Choosing a system
Heating mat, film or cable: which underfloor heating to choose?
Comparing three electric underfloor heating systems: heating mat under tiles, infrared film under laminate and heating cable in screed. When to choose each.
Electric underfloor heating is installed in three main ways. The right one for you depends mostly on the floor covering and on whether you are building new or renovating. This is the short guide we also use when talking to clients.
Heating mat – for tiles and stone
A heating mat is a thin heating cable fixed to a 50 cm wide mesh. It is rolled out on the cleaned floor and embedded in the tile adhesive, so the floor rises by only a few millimetres. Mats come as ready-made kits for a given area, usually from 1 to 15 m², most often at 150 W/m².
- ideal for bathrooms, kitchens, hallways and tiled terraces
- fast warm-up, no screed needed
- great for renovations – the floor barely rises
Infrared heating film – for laminate and parquet
Heating film is a thin strip (about 0.3 mm) with carbon heating elements. It is laid on an insulating underlay directly under laminate, parquet or vinyl – no glue and no concrete. A room is usually finished in one day. More in Underfloor heating under laminate and parquet.
- for dry rooms with wooden and floating floors
- no wet work, quick installation
- can also go under carpets and on walls
Heating cable – for new builds and large areas
Heating cable is laid in loops at a set spacing, fixed with strips and covered with a concrete screed. The screed stores heat and releases it evenly, which makes this a good choice for primary heating of a whole apartment or house and for irregularly shaped rooms.
- for new builds and full floor reconstruction
- suits off-peak tariffs thanks to heat storage
- loop spacing is matched to the output each room needs
Side by side
| Heating mat | Heating film | Heating cable | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floor covering | tiles, stone | laminate, parquet, vinyl | all coverings |
| Installed in | tile adhesive | on insulating underlay | concrete screed |
| Floor height | a few mm | underlay only | screed height |
| Warm-up | fast | very fast | slower, stores heat |
| Best for | bathrooms, kitchens | bedrooms, renovations | new builds, whole homes |
A thermostat is a must
Whatever the system, every underfloor heating runs with a thermostat and a floor sensor. It protects the floor covering from overheating and decides how much you spend – see Underfloor heating thermostats.
Not sure what fits your property? Send us a floor plan or the area of each room – we will suggest a system and prepare a quote.
