MORE THAN JUST A HOT TOPIC
Neil Iacobucci, Commercial Manager at Warmafloor, explains why underfloor heating has more to offer customers than just a warmer home.
According to new research from electrical goods manufacturer, Vax, underfloor heating (UFH) is one of the three modern trends people most want to come home to.
Indeed, UFH systems have become increasingly widespread across the residential sector in recent years, with more and more homeowners requesting it when renovating their properties, or housebuilders opting for the technology in their new-build developments.
A key reason for this growing popularity is the improved levels of thermal comfort UFH offers compared with standard central heating. Traditional radiators rely on convection to warm a room, distributing heat unevenly throughout the space. With UFH, on the other hand, pipes carrying warm water gently heat the floor, which then transfers heat by natural radiation, creating an even temperature across the room, and making the space more comfortable for building occupants.
But this isn’t the only benefit of UFH for end-users. There are plenty of other reasons why flooring professionals should be recommending it over traditional heating systems to their customers.
MORE THAN JUST COMFORT Traditional heating systems, with their bulky, wall-mounted radiators, can have a negative effect on the aesthetics of a room and on the useable space, limiting homeowners’ choices of where to put furniture. UFH, meanwhile, is concealed under the floor, keeping it out of sight and eliminating its impact on the useable space inside the home. This can help enhance the flexibility of a room for homeowners, by allowing them to place their furniture where they want, without worrying about blocking any radiators.
The even temperature offered by UFH offers more than just a pleasant environment for homeowners, meanwhile. Underfloor heating has been found to be 15-20% more energy efficient than traditional heating systems. This means a space can be heated to a comfortable level without consuming as much energy as a standard radiator system, helping to cut utility bills and reducing the property’s environmental footprint.
Moreover, UFH helps to create a healthier living environment for building occupants. A warmer floor inhibits the growth of mould and, according to Asthma UK, can reduce the quantity of airborne dust mites and associated allergenic particles by as much as 80%. This helps to minimise the risk of room users developing asthma and other respiratory problems.
HOW TO DELIVER FOR CUSTOMERS It is also easier to install UFH in a home than commonly thought. There is a host of underfloor heating systems
40 | UNDERFLOOR HEATING
available on the market that professionals and tradespeople can use to create the perfect solution for their customers.
For new-build houses, for instance, installers can recommend a staple system - featuring a length of flexible pipe fixed in place at regular intervals on any combination of floor insulation, before being screeded over. Such staple systems offer a lot of design freedom, allowing the pipe to be easily fitted even in irregularly-shaped spaces.
Alternatively, rather than fitting a wet system and screeding over it, a dry system can be used. This means less mess and allows work to carry on immediately after installation, minimising its impact on the construction process. In addition, the use of a dry screed floorboard topping over the top of a dry system can create an even spread of heat and enables the room to heat up more quickly when the system is turned on, all while providing the necessary weight to create a solid floor.
warmafloor.co.uk www.tomorrowscontractfloors.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62