Whether you’re renovating your entire home or just giving one room a facelift, flooring is one of the most impactful decisions you can make. Not only does the style you choose change the whole look and feel of a room, but you can use your floor to add in some functionality as well. Electric underfloor heating is a bit of a ‘hot’ topic at the moment, and its’ still one of the most popular heating options for modern homes. That’s mainly because it’s completely invisible once it’s installed, and heats your home from the ground up. This gives you more options for decorating, cleaning and worming your home. But like any heating solution it has its pros and cons, so-we’re going to give you a quick rundown to ensure you choose the right option for your home.
What Is Electric Underfloor Heating
In case you haven’t heard of it before, underfloor heating is pretty much what it says on the tin. It’s heating that’s installed under your floors, instead of using radiators on the walls. There are two types- ‘wet’ underfloor heating (which uses hot water pipes) and ‘dry’ underfloor heating, which uses electric heating elements a bit like the ones you’ll find in your oven. A thin layer of filler is then spread on top of the mechanism, providing an even spread of heat through the floor. Insulating boards are usually laid underneath the heating elements to make the system energy efficient, and you control the temperature and timings through a thermostat on the wall.
The Pros Of Electric Underfloor Heating
Space Saving: The main advantage of electric underfloor heating is that it’s very slim and space saving. That’s compared to both standard radiator heating systems and wet underfloor heating options. The electric mesh makes electric underfloor heating completely flat, so you don’t need to sink or raise your floors to accommodate it.
Even Heating: Because the heating elements are distributed underneath the entirety of your floor, you’ll get a much more even heat in the room. So not only will it keep your feet warm in the winter, but it will ensure there are no cold or super-hot spots in your rooms.
Zoned Heating: Because electric underfloor heating is controlled room by room, it allows you to effectively ‘zone’ your home, separating it into different areas and only heating the ones you want. For example, if you know you want the bedroom worm in the mornings and evenings but don’t need it heated during the day, you can program it for that. Or you can program the living room to be heated during the hours you use it, but turned off when you don’t need it. This saves you energy and money.
The Cons of Electric Underfloor Heating
Long Heat up Times: Unlike piped heating or electric radiators, electric underfloor heating takes a long time to heat up fully. This means that you either need to turn on your heating hours before you need it, or leave it on permanently through the colder months. Either way, it can impact your energy use.
More Involved Installation: Unlike your standard carpet or laminate flooring, electric underfloor heating is a much more complicated project to install. Rather than replacing the top layer of the floor, you’re instead having to dig up the base of the floor so that the insulated base can be laid before the heating elements. This means you either need to do it during the build phase, or be prepared for the room to be out of commission for a longer stretch of time.
Increased Insulation: In order for you to have electric underfloor heating installed, you need to invest in a good insulating base. You can’t just put it down on top of a concrete slab. Underfloor heating mats have to be Installed on top of a highly insulated base. If they aren’t, they won’t provide you with much heat in cold weather – particularly if it’s your primary heating method.
Can You Lay Electric Underfloor Heating Yourself?
In a word, no. While you can do things like lay your own laminate if you want to, electric underfloor heating is a different beast. Its’ an incredibly complex installation process and requires a lot of experts to get it right. Not only does the floor need to be dug out to fit it (which takes expert tools and people like us), but you need to wire it in to your home (which needs an electrician) and be able to lay the surface securely while working around pipes and cables. It’s something that takes years to become certified in, and should never be attempted by someone who hasn’t done it before.
At DNA Brickwork and Builders, we handle all kinds of home renovation projects – including laying underfloor heating. Our team of experts are always on hand to help you decide which type of heating is right for you, and guide you through the process of having it installed. If you’d like some advice or help getting started with a project, just get in touch with the team today.
