fbpx
Sophie Robinson
  • Home
  • Workshops
    • Marrakech Retreat
    • Ban the beige
  • Online Courses
  • Collaboration
  • Podcasts
  • Blog
  • About
    • About me
    • Work with me
    • Press
  • FAQs
  • Contact
  • DIY
  • Interior Design
09 Oct 18

What you need to know about overlay water underfloor heating

Interior Designer Sophie Robinson Victorian Sussex farmhouse renovation underfloor heating hallway

A month before Christmas, we decided to give our magnolia house a lick of paint, to cheer us all up in time for Christmas. Paint is one of the quickest and most affordable ways to brighten up your home after all and I had a paint chart in my hand and was ready to roll.

Then the Builder husband discovered raising damp, it became really obvious as soon as we started moving the large cupboard away from the walls, that the furry white smatterings of mould meant there was no hiding from the fact we had a major decorating disaster on our hands. “Surely we can just paint the walls, and put the cupboard back and it’ll be like we never found out!” I chirped hopefully. But after some solemn head scratching the damp detector wasn’t lying, within minutes the builder husband had a mallet in his hand and was chipping off all the render. Our house spiraled into chaos.

all the render was removed from the walls and a damp proof course injected at ground level, before a water prrof render was applied on top.

Extensive work followed, including ripping out the kitchen units- yep, damp. And taking all the radiators off the walls. too. Christmas was re-directed to my Mums house and by the New Year we had freshly plastered walls. But no heating. Rather than rush to put all the radiators back on we decided to take this opportunity to install under floor heating. This would be heaven in helping to make our draughty Victorian farmhouse feel toastier underfoot in the cold winter months. But big deal for me was no more radiators! They are never situated where you want them and play havoc with your long curtains and positioning furniture. getting rid of them would massively streamline the look of the house.

So we planned to install an overlay water fed under floor heating system. This is the perfect choice for renovations, as you don’t have to dig up the floor to lay the pipes inside the screed. It allows floor heating to be installed into existing spaces quickly, simply and practically. The system is a low profile panel, which is laid over existing solid or timber floors (solid in our case). Pipes are then woven in-between the boards and directed back to a central manifold, with the opportunity to have different rooms on different thermostat zones. Tiles or engineered wood, laminate or vinyl can then be laid directly onto the system.

overlay water fed under floor heating system is installed using cement boards. All supplied by The Under Floor Heating Store

The oh-so clever Builder husband has spent the past two weekends installing it and it was like the biggest Times cross word puzzle combined with the crystal maze to make sure the layout of the pipes worked out to plan. The technical support team from The Under floor heating store where amazing throughout and the plumber came this week to crank it up and get it all working. Just in time as the weather is on the turn! My husband is a very experienced builder and with the help from his plumber and the team at Under floor Heating store it’s been a huge success but I should stress that you need to be very confident before taking the installation on yourselves.

over lay under floor heating system supplied by the under floor heating store

Well as I sit here and type the warm floor is heating up in time for the evening, and it feels simply amazing! I’ve now got the very exciting job of choosing the floor coverings. We have a bold and colourful patterned cement tile planned for the hallway,which I’m beyond excited to reveal which will go straight down ontop of the cement boards once they have been sealed.

 

Interior Designer Sophie Robinson Victorian Sussex farmhouse renovation underfloor heating hallway

 

I interviewed the experts Dominic Lodge and David Johnson from The Underfloor Heating Store    to answer all your questions

• What is the average price per square metre? Water UFH on average can cost anywhere between £15 to £35 per square meter depending upon installation method. Our ground floor is around 90 square meters and cost for all materials required for the installation across four rooms and four control zones, was £4.5K. Labour is a cost ontop.

• What floor types can you lay on top? You can lay pretty much any floor finish on top of underfloor heating as long as the floor being supplied states that it is suitable for Under floor heating. Most manufacturers have maximum temperature ratings, such as 27 deg C for engineered and vinyl floors. Underfloor heating works best with tiles as these have a low thermal resistance, so allows the heat to flow through. Carpet being the worst floor finish. Engineered wood will be in between the two.

• Is it a DIY product or should you use a professional plumber? It can be part DIY installation, but the connections and pipework to the boiler must be completed by a qualified plumber and wiring to be done by an electrician.

Interior Designer Sophie Robinson Victorian Sussex farmhouse renovation underfloor heating controls

• Is underfloor heating cheaper to run than radiators? It can be cheaper to run than radiators when installed in the right conditions. In other words when used under a floor finish that allows the heat to flow through, such as tiles. With other floor finishes, you may find the running costs are similar to radiators, however you will still have the benefit of a nice even heat and no wall space taken up by radiators!

 • Does it work well with conventional boilers, solar power energy and ground source heat pumps? You can use any type of heat source to provide heat for underfloor heating. If using lower temperature heat sources such as heat pumps, you will need to install the underfloor heating pipes at closer pipe centers of 150mm instead of 200mm.

• Is it an eco option in terms of energy use and efficiency? It depends on the heat source as this will determine how much energy is used. Under floor heating is more of a luxury, giving the freedom of open wall space and a nice even heat across the entire room.

overlay under floor heating system from the under floor heating store

• Is it easy to damage? Should people worry about leaks? Can it be repaired if drilled through! It is a very tough pipe and there are no joints under the floor, unlike in a conventional radiator system. There are less chances of leaks with this compared to radiator pipework.

 • Can you put rugs and hard floor over it. I have heard it can cause engineered floor to de-laminate if you put rugs on top. Is this true? With water underfloor heating you can put whatever you want on top of it without damaging the underfloor heating. However, this will reduce the efficiency and heat output, for example, if you were to put rugs on top. The other risk (you are right) would be that where the rugs are laying they could cause a floor finish to get too hot and exceed the manufacturers maximum rating (e.g. engineered wood or vinyl max 27 deg) and cause damage, as the heat would build up underneath them.

 • Can it be used in extensions if the rest of the house is heated by radiators? Yes, this would be treated as a separate heating zone. This is easily done by a competent plumber.

 • What are the comparisons with electric underfloor heating? Cost, effectiveness, energy efficiency? Water under floor heating will be approximately half the running cost when compared to electric (if using gas boiler). Electric heating is ideal for a small bathroom or WC but not to heat a house or large room.

Interior Designer Sophie Robinson Victorian Sussex farmhouse renovation underfloor heating

 • What are the comparatives with sub floor underfloor heating? Cost, effectiveness, energy efficiency? Water under floor heating works best when installed in a new screed with tiles on top. The higher the thermal resistance of the floor finish the lower the heat output will be and therefore the longer the heating system will need to be on to heat the room.

It is hard to give exact figures on this as every type of floor finish will have a different thermal resistance value. However, as a rough guide if we use tiles as a starting point, an engineered wood floor would be approx. 15% less efficient and a carpet system would be another 15% less efficient than this. The exact running costs of heating a room will also depend on the heat loss.

To find out if and what underfloor heating system is suitable for your project, follow the link here

  • DIY
  • Interior Design
Tile of the year..and it’s teal! Sanderson launch fifty new paint colours

comments

Rose H on 22.09.20

Hi, I appreciate this is an old blog post, however, in hindsight, does it work well? Does it cost a fortune to run?

We have a similar square ft but it will be on joists.
Thanks

Reply
Sophie Robinson on 27.09.20

we are super happy with it. Its not added to our heating bills and we find it efficient. It works better with tiles than the wood though

Reply

Leave a Comment

Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published.

  • Interiors
    • colour crush
    • DIY
    • Home Tours
    • Interior Design
    • Interior Styling
    • podcast
    • trends
  • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Fashion/Beauty
    • Life
    • My House
    • Nosh
    • Travel
  • Rooms
    • Bathrooms
    • Bedrooms
    • Kids rooms
    • Kitchens
    • Living rooms
    • Outside
  • Videos

mailing
list

Videos

Listen

Listen Here

Bedlinen range

Shop

Colour Psychology for professionals

book your place!

Catch Sophie In All Her Colourful Glory On Instagram

We are back, it’s PODCAST DAY! After a little l We are back, it’s PODCAST DAY! After a little  lie down over Christmas Kate and I are rebooted and cuddled up inside our ‘duvet dens’ for remote recording Lockdown 3.0. . We have so much to catch up on including more ‘home office’ makeovers. Stop the press, Tom has finally been installed in his new green office that was previewed last series , pictured, and @mad_about_the_house is also having a complete reshuffle now that she has two large teenage sons living at home full time taking up all the space , and fridge contents by the sounds of it. 🍔. We discuss our exciting plans for the year ahead and share our thoughts on the trends for 2021. So for all this and more head on over to the podcast app and find us in The Great Indoors! 
CREDITS walls painted Sage and onion and windows in Lamp black @littlegreenepaintcompany . Blind made by @willowbertinteriors in Textile under Ekvatorn by Joseph Frank’s @svenskttenn . Table is old IKEA. Vintage Eames chair @vinestreetvintage Cushion @fannyshorter Seagrass flooring @alternativeflooring 
#thegreatindoors #podcast #interiorspodcast #wfh #homeoffice #greenroom #threemugs #desksetup #homestudio
How you doing? Just a reminder that while it might How you doing? Just a reminder that while it might appear like we are living the perfectly curated life  in these squares it’s a short swipe to reveal the reality! Lockdown has its unique stresses and I’m making a pact to be gentle on myself and everyone around me. Let me know what your coping strategies are right now. Mine today is makeup and big earrings. 
Thanks to @franklybold for this insanely fabulous pair . When times gets tough, the earrings just get bigger! #gift 

#colourlover #banthebeige #earrings #bigjwellery #bigearrings #lockdown #lockdownlife #lockdown2021
Friday! 🤩 It’s all about the small wins and Friday! 🤩 
It’s all about the small wins and I made it to the end of the week. But already 2021 has me feeling weary. I had such a lovely relaxing  Christmas break and this week has been full steam ahead with all kinds of 💩 thrown at me and I haven’t even started home schooling yet! 😫 But one thing that gave me a mood boost was dressing up in this magnificent gown from @las_ninas_textiles . I met fellow colour lover Nina on these squares and just adore her brand, her ethos and her fringe. Thank you Nina for your beautiful gift of colour joy! It really has shone a Latin rainbow on a dismal grey British week. This stunning indigo and huipil dress even has little threads of glitter running through it. 🌈 I’m pairing it with cosy leggings and my trusty @grensonshoes boots so I might never take it off! 
What do you do to cheer yourself out of the doldrums?

#gift #colourlover #banthebeige #lasninastextiles #haulternativefashion #sustainablefashion #colourlover #lasninastextiles #whomadeyourclothes #dresslikeyoudecorate #dresslikeyourhome #ihavethisthingwithcolour
Who’s back at their desk this week with big plan Who’s back at their desk this week with big plans for their home in 2021! I’m thrilled and excited that my online course Colour Psychology for interiors is open for enrolment TODAY! 🛎🛎🛎 By far the most popular course to date this is a deep dive into how colour works on a deeper more emotional level. Discover how to blend colour harmoniously in your schemes and understand which palettes are perfect for you. Because we all have very different connections to colour and design and finding out what your authentic palette and style is is fundamental to creating a home you love. I’ve spent years honing my own style but with this course you can nail it in a matter of weeks! And it’s a beautiful deep dive into self discovery and creativity while  helping you gain clarity, confidence and cut through the overwhelm. Because there is enough of that going around already! 🤪 I’ll be back here at 6pm tonight on an Instagram live to tell you more about the transformational power of Colour Psychology for interiors so please join me and ask any questions! Bring on the colour joy! 🌈🌈🌈

📷 @aluncallenderphoto #colourpsychology #colourpsychologyforinteriors #colourlover #banthebeige #backtowork #interiordesign #interiordesigner #interiorsesignschool #interiorsesignonline #houseofhackney #newyearnewhome #homegoals #colourmyhome #mycolourfulinterior #colourfulhomevibe #mycreativeinterior #nesttoimpress #stylishhomevibes #atmine
The year we stayed at home. 2020 has taught me to The year we stayed at home. 2020 has taught me to care and love the simple things. And in many ways I’m blessed that being at home is often just where I want to be. The year ahead still holds so many unknowns and managing fears, expectations and anxieties will continue to be part of the battle.  But making a house a home can really help us feel safe and grounded. So here are some beautiful flowers, and rainbow baubles that go towards making my home feel the best it can. How do you make your home feel extra special and bring a smile to your face 😊? 

📷 @aluncallenderphoto flowers @sageandco.floraldesign baubles @rockettstgeorge.co.uk lamp @pookylights walls in lazuli @zoffanyfw artwork @alexmayhughes 

#houseahome #colourlover #banthebeige #marchtothebeatofyourowndrum #homesweethome
This is becoming a habit! All dressed up and no wh This is becoming a habit! All dressed up and no where to go, AGAIN! Ha! Fairwell 2020! It’s been....an experience! Big love to all of you! I’ve LOVED hanging out with you all on these squares!🥰 

📷 @aluncallenderphoto  #colourlover #banthebeige #newyearseve #bye2020 #greatindoors #bbbinteriors 
Dress is @stinegoyastudio at @sirene.boutique ( bought last year)
Hello!!! How ARE you?! I’m loving this twixmas t Hello!!! How ARE you?! I’m loving this twixmas time, having long lie ins, reading loads, and on that subject currently ‘Think like a monk’ by @jayshetty is PERFECT right now for a mental reset. I’m resisting thoughts of 2021, of work or ‘real life’, for just a couple more days. I see lots of people clearing down the decorations and getting the house feeling fresh, but I’m keeping the twinkle a little longer. But I can feel the batteries are recharging and boy they needed too! I meant to do my yearly vision board today but couldn’t get motivated to do that either! . How are you all doing. Anyone feeling ready to take on the new year yet?  #tapfordetails 
.
.
.
#twixmas #newyear2021 #colourfulhomevibe #colourlover #banthebeige #bbbinteriors #gidc #sodomino #credenza
All dressed up and no where to go! Ha ha! In reali All dressed up and no where to go! Ha ha! In reality I’m in my joggers peeling a mountain of root vegetables but living the dream on the grid just for you! Thanks so much for all of you who have spread the joy and magic of Christmas on these squares. I’ve loved the colour, the creativity and the joy it’s bought. Wishing you all a special Christmas however you are making it work for you, which probably wasn’t  what you’d ever have expected. A special heartfelt virtual hug going out to all of you struggling at this time. See you on the other side! 

📷 @aluncallenderphoto . Garland by @sageandco.floraldesign . Dress @roksandailincic ( not an ad obvs but I know your gonna ask!) 

#christmasdecor #colourfulhomevibe #colourfulchristmas #banthebeige #colourlover #fireside #christmasgarland #christmasgarlanddecor #woodburner #countryliving #countrylife #countryinteriors
Load More… Follow on Instagram
Sophie Robinson
  • © 2017 Sophie Robinson

    /
  • Contact/
  • About/
  • Design by MW

Don't forget to join!