Not an issue of this magazine goes by in which we don’t extol the virtues of underfloor heating. But is it right for your home, and if so what type should you go for?

How does it work?
‘In a nutshell, underfloor heating provides the warmth to a room from the floor up, rather than heating the ceiling space first as with radiators,’ explains Chris Ingram, Managing Director of Continental Underfloor Heating. ‘Essentially, all systems work in the same way – a heating element warms a heat-spreading (or radiating) device laid under the floor to achieve an even warmth across it. The heat can be supplied to that element either by warm water or by electricity, hence the two main types of underfloor heating system – wet or electric.’

But as technology progresses, particularly where electric systems are concerned, the uses and applications of underfloor heating are becoming more varied and adventurous. There are systems to match most flooring types, including hardwood, laminate, lino, stone and even carpet, so it’s possible to put underfloor heating in virtually any room.

The pros