Underfloor Heating

Underfloor Heating

We are experienced installers in the Wellington, Wairarapa and Kapiti regions.

​​Not to be confused with drafty ducted central heating!

​ 

​In-floor heating turns your whole floor into a radiator to provide the comfortable heat wherever your are in the home.

Luxurious, silent & discrete

​Underfloor heating is the most luxurious form of heating as radiant heat is evenly distributed throughout the room; wall to wall; floor to ceiling.


Hard floor surfaces are warm to the touch. This is very important with increased numbers of new houses being built with concrete floor surfaces. The system is totally hidden from view and takes up no wall space – very important to many people, especially where large glazed areas mean there is little or no wall space for radiators.


​With no air being blown around it is totally silent. The heat can be provided by specially designed air to water heat pumps or by boilers fuelled by gas or diesel.

How does underfloor heating work?

A boiler or heat pump supplies energy to the system by heating water that is then pumped through it via a piping network embedded in the structure of the floor.


Primary pipework carries the energy from the heat source to one or more distribution manifolds. The manifold then distributes the heat to the underfloor piping circuits. 


The piping circuits then heat the floor. Each circuit is specifically designed to heat its respective area. Typically at least 1 circuit for every 15 - 20M2 of heated floor area. 



​A controller monitors the home via the air and floor temperature to provide high levels of comfort. Multiple controllers can be added to a home to provide precise zone control.

Types of In-floor heating

Traditional in-slab kiwi style.

The most commonly used form of central heating in New Zealand.

Pipes are laid on polystyrene insulation or attached to reinforcing mesh. Concrete is poured over the mesh and insulation. These concrete slabs are usually between 100-150mm in thickness.


This is a great underfloor heating option due to low installation costs and ease of installation.


Advantages: Relatively inexpensive and simple to install. Large thermal mass retains heat.


Disadvantages: Whilst thicker slabs mean greater thermal mass, they also mean they are not as quick to heat should they lose temperature.

Variocomp overlay system

The ultimate in-floor heating solution!

​A much thinner system using smaller pipes laid into specially laid gypsum board floor plates.

A screed (thin layer of high heat transferring compound) is spread over the pipes, with the flooring then laid on top of this. Due to its low weight and height this method is suitable for installing over existing timber floors as well as concrete floors in new build homes. The perfect retro-fit solution if radiators aren't an option. 


Advantages: Much thinner than a standard system. Only 20mm which reduces thermal mass and minimises increase in floor height in retro-fitted properties. Very responsive so can adapt quickly to changes in temperature in the home. 


Disadvantages: More expensive to lay than the basic in-slab system.

Aluminium spreader plate

Plates to spread heat are laid under floor boards or timber panel floors. The pipes are clipped into the plates which conduct the heat away from the pipes. Insulation is positioned under the plates and pipes.

Well suited to second story installations on new build homes

Can be retro-fitted to existing homes in some instances.


Advantages: Enables underfloor heating for timber floors without raising the floor level in existing buildings or building a floor to support a heavy screed in a new building. 


Disadvantages: Low heat output compared to other options so may not be suitable for certain installations.

​Incorporating underfloor into a radiator system

​If a system is mostly radiators it is possible to have a small section of underfloor heating running from the same boiler. Typically an additional controller is added to manage this area. A perfect solution for renovations or extensions to existing homes.

​Incorporating radiators into an underfloor system

Radiators and underfloor can be and are often used in the same system. Usually with the living areas kitchen and bathrooms, (hard floor areas) in underfloor, and the bedrooms with radiators. This is easy to accomplish with a boiler as it can supply high temperature water to the radiators, and heat the floor via and thermostatic valve to reduce the temperature of the water going into the floor. If a heat pump is used the radiators will have to be sized to run at a lower temperature, or two heat pumps used, one for the underfloor and a high temperature model for the radiators.

Floor coverings

​Floor coverings need to be considered when designing an underfloor heating solution.


Any floor covering on top of the heated part of the floor acts as a barrier to the heat flowing from the floor into the room. Thicker floor coverings such as carpet can be used but the heating system has to be run at a higher temperature to get the required heat output which can be less efficient.


​We have the experience and know-how to provide sound advice in this area.



Talk to us about what your intentions are for your project and we can work with you to provide the best possible heating solution. 

​Interested? Complete the form below and one of our experts shall contact you

Underfloor Heating Form

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