How Much Does Underfloor Heating Cost in the UK?
Underfloor heating can be an energy-efficient means of heating up your home. Depending on your property type, it can exceed conventional radiators in terms of benefits and can be fitted under all types of flooring, from wood to stone.
However, unlike traditional radiators, an underfloor heating system is far more complex to install and therefore has various additional costs associated. There are also numerous factors that determine the overall price of the installation, which includes room size, the age of your property, and the type of underfloor heating you've chosen.
Wondering how much underfloor heating cost varies from home to home? Read the following guide to find out!
Costs Associated With Getting Underfloor Heating
The technology
Underfloor heating technology is quite complex and is best fitted by a professional. If fitted incorrectly, water underfloor heating pipes could leak, or electric underfloor heating systems could regularly malfunction. This is why it's important to consult plumbers and electricians when necessary.
For dry system installations, an electrician will need to be hired to complete the circuit alterations and to connect the heating system to the power supply. For wet system installations, you will need to enlist a plumber to assist with the piping and boiler connection.
Labour costs
An underfloor heating installation will likely cost you £200 - £300 a day in labour costs. This is regardless of the type of underfloor heating you invest in, whether it be electric or water.
Installing underfloor systems can be a timely and complicated process, which makes the procedure expensive in terms of labour costs. When installing underfloor heating in an old building, the flooring will need to be removed and then refitted once the installation is complete. This is the most time-consuming aspect of the installation process, particularly in older houses with bigger rooms.
The labour involved in fitting underfloor heating, both for dry and wet systems, normally takes between 1-5 days.
Factors Affecting The Cost Of An Underfloor Heating System
Room size
Obviously, the bigger the room, the more m² of materials you'll need. It's important to cover as much of the floor space as possible to ensure that an even distribution of heat can be achieved. Bigger rooms will also extend the length of time it takes to complete the project, meaning you'll have to spend more on labour costs.
Electric underfloor systems cannot disperse heat as easily as a wet underfloor system, which makes them less effective in bigger rooms. You may have to invest more in a premium dry system to better ensure an even distribution of heat. It would be more cost-effective to use a wet system in larger rooms.
Type of underfloor heating
The type of underfloor heating you opt for is the biggest factor in determining the installation price. There are two main types, wet underfloor heating and electric underfloor heating.
Wet underfloor heating system
A wet underfloor heating system is the most costly of the two types but is a more cost-effective investment in the long run. A wet floor heating system consists of a series of polyethene barrier pipes arranged underneath the flooring. The pipes are connected to the boiler, which supplies the underfloor heating system with warm water. The temperature is controlled by a thermostat.
Wet underfloor heating is more energy-efficient than traditional radiators and other types of underfloor heating as it can produce effective heat at a lower temperature. The water pipes are evenly distributed throughout the room, making it far easier to heat. This makes wet systems by far the most economical option when it comes to underfloor heating.
This type of system is also known as:
- Gas underfloor heating
- Water underfloor heating
- Hydronic underfloor heating
- Warm water underfloor heating
- Wet systems.
Electric underfloor heating system
Electric underfloor heating is the more modern heating solution of the two and is a lot cheaper to install. It uses thin heating wires that heat up when the system is turned on.
You may find labour costs to be cheaper for dry systems as they are much easier to install. They often conveniently come in the form of a heating mat, which reduces the time it takes to fit the system. Due to their ease of installation, they are also a better option for awkwardly shaped rooms or small spaces.
However, electric underfloor heating costs more to maintain than a wet system, as electricity costs more than natural gas.
Also known as:
- Dry system
- Electric systems
- Radiant heating.
Age of the property
It costs more to install underfloor heating in old buildings than it does for new buildings. This is because of the additional amount of work that will have to take place, from removing the flooring to refitting them. We recommend installing electric underfloor heating in older buildings as it means the installation can be completed sooner.
It is far easier to install underfloor heating in new builds, as the process can be carried out while the property is still under construction.
Underfloor Heating Cost By Room
As we've already discussed, the bigger the room, the more costly it is to install an underfloor system. To give you a better idea of the price you'd pay exactly for specific rooms and room sizes, we've created the following list:
Small bathroom
Installing an underfloor system in a small bathroom is a great space solution, as it can free up the area that would be normally occupied by a radiator system.
Estimated cost for a 6m² small bathroom:
Electric underfloor heating: £300 - £450
Wet underfloor heating: £480 - £900
Labour costs: £200 - £300 per day
Medium-sized bathroom
Again, underfloor systems can provide you with more space in your medium-sized bathroom. It could also be a more energy-efficient way of keeping the space warm.
Estimated cost for an 11m² medium bathroom:
Electric underfloor heating: £550 - £825
Wet underfloor heating: £880 - £1,650
Labour costs: £200 - £300 per day
Medium-sized kitchen
Wall space in medium-sized kitchens tends to be taken up by kitchen appliances, with little room for radiators. This makes underfloor heating systems a great investment for kitchens!
Estimated cost for an 11m² medium kitchen:
Electric underfloor heating: £550 - £825
Wet underfloor heating: £880 - £1,650
Labour costs: £200 - £300 per day
Large kitchen
The larger the kitchen, the more difficult it is to heat. With an underfloor system, you can keep both your kitchen and dining area at an optimum temperature.
Estimated cost for a 21m² large kitchen:
Electric underfloor heating: £1,050 - £1,575
Wet underfloor heating: £1,680 - £3,150
Labour costs: £200 - £300 per day
Can You Install Underfloor Heating Yourself?
Doing the installation work yourself means you can cut out labour costs completely. However, fitting an underfloor system can be difficult to do right. This is especially the case in bigger rooms where you have to expertly arrange the pipes or mats to ensure an even distribution of heat. Some would prefer to get a professional in to make sure the underfloor heating is being laid out correctly.
You will still need to consult an electrician to ensure that a dry system is being property wired up and a plumber to correctly connect a wet system to the boiler. Using a professional to connect the system to its power source will help you avoid leaks, electrical faults, and other malfunctions commonly associated with poorly installed underfloor systems.
Even with a hired professional, you could easily fit an electrical underfloor heating system in a medium-sized room for under £1,000.
To complete the groundwork yourself, you'll need to purchase additional materials, such as insulation boards and screed.
Building Regulations For Underfloor Heating Installation
In the UK, underfloor installations come under the building regulation titled Part L. This regulation concerns energy efficiency - namely, reducing the use of fossil fuels and increasing the use of solar energy in both new builds and renovation projects.
Although you do not need planning permission to install underfloor systems, you do need to make sure that the heating system meets the U-value requirements of Part L. A U-value is a measurement of how effective parts of a building are at insulation.
Part L states that all floors must have a U-value of 0.25w/m2k or less. With regard to floors installed with underfloor systems, the U-value should be no greater than 0.15w/m2K.
To meet these requirements, underfloor insulation boards must be installed beneath the heating system to reduce the level of heat lost.
FAQs
Is underfloor heating expensive to run?
When budgeting your underfloor heating cost, you'll have to factor in the monthly added cost that will appear on your gas or electric bill after the installation. Dry underfloor heating is the most expensive type of underfloor system to run, sometimes up to four times the price of a wet underfloor system. For around 6 hours of usage, you can expect each m² to add 10p to your energy bill.
So, to make your underfloor heating cheaper, you might like to consider wet underfloor heating systems. These are far more cost-effective to run as they can produce an evenly dispersed heat while using just 50°C water. This is a low temperature relative to how much a radiator requires, which is normally around 70°C - 90°C.
Is electric underfloor heating better than wet underfloor heating?
Although more expensive to run, dry systems do hold some benefits over wet underfloor systems, such as being easier to install. Electric systems can also heat up instantly, whereas wet systems can take hours before reaching the desired temperature.
However, wet underfloor systems are far more energy-efficient and are capable of producing a higher heat output.
Is underfloor heating a good idea for a period property?
It is possible to fit underfloor heating in period properties, and it is even recommended to do so when renovating an old building to attain greater energy efficiency. However, it's a lot more difficult to fit underfloor heating in an old property, especially wet underfloor heating systems, and a lot more expensive.
It's important to seek professional advice before fitting a period property with underfloor systems. They can actually ruin solid wood floors, as regular exposure to heat can warp them over time. The flooring in a period property may be unsuitable for the heating system and may need to be replaced with engineered wood floors.
Does underfloor heating have any drawbacks?
Besides the drawbacks of installation cost and time, the main con of both wet and electric underfloor heating systems is the added height it adds to your floors. The insulation, levelling compound, and the wet or electrical system itself will add noticeable height to your floor, which should be considered if you have low ceilings.
Final Thoughts
Underfloor heating installation is a worthwhile investment for both old and new houses. Once installed, it can provide your kitchen, bathroom, or any other room in your home with evenly dispersed heat. Heating from the bottom up, underfloor heating is more energy-efficient than radiators.
They can be difficult to install, but with the right professional help, you can have a dry or wet underfloor system working to improve your home in no time at all.