Keep cold feed at bay with clever underfloor heating throughout your home with these top tips.
There’s nothing worse than slipping out of a cosy bed or sofa in the middle of winter and feeling the intense shock of a freezing cold floor as you put your feet on the ground. Short of installing carpets throughout the house, however, how can you avoid cold feet? The answer may be underfloor heating.
You’ve heard of underfloor heating, and yes, it’s seen as a bit fancy. When renovators think about heating, this option may pop into mind but many don’t proceed due to misconceptions about high costs and installation difficulties. Luckily, it’s not as hard as one might think.
With technology becoming more accessible and affordable, underfloor heating is a smart way to stay comfortable once the colder months set in. Just make sure you hire the right professionals to do the work for you and choose the type of underfloor heating that will best suit your home.
Here’s what you need to know…
HOW EFFICIENT IS UNDERFLOOR HEATING?
Unlike overhead heating and extraction lamps that provide a blast of heat from the ceiling, the underfloor heating is generated from the floor and as hot air rises, warmth is distributed at a constant temperature more evenly and efficiently. It can be installed either as the primary source of home heating, or as a comfort measure in specific area where cold flooring is an issue. This is particularly great for bathrooms, areas with high ceilings and high-traffic zones.
HIDDEN HEATING
Since the heating elements are beneath your flooring, you won’t have clunky radiators disrupting the flow and design of your home, and space is freed up without the need for wall-mounted or external heaters.
ENHANCE YOUR HOME’S SELLING PRICE
Underfloor heating has a reputation for being state of the art and high spec, so installing it in your home means that down that track it has the potential to attract buyers looking for a luxe feel to their home.
IS UNDERFLOOR HEATING EXPENSIVE TO RUN?
Underfloor heating works at a low power wattage to a thermostatically controlled temperature for slow, consistent heating, making it more energy efficient than other types of home heating. It’s advisable to divide the home into zones so you only heat the areas you’re using. Simply put, these factors can reduce your heating bill. Sounds great, right?
HOW TO PLAN FOR UNDERFLOOR HEATING
Particularly for bathroom renovations its important to think about heating solutions early in the planning process as this allows more choice in the type of underfloor heating options, especially since electrical elements require wiring during the building stage.
The underfloor heating components are usually installed on top of a concrete or timber substrate, underneath your desired floor finish.
There are generally two types of electric underfloor heating:
IN-SLAB HEATING
This is where wires are laid within the concrete slab itself and the flooring then laid over the top. Heat from wires radiates through the concrete slab to the floor space.
IN-SCREED HEATING
An extra layer of sand or gravel is laid over the concrete slab (a screed) and the heating wires are placed within the screed with mesh and fixed clips. The floor surface is then installed over the top, meaning underfloor heating of this kind can be retrofitted when renovating or remodelling existing flooring.
Of these two options, in-screed tends to protect the heating mat coils better during the installation so often makes a smarter choice.
Furthermore, in-screed has a faster warm up and cool down time compared to in-slab heating, allowing you to manage your temperature and energy usage more efficiently by lowering the temperature levels or turning the system off completely if you are leaving the room.
The bonus with underfloor heating is that systems can be connected to gas or solar energy and integrated with a timer for greater energy efficiency.
Cost saving, invisible, and warm – underfloor heating is a winner.
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