Underfloor heating works by distributing heat beneath the finished floor. Heat is monitored and controlled by intelligent thermostats to maintain a consistent temperature throughout the home or individual zones. Underfloor heating is a great solution for areas such as the kitchen or bathroom that require a higher level of humidity.

Underfloor heating is commonly used in homes, offices and other commercial buildings. It is becoming increasingly popular in new construction projects because it is more cost-efficient than installing radiant floor panels through the slab and requires less installation time. It can be used to heat individual rooms or zones. The underfloor heating system is invisible. It is extremely safe as there is no exposed heat source to touch or get burnt from. The system evenly spreads heat across the floor area, and as it rises it provides even comfortable warmth throughout the room. Floor heaters do not need to produce as much total heat to create the desired room temperature. Other benefits are that there are no dust or allergens blown around the room – particularly useful for allergy or asthma sufferers. Underfloor heating increases property value by reducing the amount of time spent on repairs and increasing indoor air quality.

There are two types of underfloor heating systems: electric and hydronic floor heating. Each system has its own advantages and disadvantages. 

Electric underfloor heating systems use resistance wires that provide heat to each room or zone. The resistance wires are controlled by a thermostat that is pre-set to maintain a steady temperature throughout the home or office. 

Hydronic systems provide continuous heat under the floor using electric pumps. The pumps draw water from a water line and circulate it through the individual heating units. The heated water is then circulated back to the boiler via a heated loop. This can mean that you need to install a separate heating unit in your home or office for each room, as well as additional pumps and piping, but this is negated by its long-term cost savings compared to electric systems.

Hydronic underfloor heating is usually connected to a central boiler or furnace that is ducted from the heating unit to the rooms and zones needing heat. Zones are typically separated by low-voltage wires and cables and controlled by separate thermostats. The size of the heating unit needed will depend on the square footage of each room and zone, as well as what type of flooring will be installed.

There are different types of electrical underfloor heating. Let’s take to look at the different options and what flooring it is best suited for.

1. Electric Mats
The first option is commonly known as electric floor heating mats.
Most common flooring: under tiles, timber or bamboo floating floors, laminates and engineered floor surfaces.
The thin Cable Mat is installed above the slab or screed (or existing tiles) directly under the new floor, safely and discretely without impacting floor heights. The thin 2.2mm heating cable is double insulated with Teflon (robust and highly resilient against heat damage) & PVC (the PVC offers added protection against damage from tiler's tools) and features a full earth braid for complete protection against shock hazards. Our Thin Cable Mat is offered with a 20-year manufacturer’s product warranty.

The next option is known as in slab storage heating.

2. Electrical In Slab floor heating
Type of flooring: In slab in concrete floors
Slab Heat Cable is attached to the top steel mesh and embedded in the concrete slab or topping (min 20mm cover). The heating cable is double insulated with Teflon & LSZH and features a full metal shield for complete protection against shock hazards. Our Slab Heat Cable is offered with a 20-year manufacturer’s product warranty.

3. Electrical In Screed floor heating
There are two options when it comes to in screed floor heating, in screed cable or in screed mats.

In Screed Heating Cable
Type of Flooring: For in-screed floor heating under most floor finishes
Screed Heat Cable is installed safely & discretely in the tilers sand cement screed for heating under tile, stone floors and most floor finishes. Suitable subfloors include concrete, FC sheet or mBoard insulation above concrete and timber subfloors. Screed Heat Cable's heating cable is doubled insulated with Fluropolymer & Polyolefin and features a full earth braid for complete protection against shock hazards. Our Screed Heat Cable is offered with a 20-year manufacturer’s product warranty.

In Screed Electrical Mats
Type of flooring: Heating directly under tile, in tile glue or within thin levelling screeds
The Cable Mat is installed safely & discretely in the tilers sand cement screed (max 40mm with no insulation) under tile or stone floors. Suitable subfloors include concrete, FC sheet or mBoard insulation above concrete and timber subfloors. Cable Mat's heating cable is doubled insulated with Teflon & PVC and features a full earth braid for complete protection against shock hazards. Our in-screed mats are offered with a 20-year manufacturer’s product warranty.

The last option is specifically designed for under carpet floor heating.

4. Carpet Underfloor Heating
Type of Flooring: under fitted carpet
The Laminate Panel 14 is installed on top of the carpet underlay, directly beneath most modern tufted and woven carpets without impacting floor heights. The thin 1mm Teflon insulated heating cable features a full earth shield for protection against shock hazards. Our Laminate Panel 14 is offered with a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty.

The best underfloor heating system for your needs is largely determined by what your specific needs are.

Underfloor heating is a great way of keeping your house warm in the winter. It is a clean and sustainable solution to heating your home.

If you are considering installing underfloor heating, make sure that you consider the following factors:

- How easy is it to install?

Our DIY Floor heater kits are simple to install yourself. No special tools or experience is required. You will need a qualified electrician to install the conduits for wiring from your floor heating element to your smart thermostat.

- Do you have good insulation?

All floor heating systems no matter the brand or type will be more efficient and benefit from having a layer of insulation between the substrate and the heating.

- What Type of flooring do you have? (ceramic tiles, hardwood floors, carpets)

For example, if you have marble or stone flooring, make sure that your underfloor heating system is compatible with the floor surface.

- Size of the area you need to heat

A growing trend we have seen is installing electric systems in specific rooms during renovations for example in bathrooms. So whether you would like underfloor heating throughout your entire home or in specific rooms anything is possible.

For pricing on our electrical products mentioned above click here. OR if you have any questions our extra friendly staff are but a phone call away. 

Contact us on: (02) 9114 6934