Underfloor Heating

Wet and electric underfloor heating

The choice between wet (hydronic) and electric underfloor heating usually comes down to the size of the area and the heat source. Wet systems circulate warm water through pipework under the floor, connected to a boiler or heat pump. They cost more to install but cost less to run over time, which makes them the better choice for larger areas or whole-house systems. Electric systems use a mat or cable under the floor, are cheaper and faster to install, and suit smaller rooms, bathrooms, or a single extension room where running wet pipework would be disruptive.

Wet underfloor heating pairs particularly well with heat pumps, because UFH operates efficiently at the lower flow temperatures a heat pump produces. A house with both has a heating system that genuinely works as a unit rather than two things fighting each other.

We install both types and survey before recommending: floor construction, insulation levels, area size, and the existing or planned heat source all influence what makes sense.

Retrofit systems for existing homes

The most common question about underfloor heating in existing homes is whether it will affect door heights and floor levels. The answer depends on the system. Screeded systems add significant floor height and only suit renovations where the floor is being rebuilt anyway. Low-profile systems add 15–22mm, which is workable in most rooms, though doors may need trimming.

Insulation beneath the system matters. Without insulation, a significant amount of heat goes down into the subfloor rather than up into the room. We specify the insulation as part of the system, not as an optional extra. It's the difference between a system that works and one that runs all day and still doesn't warm the floor properly.

For retrofits as part of a wider renovation project, see home renovation. For bathroom-specific UFH, it's often the best solution where there's no space for a towel rail.

UFH with heat pumps and refurbishments

When we're installing an underfloor heating system as part of a full bathroom renovation or a whole-house refurbishment, it's done in the right sequence: floor insulation, pipework laid and pressure-tested before screed or board goes down, then connections made to the manifold during first-fix. This is much less disruptive than trying to retrofit later.

For larger projects across Dorset, Devon and Somerset, we can install wet UFH across multiple zones: ground floor open plan, upstairs bathrooms on electric, all controlled from a single system with separate zone valves. It's not a complicated install when it's planned in from the start.

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