Latest Designer Bathroom Ideas and How To Guides for your Home

Ceramic, porcelain and stone tiled floors can be warmed from below with either electric or water underfloor heating. Usually, the pipes or cables are sandwiched in a layer of flexible screed or adhesive between the sub floor below and the tiles on top. An underfloor heating thermostat, linked to a floor sensor, keeps the temperature of the tiles at the desired level. Modern under tile heating is extremely reliable, low maintenance, and complies with strict safety regulations.

Under tile heating can be achieved with either an electric or a water based system. When choosing an underfloor heating kit, you should consider the size of the floor area, the position of permanent fixings, and how it will work with the primary heating in the house. Electric underfloor heating systems generally heat up faster and are slimmer so that your floor level is barely raised. Wet under tile heating systems are often more economical to run, particularly in larger spaces.

It is important to get a system that is specifically designed to go under tiles. The level of heat generated varies as the heat absorbing qualities of timber, concrete and other materials are all different. The easiest under tile heating kits come in the form of linked mats with the cable already in position. These can be arranged on the floor, taking care not to cut or damage the cable, covered with tile adhesive and then tiled. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and check whether expansion joints are necessary when tiling.