no good if you only want to have the temperature on for a short period of time – in a room you rarely go into, for example.

3. Will under floor heating be enough?

Under floor heating will keep a well-insulated, draught-proofed room warm for hours. But because of the relatively low surface temperatures a floor can have compared to, say, a radiator, it will never exceed more than 100 watts of heat per square metre.

Sometimes this won’t be enough to keep a room warm on its own – so you need to bear in mind that under floor heating should be put in after you’ve properly insulated and draught-proofed your home.

4. What kind of floor covering do you want?

Under floor heating works best under solid floors like concrete or brick that absorb the heat from the under floor heating circuit and store it in the floor itself. The solid floor can then be covered with something that similarly absorbs the heat.

There is some argument over whether wood floors benefit from under floor heating. Wood is a well-known insulator, and can negate the effects of the heating system.

5. Are you prepared for repairs?

It may be a hypothetical question – most under floor heating systems are extremely durable and, if fitted properly, will work well for years.

However, a repair could mean the digging out and replacement of parts of your concrete or brick floor – with all the attendant mess and inconvenience that could cause. It’s always worth keeping some spare tiles back in case the eventuality arises.