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There are two types of underfloor electric heating systems available in the UK.  Heating cables and mats are generally used for under tile heating, whilst carbon film heating elements are used under wood or laminate floors.  This type of floor heating system is ideal for areas where an increase in the finished floor height is undesirable.

The heating cables and mats used for under tile heating have a thickness of just 3mm.  The cables have twin core resistance wire conductors, covered by a sheath of PTFE, a screening foil, an earth braid and lastly, an outer jacket of PVC, which makes the cables waterproof.  When an electric current is passed through them the cable heats up; the maximum temperature achieved will depend on the design of the conductor wires.

Electric Cables

Loose cables can be used for floor heating, but the installer must tape the cables in place, which can be time consuming.  Generally, cables are only recommended for small areas, such as bathrooms.  Some experience in their fitting is required to achieve optimal results.

Heating Mats

Underfloor heating cables can also be supplied on a mesh backing, to produce heating mats.  The output of these mats varies, allowing them to be used in different areas.  Conservatories lose more heat than other areas of the home and so require a higher output. 

Heating mats are a better option for anyone carrying out a DIY underfloor heating project.  The mat backing can be cut easily, so the mats can be fitted around obstacles, such as fitted units or kitchen islands.  In addition, it is possible to remove the heating cables from the mat and use the loose cable for any areas that are hard to access; for example, door recesses.

Hydronic heating systems are one option when it comes to underfloor heating.  These systems differ from electric underfloor heating systems in that they use a mixture of water and anti-freeze to heat the home.  This anti-freeze may be propylene glycol.  It serves as a heat transferring liquid trapped in a closed loop that circulates under the floor and to a boiler.

A key aspect of a hydronic heating system is the underfloor heating pipe.  Different kinds of pipes are used based on the specific needs of the project and heating system.  Copper or steel are more traditional materials to use for an underfloor heating pipe, and they are still in use in some locations.  Nowadays, newer materials like plyethylene are becoming more popular.

Many people who get an underfloor heating system in their home try to install the system themselves.  This is possible with DIY underfloor heating kits.  However, these underfloor heating kits are more suited to electric underfloor heating systems.  These systems use simple mats and wires to create heat under the floor.

A hydronic heating system usually cannot be installed by the homeowner alone.  This system is a little more complicated than an electric heating system, particularly because these systems include elements such as boilers.  Things like boilers and circulators will require skilled designers and professional trades people to install.  The controls, such as fluid pressure and temperature, will also require professional installation. 

Luckily, while professional installation is needed, modern innovations like sub-stations can make the process quicker and cheaper.

Underfloor heating systems are often lauded for their ability to heat homes, as well as their energy efficiency when compared to traditional heating systems.  They also have another big benefit, however.  Many see them as safer systems than traditional heating systems.

Underfloor heating systems are never going to create a burn hazard.  This is thanks to their being embedded in the very floor of the home or room.  Because they are placed under floor covers, like tile and stone, underfloor heating systems do not occupy any wall space and therefore do not create any sort of burn hazard. 

By the same token, with underfloor heating, there will not be as much of a tripping or incidental contact hazard.  Unlike traditional heating, there is no heater or unit sitting out where it can be bumped into.

Underfloor heating systems can also speed absorption of liquids that get on the floor.  Because the heat provided by the system is rising up out of the floor itself, it can cause liquids to evaporate more quickly.  This would be particularly helpful in a room like a bathroom where a shower could create puddles, or a kitchen where spills are not infrequent.

These kinds of safety features have sometimes made underfloor heating systems more popular choices for healthcare facilities.  Places like hospitals and homes for the elderly have sometimes chosen underfloor heating systems not only for their efficiency, but also for these safety benefits for their patients and residents.

DIY underfloor heating is not a particularly difficult home upgrade to install.  However, proper measuring can save time and effort if done in advance.
 
DIY underfloor heating is made even easier by underfloor heating kits.  These kits come with everything the homeowner needs in order to install an underfloor heating system in any room in their home.  However, there are some steps that the homeowner should take themselves.
 
One such step is measuring.  Underfloor heating kits will come with mats or wires that are ready to be placed in any room in the home, but determining just where to put these mats or wires is up to the homeowner.  It is therefore important to measure the room that will receive an underfloor heating system before doing any of the installation.  After finding the total length and width of the room where the heating system will go, write down those measurements for future reference.
 
Next, determine how much of the room actually needs underfloor heating.  In a bathroom, for example, the area under the shower does not need floor heating.  The area in front of the sink, however, does.  The same goes in a kitchen, where there is no sense in installing heating under a refrigerator, but perhaps in front of it instead.
 
Figuring where the heating needs to go specifically will shrink down the measurements of the room.  It may be surprising to learn that you do not need to install as much heating as you thought you did.

If you are thinking of purchasing an underfloor heating system, insulation is important and should be considered an integral part of the system.  If the underfloor heating system is to be laid on a sub-floor that does not have insulation beneath it then it should be installed directly beneath the underfloor heating system.

Advantages of Insulation

Underfloor heating Insulation will improve heat up times and minimise the cost of running the system.  Companies offer a variety of underfloor heating insulation options and you should choose one that is appropriate for the type of floor that is being installed.  Insulation boards come in a range of prices and each had its own advantages and disadvantages.  Some can only be installed under tiled floors whilst others are suitable for a range of floors.

Insulation Primers

Some companies also offer primers, which can improve the efficiency of the underfloor heating system by reducing heat loss.  The primer is simply applied, using a roller or paintbrush.  However, it is not intended to be an alternative to thermal insulation boards, but is designed for use in situations where the increase in floor height associated with thermal backing boards would cause problems.

Fitting Insulation

Insulation boards can be applied to concrete floors using a flexible concrete adhesive.  The boards should then be sealed, using an appropriate sealant.  For wooden floors, the boards are applied using an adhesive and then screwed down.  In wet areas, such as bathrooms, it is recommended that the fixing hole is primed with a silicone sealant before the boards are screwed down.

Although underfloor heating systems are very popular, are easy to install and cost effective, they do have some drawbacks. It is crucial to choose the most suitable underfloor heating kit for your home as, if you get this wrong, you may have high running costs, not enough heat, or damaged floors.

When installing heating under a wooden floor, you need to check whether it is likely to warp or shrink. Sometimes wood needs to be well acclimatised before laying. As well as possible effects on your floor coverings, you need to bear in mind that laying underfloor heating on top of an existing floor will raise the height and affect skirting boards and doors. Also, furniture can be dried out by underfloor heating, and it should not be installed under fitted cupboards as it will create condensation and affect the contents.

Modern underfloor heating systems are extremely reliable, long lasting and maintenance-free and have come a long way since the early days. However, both electric and water underfloor heating do still take a little longer to heat up compared to traditional radiators. If encased in screed, the electrical elements or water pipes usually need to heat that up first before the floor itself can be heated. Pipes, cables or mats which have direct contact with the floor, with a dry fixing, usually heat up more quickly. If the underfloor heating is simply providing background warmth, and is kept on more or less continuously, this isn’t a problem.

Underfloor heating is an ideal way to keep your feet warm on long cold winter nights.  It is often used in areas such as bathrooms, where tiled floors are often laid.  Tile is notoriously cold under foot and so having underfloor heating feels like sheer luxury when getting out of the bath or shower.

Underfloor heating is not designed to heat entire rooms and replace your central heating system.  Instead, it warms the floor, which makes it lovely to walk around barefoot and is suitable to be used under various types of flooring material.  It is more commonly used under tile and laminate flooring.

Underfloor heating insulation is used to save on heat wastage.  It ensures that the heat is directed upwards, into the room and ensures that the floor holds the heat for longer, making it more energy efficient.  Underfloor heating systems can be electric or water powered and both are cost effective.  They can be used in solar powered homes just as effectively as mains powered properties and are fairly cheap and easy to install.

Underfloor heating kits can be bought from larger DIY shops and take very little skill to install.  Electric underfloor heating systems are easier for the DIY enthusiast to install than water underfloor heating systems, especially as additional plumbing may be necessary.

Underfloor heating can be used in every room of the house.  The heating system comes complete with thermostat controls, which enable the temperature in each room to be set individually.  Rooms can be isolated and the heating switched off and some systems include timers, so it is possible to set the on and off times.

Underfloor heating is a clean, quiet, efficient alternative to traditional heating systems.  Underfloor heating systems are simple to install in a new build or when an additional room is being added.  They are actually so simple to install that underfloor heating kits have been designed for use by handymen or anyone who is skilled at DIY projects.

An underfloor heating kit comes complete with all the supplies you need to install your own system.  Although the kits vary, depending on the particular space for which they are to be used, they all include some basic parts, such as heating cable, electrical cables, underfloor heating insulation and a thermostat.

There are also heating mat kits that can be rolled straight onto the sub-floor and they are designed for use in larger spaces.  You will have to choose a specific type of heating mat kit depending on what type of floor the room has.  Lower wattage mats are for use under wood floors, whilst higher wattage versions are better under stone or tile floors.

You might consider using a combination of heating cable and heating mats to heat a smaller space with an irregular shape such as a bathroom.

There are DIY underfloor heating kits available for installation on any type of sub-floor.  If you are installing one in average size room it will probably require no more than two people. 

Adding underfloor heating to an existing room will result in the floor level being raised slightly.  It will probably not even be necessary to raise the skirting boards or modify the doors.

When installing an underfloor heating system, it is important to also install underfloor heating insulation.  The purpose of the insulation is to ensure that the warmth generated by the system is reflected up through the floor and into the room, not down into the sub-floor.

One way to insulate an underfloor heating system is to use polystyrene boards.  This type of board is quite strong and conducts very little heat.  Polystyrene boards are designed to be used on top of cement screeds or solid concrete sub-floors.  You will need to use a different type of underfloor heating insulation for wooden sub-floors.

For wooden sub-floors, tile-backer boards should be used.  Tile-backer boards have a polystyrene core, which is surrounded by glass fibre mesh, which is then coated with reinforced polymer cement.  This is to make the tile-backer board rigid.  It is attached to the wooden sub-floor with a flexible adhesive. 

The insulation boards are attached to the sub-floor with an adhesive.  The underfloor heating cables are laid over the insulation and finally the floor is fixed on top; this is also attached with an adhesive.

Tile-backer boards may also be used with concrete sub-floors, but should only with electric underfloor heating systems.  Polystyrene boards may be used with either electric or water underfloor heating systems.

Although it is strong, underfloor heating insulation is easily cut with a sharp knife.  It is also waterproof, lightweight for easy handling and resists rot.

Underfloor heating insulation is an essential part of an underfloor heating system.  Without it, you will lose a substantial percentage of the heat generated.

There are many advantages to having heating under the floor, which is why more and more people are opting for it.  Once reserved for the wealthy, DIY underfloor heating has now become a key element of many a homeowner’s renovation project.

Under tile heating is perfect for bathrooms and kitchens.  Tile floors help make the rooms easy to clean, but when stepping out of the shower or bath they can feel cold under foot.  Underfloor heating can put an end to that particular problem at a stroke.

Underfloor heating kits can be bought from many DIY stores and are easy to install by following the simple instructions.  They do not heat the floor to high temperatures, so there is no risk of being burned; instead they warm the floor to a comfortable temperature, so that walking around barefoot becomes pleasurable.  Thermostats are supplied with the kits, so you can set the temperature to suit yourself.  Cold winter days may mean setting the temperature just a little higher.

Underfloor heating is not designed to replace central heating radiators, as the heat given off is not sufficient to warm the whole room.  This makes for an extremely cost effective system, as the energy used is low when compared to other electric heating devices, such as fan heaters.  Another benefit of installing this system is that when the floor is wet, perhaps after it has been mopped, underfloor heating will gently dry it.  From a safety point of view, as the floor dries more quickly, the risk of slipping on a wet patch is considerably reduced.