Underfloor Heating

[HappyGirlNow]

Would like some opinions from those that have underfloor heating please?

We're just about to start building a 7 x 4m rear single storey extension that will be used as another living and dining area and will join the existing kitchen as an open plan area. We'll have a lot of glass, 4.8m total length (2 giant sliding doors), North-facing and a small rooflight.

We'd like to install underfloor heating so we don't need radiators. But I really feel the cold and need my home to feel lovely and warm. Is underfloor heating likely to be warm enough?

Thanks

[HappyGirlNow]

No one has an opinion on underfloor heating?

[HiDBandSIL]

This isn't helpful at all, but we're in a similar situation except South facing and I'm umming and ahhhing over UFH too. I'm leaning towards radiators at the moment because I'm worried that UFH will be too expensive to run.

It would be good to hear from someone who has UFH in their extension.

[ElleDubloo]

My PILs have underfloor heating in their kitchen/diner and it's wonderful, absolutely warm enough without any additional radiators. We don't have underfloor heating in our own place and we're very jealous. Would definitely recommend it.

[Trethew]

It is undeniably wonderful giving an even warmth throughout. No loss of wall space with rads.

It is slow to heat up. With radiators you can come into a cold house, turn up the heating and feel the heat coming by the time you have boiled the kettle and taken your coat off. With UFH it takes several hours before you feel any heat, and I think prob 12 hours before equilibrium is reached and the whole floor slab is heated right through. Because of this I was advised to use a thermostat and not a timer. It has taken me a while to get used to this. I do find it hard to hear the boiler coming on while I am in bed at midnight and I used to worry constantly how much it would cost.

However, my heating bills are the lowest I have ever had. I am paying £80 a month for gas and electricity. The thermostats are set at 19 degrees 24/7. I light the woodburner in the evenings which quickly takes the whole ground floor over 20. If I have a houseful all weekend I put up the thermostat to 20

Thoroughly recommend it

[HappyGirlNow]

Aw brilliant thanks so much for the replies

[GoldTDK]

Trethew - do you have wet or electric underfloor heating? I've heard that electric is much more expensive to run but it can be laid on top of existing floors?

[BingoBingoBingoBango]

Electric is much more expensive. OP we have UFH and my kitchen is currently warmer than my livingroom. It's lovely.

[JaniceBattersby]

We have a similar sized kitchen with a stone floor and a wet UFH system. I bloody love it. Wish we had it through the whole house.

[daffodil10]

We live in a large open plan barn conversion. We have zoned underfloor heating downstairs radiators upstairs. We use a thermostat but have it on a low constant heat all the time. We also have a log burner but it's just for ambience not heating. Tiled kitchen floor is warm enough to stand and cook in bare feet. Our heating is powered by air source which does all heating and hot water. Expensive to install the kit but no fuel bills.

[Trethew]

It's wet. Mains gas fired boiler. Old stone building converted 14 years ago with stone slabs over entire ground floor. Stone walls with no cavity but dry lined. Good roof insulation.
Seven zones (four downstairs, three upstairs) with individual thermostats. Open staircase means upstairs accumulates heat from below. Very rare for upstairs heating to come on.

[Trethew]

It's lovely to come in on days like today with a biting east wind, and take your fleecy boots off to warm your feet up

[HappyGirlNow]

Thanks all

[Aworldofmyown]

Love my underfloor heating - heats my whole kitchen, dining room and office. If I could deal with the complete arse ache of having it put through the rest of the house I would.

We have the wet kind!

[nauticant]

It's great if it's implemented properly. This means an insulation layer being laid down beneath the heating elements. Make sure that's what any builder is planning to do.

The disadvantage with electric heating elements is that they are more prone to failure.

[Sillytheothecat]

I was going to ask similar questions - currently having our kitchen redone, new patio doors etc. We were planning on a proper wet underfloor heating system but unfortunately turns out the floor is proper reinforced concrete so builders recommending Solfex Warmboard system - appears to be water based (off the boiler) but still a retrofit. Hubby not keen and wants to go back to radiators, I still like the idea but need back up! Don't suppose anyone has this system? Might post a new thread too as I need to decide quickly. Argh!

[ginauk84]

We have wet throughout the downstairs and most rooms are tiled, it is a great heat ad it is so even throughout the house. I am cold blooded and I love it, you just have to figure out your timings and have it on a couple of hours before you get home from work. Cost wise it is about the same as radiators to be quite honest I haven't noticed that it is a lot cheaper for us.

[Splooter]

OP - are you triple glazing your large windows? I'd highly recommend it.

[contractor6]

We had underfloor heating in extension, its lovely, best thing ever. I miss it now we've moved out