Click here to learn why underfloor heating is not now restricted to kitchens, bathrooms and other areas of the home with tiled flooring.
One of the most common complaints of homeowners and tenants is lack of space. But the expense of making large-scale alterations to properties is driving many people to make the most of the space they already have available.
This is one of the many reasons for the growing popularity of underfloor heating, says Fulham-based estate and letting agent Lawsons & Daughters.
It is not often put forward as a primary benefit of underfloor heating, but whether the dry heat system radiates warmth through a series of wires in the floor or a mat that has been rolled out to cover the entire floor surface, it still stops radiators or gas fires taking up part of a wall that could be used to put chairs a table or other furniture against.
The type of underfloor heating that is best to install depends entirely on the size of the room and what it will be used for. Wires are a flexible solution that work best in smaller or awkwardly shaped rooms, such as bathrooms. This is because less fitting is involved as a result of there being no need to supply heat to the area under a bathtub or a sink. However, a cable/loose-fit system works best when it is encased in the finishing screed of a concrete floor and tiles laid on top.Heating mats, on the other hand, should be laid on a plywood subfloor and encased in a flexible levelling compound or flexible tile adhesive.
Cost-effective control
Another significant advantage of underfloor heating is it gives the electricity bill payer the option to control the amount of heat in each room. This is because rather than relying on a single thermostat to control the temperature of the whole home, underfloor heating is controlled by individual thermostats for each room independently. If fitted in a bathroom, for example, underfloor heating needs only to be switched on first thing in the morning and in the evening.
This allows total control over the level and duration of heating to be provided throughout the home, improving not only comfort but also energy use. And unlike traditional radiators, electric underfloor heating allows the warmth to rise slowly around the whole room. But debate is still ongoing as to whether underfloor heating will mean radiators will become redundant in new-built properties, says Eden Harper.
A spokesman for the central London-based firm says that many homeowners use underfloor heating systems to supplement the heat supply in kitchens and bathrooms. This allows the underfloor heat source to remove chills in the summer mornings and evenings, while radiators boost the level of warmth in the autumn and winter.
However, research by the Carpet Foundation and the Underfloor Heating Manufacturers Association has demonstrated that the majority of carpets can be used over underfloor heating systems without impairing its performance.
Data produced by the study shows that a carpet/underlay with a combined thermal resistance of under 2.5 togs allows underfloor systems to operate efficiently.
Although carpets are suitable for use with underfloor heating systems at the normal operating temperature of 27C, it must be remembered that carpets act as thermal insulation materials and takes slightly longer than tiles to get warm initially, said Robert Holmes. But they do stay warm for longer.
