Adding a luxurious sense of comfort, underfloor heating is a popular option for heating larger homes. Providing evenly distributed heat throughout the home, underfloor heating is more often than not installed during the building phase, rather than retrofitted. Although this is possible too, it is a much more expensive and complicated process as the flooring would have to be uplifted and refinished. If you are planning a new build, the most common apprehension of installing wooden floors is that they can be cold underfoot. Negate this with underfloor heating in your home.
Wooden floors are suited to underfloor heating as they retain warmth well but the best type of wood to use with an underfloor heating system is engineered wood due to how it performs well with temperature changes. Here are the pros and cons of pairing new Forte Flooring with underfloor heating in your home.
Advantages of Underfloor Heating
Maximise Comfort
Underfloor heating provides an evenly distributed heat, which is particularly enhanced by the properties of engineered wooden floors. Warm floors can make walking barefoot more enjoyable and silently heat the home unlike alternative, nosier methods.
Energy Efficiency
Underfloor heating is an energy-efficient option as it heats the entire floor area, reducing the need for additional heating sources such as radiators or fireplaces. This leads to lower energy bills and a more environmentally-friendly home. Engineered wood reduces the chance of cold spots more than traditional wood floors.
Design Flexibility
Underfloor heating is a discrete heating option as the pipes are hidden under the flooring. This means that you can design your home without having to consider the placement of radiators or heat pumps giving you greater design freedom and a cleaner, neater aesthetic in your home.
Improved Indoor Air Quality
Underfloor heating helps to improve indoor air quality by reducing the risk of mould and dust mites. This is because the heating system circulates warm air throughout the room, reducing the risk of moisture buildup and condensation.
Disadvantages of Underfloor Heating
Installation Cost
Underfloor heating can be pricey to install, especially if you are replacing an existing heating system. Installing it during the build process is more cost-effective and prevents your floor from having to be refitted.
Compatibility Issues
Engineered wooden floors may not be compatible with underfloor heating, especially if they are not designed for this type of heating system. It is important to check the manufacturer's guidelines and recommendations before installing underfloor heating with engineered wooden floors. Read our underfloor heating installation guidelines (2.3 and 2.4).
Maintenance
Underfloor heating requires maintenance and floors should be kept clean to ensure optimal functionality from your underfloor system.
If you are considering improving your home with underfloor heating, Forte’s engineered wooden flooring is the perfect choice of flooring to accompany it. Get in touch with us today to find out more.
