Underfloor heating in South East London

Talk to us about the cover on your project. It is best explained against the specific system and scope of work rather than in general terms.

It depends on the space and how it is being built. Wet systems are the usual choice for whole rooms, extensions, renovations and new builds. They run off your boiler or heat pump and are efficient to run over large areas. Electric systems suit smaller areas, single rooms and some situations where build up height is very tight. Tell us about your project and we will talk you through the options.

These are the three main ways a wet system is fitted. In screed means the pipework is installed before screed or concrete is laid over it, which suits new floors, extensions and any floor being dug out and rebuilt. Overlay means a low profile panel system is installed over an existing suitable floor, with the final floor finish installed above it. Between joists means the system is installed between timber floor joists. The right method depends on the property, the floor construction and the project, so we look at each one before advising.

Overlay underfloor heating, sometimes called low profile overlay underfloor heating, is a wet system built from shallow panels laid over an existing suitable floor. The pipe sits in the panels and the final floor finish is installed above it. Because there is no deep screed, it adds much less height than an in screed system, so it is often chosen for renovations and for heating one or two rooms. Whether it suits your project depends on the existing floor, so it is a good thing to look at on a site visit.

In screed systems add the depth of the insulation and the screed, so they suit floors that are being built or dug out. Overlay systems add much less, between joists systems sit within the depth of the floor, and electric mats add very little. The exact height depends on the system chosen, so tell us the floor levels and door heights you are working with.

Many finishes can be used, including tiles, stone, engineered wood, vinyl and carpet with a suitable underlay. Some, such as thick carpet or solid wood, need more thought than tiles or stone. Check the guidance from the manufacturer of the finish you have chosen and tell us your plans early.

Wet systems connect to a manifold that feeds each circuit, and the controls are set up so that rooms or zones can be managed to suit how you use them. Electric systems use a thermostat for each heated area. We set up the controls and show you how to use them.

Often, yes. A low profile overlay system sits on top of the existing floor and only adds a small amount of height, so you can heat a room, or a whole floor, without excavating for a deep screed. Whether it is the right approach depends on your floors, door heights and what else is happening in the room. It is a good thing to look at on a site visit.

That varies with the size and type of system and how the project is running around us. We will give you a realistic idea when we quote, and we work to fit in with your programme, particularly on building sites.

We connect the manifold and controls, and systems are pressure tested before the floor goes back over the top. We will set the system up and show you how to use it. For anything specific about what is included at handover on your project, ask us.

Yes. Underfloor heating spreads warmth across the whole floor, so it can run at the lower water temperatures a heat pump works best at. We design and install the underfloor side of the system and work alongside your heat pump installer. Talk to us early, because the two need to be planned together.