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Original poster

underfloor heating - any one got it ?

39 replies

throckenholt · 29/01/2006 10:48

We are building an extension and trying to decide if underfloor heating would be a good idea or not. Does anyone have it ? Do you love it or hate it ? How long does it take to heat up ? And (technical question from DH) - what is the construction type ?

OP posts:

Mum2Ela · 30/01/2006 09:49

We have ufh down stairs in our house and its fab. We have wood all downstairs, apart from the playroom (v thick carpet - still v warm) and kitchen (tiles).

You can't just use any wooden floor apparently as it will expand too much. Have to use an engineered board. We found a lovely one which has been 'smoked' and has a blue tinge to it.

tracyk · 30/01/2006 09:50

would that raise the height of the floor?

fairyjay · 30/01/2006 09:53

I don't know how it would work in an existing build - it's probably more appropriate within a new build/extension. You'd then just use the concrete screed to create your floor level, rather than floorboards - I think!!!

Original poster

throckenholt · 30/01/2006 12:17

we are knocking through 2 rooms in the old bit and adding a new bit on the end to make one big room - so we will have to take up all the floor and relay it anyway to get the same levels throughout - so for use it is not a problem saying the underfloor heating there - just not sure it was worth it under carpet (Mum2Ela - thanks for that).

OP posts:

Berries · 30/01/2006 12:28

We have it in our new kitchen/diner/family room. It's the wet ufh, with a manifold in the boot room. The room is large, so it's on 2 sep. circuits with sep thermostats. It's absolutely lovely & the room is really warm & toasty, esp 1st thing in the morning. We live in an old, draughty 1930s house, but def. find we congregate in the new room now. We also leave it on constantly, as is apparently cheaper to keep the constant temp. than to allow the concrete screed to cool down & then warm up. Gas bills have actually gone down since the work was done (2 new bedrooms and large kitchen room) but we did have a new boiler as well (although old one was only 10 yrs old). I do find I don't put the heating on in the rest of the day when the kids & dh are out - just spend most of the day in the kitchen! BTW we have limestone floor throughout this area, also fantastic (but expensive). Did a lot of research in advance, wouldn't have it under carpet and probably wouldn't have bothered if we were going for wood/laminate but in hindsight think that would be a good idea also as the lack of radiators is great.

elliott · 30/01/2006 12:39

berries can I ask who supplied your heating?
Dh is looking into this at the moment for our house - he has been lookign at ufh that can be laid under existign floorboards - not electric. He claims to have found a company that supply kits for this... I'm a bit confused about all the different types and it seems from this thread I'd better wise up a bit if i want to contribute to the decisions on our house....

popmum · 30/01/2006 12:50

we've got it under real wood floor in living room. it a hot water system connected to central heating but has its own control (inc. party mode! - you can control it to .5 of a degree). think it was specially designed for wooden floors. is lovely - esp when you sit on floor! It was an extension and there is a 'floating' floor - ie rafters with the metal plates, polysterene and pipes all laid underneith.

our builder did it as part of a big job so no idea on cost i am afriad. best bet would be to speak to a builders merchant i think or specailist

only disadantage is no radiators to air clothes on!

jazal · 30/01/2006 12:52

thanks katymac. i wonder how much it would cost to repair it.

elliott · 30/01/2006 12:52

popmum that sounds just like what dh has in mind. Do you have no further details at all?

littlerach · 30/01/2006 13:06

My uncle has it in his conservatory and itis wonderful!

DD1 used to ove walking on it when she was tiny.

And their dog lies on it all the time now.

popmum · 30/01/2006 19:34

Sorry no. As i say the builder did it all to a detailed spec (hang on, there may be something in that, wil check and come back if i can find it)!

Berries · 30/01/2006 20:52

Elliot - it was eventually supplied & fitted by our plumber, as it co-ordinated better with the builders. We did get a number of quotes in from places, but can't remember who at the mo & I'm just going to watch 'Life on Mars' Will look it up for you tomorrow. We did have real difficulty finding a plumber to do it though, as most thought it was too big a job (had all old central heating replaced, & 2 bathrooms as well). The laying of the pipes was fairly straight forward, and the companies will send you plans of where the pipes need to go, but the sorting out of the manifold was complicated.

kbaby · 30/01/2006 22:23

our builder is going to fit it in our extension and has quoted £800 for a 3m by 6m room.

popmum · 30/01/2006 23:24

Sorry tons of detail in the spec, but not on underfloor heating or wooden floor.

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