BLOG POST || Underfloor Heating
Ashleigh Clarke Architects

BLOG POST || Underfloor Heating


Posted: November, 2021

Author: AC Architects

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With the colder weather drawing in it’s only natural that we want to keep our homes as cosy and warm as possible. In the studio, we have seen a marked increase in requests for underfloor heating. There are essentially two different types of underfloor heating – water and electric systems. So what are some of the pros and cons of installing underfloor heating?

Pro’s

– It is energy efficient
– It affords energy savings in the long run although electric systems are more expensive than water
– It provides a luxury level of comfort
– It’s safe for families without the risk of children burning themselves on hot radiators
– It could potentially increase the value of your home as it is seen as a desirable feature
– From a design point of view it allows for increased space within your home without the need to factor in space for radiators

Cons

– The initial costs involved in the installation can be very expensive
– The installation process can be both inconvenient and cause disruption within your home. As architects, we always investigate this further during the early design stage to ensure that it’s both viable (for instance in Grade II listed properties it may not be approved) and to minimise the level of disruption involved
– It can be hard to adapt if you want to extend your home at a further date as it involves a lot of invasive work to disturb the existing screed and pipework which can cause issues
– You need to include an area for a manifold to control the underfloor heating which would then be required on every floor that you wish to install it. Should you choose to extend your property at a later date, you may need an additional manifold if the existing one isn’t large enough to add in the additional pipework

In spite of some of the negative aspects, particularly with regard to the initial installation, If you’re remodelling your home it is definitely worth considering underfloor heating both from a design aesthetic and as an energy-efficient heating option.

Author: AC Architects

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