Choosing an underfloor heating system

There are a few factors to consider when choosing an underfloor heating system – we’ve put together a guide below that covers everything you need to know when it comes to choosing which underfloor heating is best for you. Read on to find out more.

Underfloor heating is a method of heating a room by using the entire floor space as the outlet. This is achieved using network pipes of hot water or electrical wires hidden beneath the flooring. When choosing underfloor heating, you can either opt for electric underfloor heating or water underfloor heating. At Topps Tiles, we sell top of the range electric underfloor heating that can sit beneath all types of flooring, from tiles to wood.

Although tiles are a practical choice for any room in the home they can be cold to the touch which is why Underfloor heating is a great yet easy and cost-effective way of heating your tiled floors. It’s so effective you can get rid of any unsightly radiators, particularly useful if you’re short on space!

Underfloor heating is a lot more cost and energy efficient (from as little as 2.36p p/hr with correct installation) and there’s also Lifetime Warranty on the majority of our underfloor heating products giving you peace of mind for years to come.

The best flooring for underfloor heating is one that efficiently transmits heat from the UFH to the floor’s surface. Hard surfaces, such as stone or ceramic tiles, or engineered wood, provide the best heat transfer since they are the most thermally conductive, but there are many more materials that are equally effective.

Electric underfloor heating is usually placed on top of a layer of floor insulation, to ensure the heat travels upwards rather than down.

The heating wires are then connected to your mains supply and it will also include a sensor to help regulate the temperature. You can then use a thermostat to control the temperature and pre-set the system to turn on or off.

Electric underfloor heating is easy to install and available in a range of sizes and formats to suit any project and floor type, making it more accessible than wet underfloor heating. In addition to this, it is also very quiet – meaning you won’t be disturbed by it.

The best electric underfloor heating and heating accessories we stock include:

Warmup DCM-Pro wire and anti-fracture mat (sold separately)

Ideal for problematic floors that require a decoupling membrane. Available in sizes from 1-16m2

DCM-PRO150W is a decoupling system used in conjunction with underfloor heating. The UFH wire fits between the pre-spaced channels on the mat and reduces the fitting time. It is the fastest solution for the installation of a heated decoupling system in all areas, installing electric underfloor heating in minutes with less tile adhesive.

The decoupling layer of the Warmup DCM-PRO Mat protects floor finishes from damage. The layer contracts and expands to deal with structural movements in subfloors due to seasonal changes, preventing damage from occurring to floor coverings.

The Warmup DCM-PRO Cable is designed to be easily fitted in the matting without any tools. The cable is highly-flexible, durable and provides maximum reliability.

The DCM-PRO can be covered with self-levelling compound, allowing it to heat and protect any floor covering material that is certified for use with underfloor heating. This includes tiles, engineered wood, vinyl and carpet providing a constant output of 150W/m2. Always check with the floor covering manufacturer to check on its suitability with underfloor heating.

This product comes with a Lifetime Warranty when installed with the DCM-PRO Mat.

Warmup Pro Mat (which rolls out)

Available in sizes from 0.5-15m2

The ProMat 175W has a unique wattage to improve heat up times and is more energy efficient. It also has self-adhesive technology which improves adhesion, speeding up installation time.

Ultra-thin wire technology means that any floor height increase will be minimal. All heating mats should be installed alongside suitable insulation materials such as Insulation Boards, which will enhance the energy-efficiency of the system.

The ProMat system consists of a thin 1.8mm wire evenly spaced and taped to a glass fibre mesh with pressure sensitive adhesive. The pressure sensitive adhesive pods securely bind the mats to the floor once broken. This will keep them flat and ensures the application of tile adhesive is snag free whilst allowing the mats to be easily re-positioned when necessary. It’s always best to ensure the matting is in the correct position before breaking the glue pods as once the glue sets the mat cannot be moved.

The mats can be rolled out quickly across the floors, reducing installation time by 35%, for a truly fast and secure method of electric underfloor heating installation. The ultra-thin heating cable is double insulated with an advanced fluoropolymer core making it incredibly durable, tough and easy to lay flooring over.

Available in sizes 1.5 – 15m2

The Rise underfloor heating matting is most suited to standard shaped rooms and covering larger areas. Simply roll the matting out, stick the matting down onto the substrate to fix in place, then cut the matting (avoiding cutting the wire) to size and then it’s ready to tile over.

See our full fitting video for matting underfloor heating installation.

Warmup ProWire loose wire (that is taped down)

Available in sizes from 2 – 10m2

The ProWire 150W is designed specifically for the professional installer. It sits between traditional methods such as matting systems and primer applications for loose wire systems. Rapid installation in any size or shape room which cuts down the installation time by up to 50% depending on the size and shape of the room.

The Loose Wire System is perfect for installing with a wide variety of floor finishes in your home as the ultra-thin 1.8mm Heating Cable can sit within the layer of levelling compound or tile adhesive, thereby having almost no noticeable effect on floor build-up heights.

Rise Underfloor Heating Loose Wire System

Available in sizes from 1.5 – 10m2

Utilising the best technology, premium materials and rigorous testing, the Rise underfloor heating loose wire system is an affordable and effective way to heat your home. The no nonsense and uncomplicated heating system is easy to fit and use, providing peace of mind whilst preparing your home for the future.

See our full fitting video for the Rise Loose Wire system to see how quick and easy it is to lay compared to conventional cable systems.

All heating cables should be installed alongside suitable insulation materials such as Insulation Boards, which enhance the energy-efficiency of the system.

All the above Warmup systems are supplied with:

Safety Net Installation Guarantee – If you accidentally damage the heating system during installation, return it to Warmup and they replace it with another heater of the same make and model for free.

Lifetime Limited Warranty - The heating products come with a Lifetime Warranty when installed by a qualified electrician.

Rise products have the following guarantees:

Safeguard Guarantee – covers any accidental damage during installation.

Lifetime Guarantee – all of the wiring systems, loose or matting or covered for the life of the same floor laid on top of it.

3 or 5 Year Guarantee – the Rise thermostats are covered for up to 5 years (length of guarantee is model dependent).

Both Warmup and Rise products have been tried and tested by TÜV Rheinland UK (a leading provider of technical services worldwide).