Concrete/resin floor and wet underfloor heating

[Withington]

We're looking at polished concrete or resim flooring for our new extension. Current kitchen has electric underfloor heating which is lovely but crazy expensive (it was installed by previous owners; the kitchen is a large open space). For the new extension we are looking at getting wet underfloor heating as think that's not so expensive?

Question is: I absolutely love the polished concrete look - reading around it's no problem having it underneath the concrete (apparently it will hold the heat well) but Im worried if there's a leak or other problem with the underfloor heating the only way to sort will be smashing up concrete floor - making any fix a fortune! Anyone have any experience of this (both concrete/resin + wet underfloor heating and having it and it going wrong!)? Any advice/experience appreciated!

wet UFH mustn't leak. It is laid with rolls of tube so there should be no joints buried in the concrete, and it must be pressure-tested before pour.

You do need a competent, experienced and diligent plumber to fit it.

Yes, if it did go wrong, you would have to dig up the floor (but due to expense and upheaval, you wouldn't, you'd just disconnect it and fit radiators)

No!! You would dig up the floor!!! Our leak was insured. All paid for when it leaked after 20 years. It’s a better system now. We wouldn’t ever have radiators instead of underfloor heating but you do run a small risk of a leak but with modern materials, this won’t happen. Enjoy your all over heat and ability to put furniture exactly where you want it! Freedom!!!

I meant to say that we have ceramic tiles and engineered wood over our wet system. Do make sure polished concrete is a good finish to let the heat through and is compatible with a wet system. Otherwise consider concrete look tiles - Porcelanosa probably do them.

No matter what flooring you have over it, it would still be a massive pain if it needed taking up. I've got porcelain tiles over wet UFH.

Thanks for your replies so far. For context: DH thinks we have bad luck with this sort of thing and we'd inevitably end up being the 1 in 100 that do have a problem; I think it's worth it for "furniture freedom" (as Bubblesbuddy says!) and toasty feet!

Will it make any difference to the type/expense of underfloor heating do you think (are there different ways of laying 'wet' UFH?)

No idea, sorry. I've got Polypipe overlay, that's all I know.