Many people believe that underfloor heating is a recent idea, when actually it has been around for over 2000 years. As Roman legions moved ever further north, they realised the growing need to provide winter warmth inside both public and private buildings. The Greeks discovered Hypocausts which were used for heating public baths and private houses.

There have been considerable developments in the technology and availability of heating systems such as Underfloor Heating since then. There are two main types of underfloor heating, also known as radiant heating, and they are electric or water systems. The advantage of heated floors is the pipes or electric elements emit heat into the screed above using this layer as an efficient heat sink that acts as an efficient low-level radiator, radiating heat energy evenly into the room and warming the living space through a combination of radiant energy and heat conduction. They work best in well insulated houses and can replace radiators or be installed in specific rooms or new extensions.

Underfloor heating is unobtrusive, enabling you to put furniture wherever you would like too and giving you the opportunity to design each room without worrying about conventional radiators. By eliminating old fashioned and often inefficient radiators from the walls, the days of having to arrange furniture in the warmest spots in the room, close to radiators, are over. You also get the feel of warmth on your feet wherever you are in the room. In larger rooms it is possible to install different heating circuits which can control the heat in specific areas if required. Underfloor heating can also be zoned, turning some areas on with others turned off. Each zone can be thermostatically controlled too making this an even more efficient heating system.

Water underfloor

Water or ‘wet’ under floor heating systems have many advantages over traditional radiator heating. When the pipework is incorporated within the screeded sub-floor at the outset, the installation costs are no more than a radiator system; coupled with the added savings on running costs, this method of heating is cheaper to run than radiator heating by up to 20%.

Electric underfloor

Electric underfloor heating appeals to not only companies such as conservatory and flooring companies but attracts the attention of architects, electricians, developers and even domestic homeowners. It is an excellent and economical option for all areas and sizes and for those who require a thin, fast and easy to install heating solution. It can be applied to new builds and renovations, so it is an easy solution all round. Electric underfloor heating is a flexible product and can be installed virtually under any floor covering including carpet, tiles, vinyl and wood.

Other advantages are Health & Hygiene as underfloor heating prevents dust mites living in carpets; by removing difficult to clean radiators dust mites and other small organisms have no home- great for asthma sufferers. This is especially useful where there are wet floors in bathrooms, showers, and utility rooms which dry quickly. Homes that have underfloor heating say that the ultimate comfort levels throughout your home by radiant heat. Conventional radiators make a noise while underfloor heating is silent and you have a reassuring silence. Underfloor heating spreads warmth over the entire floor area, resulting in about half the heat being emitted as low-temperature radiant heat. Warming a large area at a low temperature produces the most comfortable and efficient form of heating possible by reducing the heat loss from our bodies without overheating the surrounding air.