Retrofitting Underfloor Heating

Retrofitting Underfloor Heating in older homes

Installing underfloor heating in an existing property is no longer the huge upheaval that it used to be, thanks to thinner 35 mm EASY SCREED combined with  low-profile water-based systems that give the highest heat output for specialist retrofit UFH systems.

Delivering an even, ambient warmth that is comfortable underfoot and creating room layouts uncluttered by radiators, underfloor heating (UFH) has become the emitter of choice for many new builds. However, these systems can be suitable for retrofitting into smaller older homes as well.

EASY SCREED:  Wet underfloor heating systems

At one time, retrofitting underfloor heating only really made sense if you were working on a major renovation project, as it can be a fairly disruptive job – skirting boards usually need to be removed and doors shortened or replaced.

Many manufacturers of water-based UFH have developed lower-profile systems that minimise disruption and height build-up in retrofit situations.

Under floor Heating pipe do not need to sit within a deeper screed  This is handy if you’re tackling the refurb of an existing house and an extension as part of the same scheme, and want to mix and match.

With suspended timber floors – which you’ll find in older houses – you have the choice of taking up the floorboards and   adding everything on top of them (sometimes referred to as Timber overfloor heating).

“Ensure that you consider the full height build-up, Maximum 35/40 mm EASY SCREED AND insulation, Plus  Timber or Ceramic Tile decks that may need to be laid over the UFH EASY Screed as  your choice of floor covering that can be fitted,

UFH works at a lower temperature than radiators. As such, it’s a fine match for well-insulated, airtight homes – but installing it in a draughty house with single-glazed windows and no loft insulation will leave you feeling chilly. Some form of barrier within the floor structure is obviously critical to prevent warmth from escaping downwards , : suspended timber floor setups  and  solid concrete floors can also have a foil  insulation layer on top of existing old floors.

If your central heating combines UFH with radiators, you need to be able to control them separately, since they heat up at different speeds. Ideally, the UFH should be warming a different zone to the radiators, and you can split them up at the boiler so that the UFH has its own feed, passing through a blending valve to lower the temperature of the water.