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Underfloor Heating Design & Layout Guide

You will only want to install underfloor heating once, which is why an underfloor heating design is absolutely essential if you are to gain the maximum benefit. The design of the underfloor heating layout will determine the efficiency of the system ensuring the property is heated evenly from room to room and is most cost-effective.

The existing floor construction should first be taken into account because this will likely affect your decision about the most suitable type of underfloor heating system for your home. In this article, we take a look at what is involved at each stage of the design and planning process.

Quick-easy-installation

Understanding underfloor heating measurements

Assessing Room Dimensions

The key consideration of a good underfloor heating design is room dimensions. The floor area of each room should be measured accurately to determine the total square footage. Make a note of the shape of the room including doorways and windows. When measuring a kitchen floor, deduct areas where permanent features such as appliances, cabinets and units will be positioned. Underfloor heating cables or pipework will not be required in these areas. For more information, check out our easy-to-usehow to measure for underfloor heating” guide.   

Evaluating Insulation Requirements

Heat loss is costly and wasteful so it’s important to ensure the property, and especially the rooms that are to be fitted with underfloor heating, are insulated. The level of loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and double glazing can all affect the heating system’s performance. Underfloor heating requires a level of insulation below the heating pipes or cables to minimise heat loss downwards. A well-insulated property can be designed to operate at lower temperatures so it’s important that insulation is factored into underfloor heating design plan.

Underfloor Heating Room Requirements

Some rooms will often require more heat than others. For example, a living room is likely to have a higher demand for heat than a bathroom or kitchen. An underfloor heating design should take into account the heat requirements for each room. This can be delivered and controlled by individual room thermostats.

Choosing the Right System: Electric Or Water Underfloor Heating

Which is the best underfloor heating system for your property? As a general guide, it is recommended that electric is best for small areas and retrofits. Electric is also cheap, quick and easy to install and not beyond the capabilities of the DIY enthusiast. However, electric underfloor heating is more costly to run.

Water-based underfloor heating is a better choice for new builds and renovations but will take longer to install due to the complexity of the system. It is more expensive to install but is cheaper to run.

Factors Influencing System Choice

You might want to consider a water-based underfloor heating system if you have or intend to have a heat pump installed. The two systems combined can significantly reduce heating bills. However, both electric and wet systems have the advantage of providing energy efficiency savings in the longer term. You will also benefit from improved air quality and more room space, as radiators are not required. It’s important to understand at the planning stage, the pros and cons of each system, which will help enable you to make the right choice. 

Affordable electric underfloor heating

Planning your underfloor heating layout

Heat Output Requirements

How much heat will be required to heat your home comfortably? To be able to calculate this accurately use our room calculator. When calculating the total heat area, you need to also take into account the number of windows, doors and in some cases the height of ceilings.

Pipe or Cable Layout Patterns

Electric underfloor heating can consist of a single electric cable per room, which is laid in a spiral fashion. Alternatively, there is the option of laying pre-spaced heating mats. The cable spacing can be between 50mm and 100mm depending on the wattage output requirement. However, as a general rule, a consistent 50mm spacing is recommended for most installations. The electric cable should never cross over any other part of the cable.

Layout patterns for a wet underfloor heating system can be serpentine, double serpentine, or concentric. A wet underfloor heating system consists of a continuous water pipe, which can be 12mm or 16mm in diameter, and which should be spaced at a maximum of 200mm apart. Pre-grooved insulation boards are also available to help speed up the pipe-laying process.

Thermostats

Controlling Your System

Choosing Your Underfloor Heating Thermostat Location And Setting

Your newly installed underfloor heating system can be controlled by a centrally located thermostat or a series of individual room thermostats. The latter is better known as multi-zone heating. A heating thermostat needs to be positioned on a wall at around 5 feet from the floor. It should not be placed near a window or a door and not in an area that is subject to direct sunlight.

Not all thermostats will work effectively with underfloor heating so you should ensure you are using the right type. Manual thermostats are the cheapest to buy but are not ideal for underfloor heating due to their limited functionality. Programmable thermostats are better than manual and can be controlled remotely. Smart thermostats give you ultimate control over your heating due to their many energy-saving features.    

Whatever thermostat you choose, you should be aware that floor surfaces have limitations in terms of heat settings. For example, stone, concrete, ceramic, terracotta and slate can safely be heated to 29°C, while carpet, vinyl, wood and other soft floor coverings should be limited to 27°C. For more information, check out our underfloor heating temperature guide.

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