Underfloor heating

Although it is only the beginning of October, we are all starting to feel these cold autumn days. It is also such a struggle to get out of a warm bed in morning and hit the cold floor…. Our blog on underfloor heating, demonstrates the ultimate solution for cold autumn days, and will create an unbelievable cozy atmosphere in your home.

If you’ve ever stepped on a heated floor, you will know that it is one of the best feelings, however we want to talk about the practical aspects of having the underfloor heating systems.

As well as comfort, underfloor heating can completely replace the need for radiators and will allow freedom in design. Furthermore, underfloor heating systems are much more energy efficient as opposed to traditional, water-based systems. This is mainly because they work at lower temperatures, and spread heat evenly across the room. You can use timers and thermostats to manage the underfloor heating systems (as they usually take longer to heat up), to ensure your home is at the optimum temperature when you need it. Also, the good news is that underfloor heating can be implemented in a new build, but can also be installed as part of refurbishment, as generally underfloor heating is compatible with vast range of floorings.

There are two main types of underfloor heating systems:

Dry systems

The dry systems use electric heating cable, which conducts heat through the flooring. Electric underfloor systems do not require a boiler, therefore the absence of a gas supply is not an issue. An electric system does not necessarily need to replace the current heating system, so if you just want to have heated floors, electric systems are a perfect solution. Finally, once the dry heated floor is installed, there are no further service or maintenance costs.

Wet systems

Wet systems comprise a water pipe that runs hot water underneath the flooring also conducting heat. These systems work as part of the central heating system, and are usually hooked up to your boiler. Depending on the surface area of the heated floor system, some projects may require an independent boiler. Wet underfloor heating systems are generally well suited for new builds or new extensions, as they are pretty much embedded into the floor and will have an impact on the floor height. The wet systems will probably need servicing/maintenance checks every couple of years.

ARC Design Services recommend that professional advice is considered when it comes to your choice of underfloor heating system and selection of flooring. The good news is, you can install the underfloor heating under carpets without losing heat efficiency. However, with other flooring materials it becomes more complicated. If you are thinking of having underfloor heating with tiled floors, you will need to install insulation boards, to avoid losing up to 50% of heat. With wooden floors you also have to be extremely careful. Firstly, you need to make sure that the chosen wood material is compatible with underfloor heating. Secondly, as we all know from school physics classes, wood is a bad heat and electricity conductor. Therefore, the thinner your chosen wood material, the more efficient your heating system will be. You may struggle with laminate floorings, as they are heat sensitive, and can become damaged overtime.

Although it seems like a simple project, little details need to be considered to make sure you get the most out of your underfloor heating system. ARC Design Services is an award winning architectural design company, so please feel free to call our friendly team on 0161 9284433 for a consultation on underfloor heating systems and more.


26a Victoria Road, Hale
Altrincham, Cheshire, WA15 9AD
United Kingdom