Which Underfloor Heating System is Right for Me?
Are you looking to install underfloor heating? When
installing an underfloor system into your new build, renovation project or
newly designed room, it can be difficult to know exactly where to start looking
for your new system. With so many different types available, how do you know
which one is right for you?
You may be wondering if it is worth getting an underfloor
heating system over a standard convector radiator system – and the answer is yes!
Underfloor heating systems have many health and safety benefits compared to
standard radiator systems – details of which can be found in this blog post.
So, which system is right for you? Firstly, we must decide
whether an electric or water underfloor system would be more suited to your
project. Electric systems are predominantly for smaller one-room installations,
such as a new conservatory or if you a refitting your kitchen.
Water systems on the other hand are ideal for larger
installations, such as new builds or multi-room refits. They are also suitable
for refitting living rooms and bedrooms, if the floor space is larger than an
electric system could handle effectively.
This is because across larger areas, wet underfloor heating
is more cost-effective, economical and efficient to run.
Snug Electric
Underfloor Heating Systems
If an electric system sounds more suited to your project, it’s
important to base the decision of the type of electric underfloor heating on
two key factors; the heat source of the room i.e. if the underfloor heating is
going to be the primary heat source or if there will be an accompanying heat
source such as a radiator or heated towel rail. Secondly, the desired floor
finish will also have an impact on the type of underfloor heating that is best
suited for your needs. For example, a tiled floor will need a different
underfloor heating solution to that of a carpeted floor finish.
If you choose to have wood, laminate or carpeted floors we
recommend using our Snug FME Mat, along with a layer of closed cell insulation
underlay. It’s also helpful to note that if you select a wood or laminate
floor, it’s best to install a floating floor finish if fitting underfloor
heating beneath it, to allow for the wood to expand once it warms.
It is
important not to screed over the FME mat as it will react with the foil and
corrode both elements, rendering your system unusable. The Snug FME mat is a 150W/m²
mat, so it is ideal for secondary heating and combined with the insulation it
only uses 4mm of floor depth.
Another secondary heat source option is our 160W/m² Snug
underfloor heating mat. This versatile mat can be used under tile, stone and marble
or under vinyl, lino and Karndean if used with 10ml of flexible levelling
compound. It features a helpful fully adhesive backing which makes installation
quick and easy and at only 2mm thick, it’s one of the thinnest underfloor
heating mats on the market.
We also supply electric underfloor heating mats for primary
heat sources, where the room would use the system as its sole heat producer –
our 200W/m² Snug Mat.
Just like the 160 W/m² Snug mat, this system can
be used under marble, tile or stone flooring, making it ideal for conservatories,
kitchens or bathrooms. For a video tutorial on how to lay our Snug matting
systems click here
There are also loose cable options for awkwardly shaped
rooms where mats would not fit. Our Snug loose cable kits come in either 10W/m (with
a flexible levelling compound) or an 18W/m option to be used within a screed. These
can be used under any floor finish and are a perfect solution as an economical
primary heat source.
All of the Snug Underfloor Heating mats and loose cable
systems, come complete with a lifetime cable warranty, giving you complete
peace of mind and a system that you can trust.
To get the best results from a water underfloor heating
system, you’ll need to choose the best one for your particular needs and there
are three system types within our Snug Water Underfloor Heating range to choose
from: in-screed, low-profile and suspended floor systems.
Snug-Screed Systems (Staples, Clip Rails &
Castellation Mats)
All of our Snug screed systems are perfect for new builds
and large-scale renovation jobs; however, they require a minimum of 50mm of
depth (for wet screed) or 60mm of depth (for dry screed) to install without
compromising room height. They all use a 16mm pipe and are suitable to use with
either PEX or AL-PEX pipe. The biggest benefits of the screed systems are that
they are the cheapest, most efficient to run and emit the most amount of heat
out of any system.
Our in-screed options are the staple, clip rail and
castellation mat systems:
The Snug Staple system is our
most cost-effective system available and is great for irregular shaped rooms.
However, the staple system does require insulation boards when installing.
Our Snug Clip Rails are also
cost-effective but are pre-spaced to save the installer valuable fitting time. Again,
like the staple system, the Snug Clip Rail system requires insulation boards.
Finally, our Snug Castellation
Mats are the quickest screed system to install and are simple to fit. They
benefit from not needing insulation boards or a damp-proof membrane and are pre-spaced
at 50mm.
Snug Low-Profile System
If floor height is an issue, our Snug Low-Profile system is
the ideal installation for you. It requires only 18mm of depth and doesn’t need
additional levelling compound, which saves time, cost and valuable floor height.
This makes it the perfect option for renovations or retrofit projects.
This
system is suitable for a 12mm PEX pipe and comes complete with helpful Snug
Low-Profile board layouts, as well as pipe lay plans. For more detailed
information on our Low-Profile system, click here.
Suspended Systems (Suspended Heat Plates & Fit-from-Below
Heat Plates)
Our suspended systems are designed for use in properties
which feature joists, either in the ground floor or upper floors and benefit
from not needing a screed or damp-proof membrane. The Snug Suspended Heat Plate
is ideal when regular spaced 400mm joists are present and the floor height
cannot be raised from its original level. The heat plates have self-retaining
grooves, making installation an easy one-person job.
Our Snug Fit-from-below heat plates system can be installed
without taking up the upstairs floor, making it ideal for installing underfloor
heating when renovating the room below while the joints are exposed. The single
tile plates allow for fitting in irregular spaced joists, increasing their
versatility.
Both Snug Suspended systems work well in irregular shaped
rooms and use 16mm PEX or PEX-AL-PEX pipe
All of our Snug water underfloor heating systems use PEX-AL-PEX
and / or PEX pipe. Made from five-layer cross-linked polyethylene with an
EVOH oxygen barrier, it makes the system last longer compared to other pipe
variations. Using PEX in your system is more affordable and easier to lay with
a team of installers whilst AL-PEX contains an aluminium core that retains its
shape once bent – making it invaluable for single installers. The AL-PEX pipe
is also WRAS approved meaning it can be used for potable water.
Now you know which underfloor heating system is right for
you! If you have any additional questions, please call us on 01772 761 333 or
email sales@firsttrace.co.uk – our
team are technical experts and are always happy to help!
We have even more blogs and complete system breakdowns on
our site! Find more articles below: