Underfloor Heating Costs

How Much Does Underfloor Heating Cost?

The average cost of fitting an electric/dry system where renovation work is needed would land around £2,900 to £3,100 for a 40m² area, £4,200 to £4,500 for a 60m² area, or £5,700 to £5,900 for an 80m² surface area.

If you have a new build property, fitting a dry system would set you back about £1,650 to £1,750 for a 40m² area, £2,400 to £2,700 for a 60m² area, or £3,300 to £3,500 for an 80m² surface.

To have a wet system fitted and with renovation works, you'd need to budget for about £6,900 to £7,500 for a 40m² area, £10,500 to £11,100 for a 60m² surface, or £14,100 to £14,700 for an 80m² area.

To have a water-based underfloor heating system fitted in a new build property, could roughly £4,100 to £4,700 for a 40m² area, £6,000 to £6,600 for a 60m² area, or £8,200 to £8,800 for an 80m² area.

The main cost-affecting factors of installing underfloor heating are the type of underfloor heating, the type and size of the floor, the number of tradespeople hired, ease of access, and the location of your property.

Heating engineers charge different rates throughout the country due to the varying costs of living for different regions.

For example, labourers generally charge more in the southeast of England (London especially) but less than the national average in, say, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Underfloor Heating Prices

What are the Supply Costs of Underfloor Heating?

The material cost of underfloor heating is separate from the labour costs and cover the supplies alone. Let's discuss the supply costs of fitting underfloor heating based on different types of underfloor heating and the floor size.

Electric underfloor heating tends to have a supply cost ranging from £50 to £80 per m². As for a wet underfloor heating system, you can expect the material costs to land between £90 and £190 per m².

The supply cost will depend on whether the property is renovated or a new build since the supply costs involved in renovation will be higher.

What are the Additional Costs of Underfloor Heating?

There are a range of additional expenses you may need to pay when having underfloor heating installed. Let's look at some common examples.

Minimum Fee

In some cases, labourers will include a minimum fee either as an added cost to your final bill or in the form of a guaranteed charge (e.g. a daily labour cost).

In the case of being charged per day of labour, this would mean for work that takes two days and six hours.

You'd pay the same as you would if it were to last two days and eight hours (i.e. you'd pay for three days of labour).

Types of Underfloor Heating

Of course, an installation's price will vary depending on whether you are having an electric or wet underfloor heating system installed. In general, electric underfloor heating tends to be more affordable than an electric system.

Floor Size

One of the biggest cost factors is the total surface area being fitted with underfloor heating. The larger the floor size, the more the supply and labour costs will be.

Floor Type

The reason that floor type is relevant to the cost of installing underfloor heating is down to the fact that some flooring will be more difficult to lift and refit than others. As a result, the labour cost will vary depending on floor type.

Materials

Depending on the quality and nature of the underfloor heating systems, whether it is a wet or dry system, costs can vary based on the materials used (e.g. underfloor heating mats or an underfloor heating kit).

For instance, a higher quality system will feature more expensive materials than a cheaper alternative.

Number of Tradespeople

Another significant cost factor is the number of labourers hired. It goes without saying that the more tradespeople on the job, the higher the labour cost will be.

However, this may not add to your overall bill since the more people working on the job, the quicker it will take to complete.

Duration

In general, the longer it takes to fit underfloor heating, the higher the labour costs will be. This may not always be the case, however.

For example, if you are charged per day of labour, then you'd pay the same amount in labour expenses whether the work lasts for four days and two hours or four days and six hours. In this case, you'd be charged for five days of labour.

Tradesmen Costs for Underfloor Heating Installation

We'll now delve into the labour costs involved in having underfloor heating fitted. We will break down the costs based on the system being fitted and the floor size. In this section, we'll also look at the various factors that influence the labour cost.

The total labour cost of fitting underfloor heating would come to about £300 per day.

Starting with an electric or dry system, in the case of a renovated property, the labour cost would be about £500 to £700 for a 40m² floor size, £600 to £900 for a 60m² area, or £900 to £1,100 for an 80m² surface area.

If you are going with an electric new build, the labour costs will be approximately £250 to £350 for a 40m² area, £300 to £600 for a 60m² area, or £500 to £700 for an area that is 80m².

Moving on to a water renovated installation, the labour costs would land around £900 to £1,500 for an area of 40m², £1,500 to £2,100 if it is 60m² or £2,100 to £2,700 for an 80m² surface.

As for a new build property, to have a wet system installed would set you back £900 to £1,500 for a 40m² area, £1,200 to £1,800 for a 60m² area, or £1,800 to £2,400 for an 80m² property.

The labour costs may vary depending on the number of tradespeople hired, ease of access, the location of your property, the state of the work area, and the type of flooring.

This is an important cost factor for property location because heating engineers charge different rates throughout the country.

For example, a heating engineer in Plymouth will likely charge between £30 and £38 per hour. In Belfast, perhaps just £32 to £36 per hour. However, costs rise to about £52 to £62 an hour in London and as much as £64 to £70 per hour in Gloucester.

How Long Does It Take to Install Underfloor Heating?

The duration involved in fitting underfloor heating will vary depending on several factors, which we will look at in this section. First, however, let's look at how long it will take for this job depending on the type of instalment and floor space size.

To fit an electric underfloor heating system with renovation work, will take about two days for a 40m² surface, two to three days for a 60m² area or, three days for an 80m² surface.

To have a dry system fitted in a new build property, expect it to take roughly one day for a 40m² area, one to two days in the case of a 60m² surface, or two days for an 80m² area.

As for water underfloor heating, with renovation works, this type of installation would take approximately three to five days for a 40m² area, five to seven days should the surface area be 60m² or seven to nine days for an 80m² area.

As for a new build property, to have a wet system fitted would take three to five days for a 40m² surface, four to six days in the case of a 60m² area, or six to eight days for an 80m² area.

Types of Underfloor Heating

We'll now take a closer look at the features and pros & cons of an electric and wet underfloor heating system.

Dry Underfloor Heating Cost

An electric or dry underfloor heating system is powered with electricity that reaches the system using heating cables.

Such cables traverse the area below the flooring and exist in loops. Heating can often be made more even with a dry system than with a wet system.

This is generally the most suitable option for a home renovation. Installing electric underfloor heating may cost between £1,650 and £5,900.

Pros:

• Cheaper than a wet system
• It takes less time to fit
• Ideal for a home renovation

Cons:

• More susceptible to faults

Wet Underfloor Heating Cost

A wet system, also known as a water underfloor heating system, comprises pipes designed to provide heat to the room above.

In most cases, the pipes are connected to a boiler via a manifold. However, regardless of the heat source, wet systems release heat vertically from the floor beneath.

They are far more common than electric systems. The average cost of installing a wet system is between £4,100 and £14,700. Though they are more expensive to fit, wet systems come with lower running expenses.

Pros:

• Cheaper running costs
• Not always suited to a given installation area

Cons:

• More expensive
• Takes longer to install

Benefits of Underfloor Heating

Whether you go with a wet or dry system, there are many advantages to underfloor heating regardless. Let's break down some of the key benefits.

Saves Space

First and foremost, underfloor heating will, of course, save plenty of space above the surface. As a completely concealed heating system, it means you can remove old radiators, opening your home visually and practically.

Energy Efficient

Though a wet system will save you more on your energy bills than a dry system, both types of underfloor heating are energy-efficient.

They will save you money in the long-term instead of continuing to use a more conventional heating system.

Increased Property Value

In addition, underfloor heating can add to the value of your property as many possible buyers will find such a system particularly appealing. It may add several per cent to your home's total worth.

Comfortable Underfoot

Not only is underfloor heating a discreet and efficient way of heating your home, but an added bonus is that it will create a warm, comfortable underfoot.

How Much Does It Cost to Remove Underfloor Heating?

To have underfloor heating removed is a complex task.

You may decide to have it removed for reasons of legality (e.g. you had underfloor heating fitted in a listed building and were told by the council to remove it).

To have the flooring itself removed would cost about £30 to £34 per m². The labour rate may cost between £25 and £35 per hour.

However, if you also need to hire an electrician to have a dry system removed, you'd need to pay an additional £30 to £40 an hour. As you can see, these costs could add up quite quickly.

FAQs

Q: How does underfloor heating work?

A: Underfloor heating works by having underfloor components heated (a circuit for a dry system or a pipe network for a wet system) and then distributing the heat to the areas above.

Q: How much does underfloor heating cost to run?

A: Though it will depend on the size of the underfloor heating system, on average about £260 to £300 per year for an electric system. A wet system will cost noticeably less to run.

Q: How long does underfloor heating last?

A: If well maintained, in theory, they can last indefinitely. There is no clear lifespan for underfloor heating.

Q: How much will underfloor heating save on my bills?

A: Unfortunately, underfloor heating may not actually save you as much as you'd like. In fact, it may save about £20 per year on your heating bills, but it will depend on the layout and type/quality of the system.

Q: Can I install underfloor heating DIY?

A: Yes, but only if you know exactly what is involved and take all of the necessary safety precautions. There are also building regulations and planning permission rules that you'll need to take into account.

Sources

1. https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/blog/underfloor-heating-cost
2. https://www.ovoenergy.com/guides/energy-guides/pros--cons-of-underfloor-heating.html
3. https://heatingpoint.com/advice-centre/blog/how-much-does-underfloor-heating-cost-to-run/

Author: Dean M

I have a Bachelor's Degree in Creative Digital Media, I'm a freelance writer and I've worked for clients such as the British Blockchain Association and I have experience in writing articles, YouTube video scripts, online guides and newsletters. I have written and produced many short films as well as a web series and feature film. I am also currently working on a novel.