Underfloor Heating in Kitchen Design Projects 

A stylish kitchen can act as the calling card of your home; there’s nothing more impactful than a well-designed space featuring sleek appliances, chic cabinetry and enough space to entertain. If you’re thinking about refurbishing your kitchen then it’s also well worth considering installing a new heating system to maximise its sense of comfort. In this guide, we’ll explore why underfloor heating is the perfect heating solution for kitchen remodelling projects. You’ll find out: 

• Why kitchens are the perfect room in your home to heat with UFH 
• Which Warmup systems are best for kitchen refurbishments 
• The best heating solutions for different floor types 
• How easy it is to install floor heating systems around kitchen islands 
• The cost of purchasing a new heating system for your home 

What makes floor heating so good for kitchens? 

One of the most appreciated aspects of underfloor heating in kitchens is the freedom of design that it provides. In a room that typically features few vacant wall spaces – with wall-to-wall cupboards, built-in appliances or large floor-to-ceiling windows to let in plenty of natural light – a floor heating system will be discreetly installed beneath your floor finish, so you can remodel your kitchen without the need to work around cumbersome radiators and visible heating pipework. 

The radiant warmth produced by a floor heating system will keep your kitchen cosy all year round and with its increased energy-efficiency, you could also lower the carbon footprint of your property whilst potentially saving hundreds of pounds a year on your energy bills.  

Would underfloor heating be suitable for my kitchen extension? 

Increasing the size of a kitchen is top of the list for many home renovation projects and a popular way to do this is by extending the space outwards into the garden. By knocking down an exterior wall and adding a sympathetically-designed home extension, you could double the size of your kitchen – creating an open-plan living area to act as the new heart of your home.  

Water floor heating systems are perfect for new-build extension projects. These systems utilise heating pipes installed either within the subfloor of the extension itself or within the system’s panels that are fitted just below the floor finish. As such, they will require a greater amount of space to install compared to electric floor heaters so you can take this into account as part of your architectural blueprints. The Clypso System is a great choice for home extensions; its pipes are fitted onto accompanying insulation panels for greater energy performance before a layer of screed is applied as part of your kitchen’s new foundation. 

Water underfloor heating can provide dramatic savings on your heating bills, especially when installed with a heat pump; find out more in our helpful guide.  

Are UFH systems suitable for renovation projects too? 

Yes, they are. All our electric floor heaters are perfect for retrofitting in kitchens. These systems are connected to your mains electricity source and won’t affect the build-up of your floors, meaning you won’t have to worry about the impact of the system on your kitchen’s fixed ceiling heights. Electric underfloor heating also offers rapid installation times, with some systems being able to be installed in a smaller kitchen in under a day.  

Prefer a wet heating system? Our VLo line of low-profile systems have been designed for home renovation projects and will have little impact on existing floor heights.  

Will a Warmup system be compatible with my new kitchen floor? 

We offer heating systems suitable for use with almost all floor finishes. The most common choice for flooring in kitchen refurbishments is porcelain and ceramic tiles and due to their heat conductivity, both materials are ideal for installing with a floor heating system. Large floor tiles are great way to make a statement in your kitchen redesign project but we understand that you may have concerns about the potential damage to larger tiles caused by subtle lateral subfloor movements, whereby a change of environmental temperature can sometimes cause tiles to crack. Warmup’s DCM-PRO electric system has been designed to specifically help prevent such damage. DCM-PRO uses a heating cable installed within an accompanying anti-fracture membrane which features a decoupling layer that expands and contracts with this kind of subfloor movement. 

Wondering which type of floor tiling is best for your kitchen? Read out expert blog post on the differences between ceramic and porcelain tiles. 

How do I fit a system around my kitchen island? 

Kitchen islands are a key interior design trend, functioning as both a practical workspace containing a sink and other kitchen appliances, whilst also acting as a social setting around which to entertain guests as you cook. Installing a floor heating system around fixed objects such as a kitchen island couldn’t be simpler. 

In the case of water floor heating systems, your installer will be able to mark out where your new kitchen island will be located and lay the pipework around this space before the island is positioned in place. For electric heating cable-based systems, such as DCM-PRO, you can simply manoeuvre the cable around the existing or to-be-installed kitchen island. For electric heating mats such as the StickyMat System, your installer will be able to smoothly cut through the mat backing of the system and flip it around the island for a precise installation. You can find out more about the ease of installing electric floor heating in our informative guide. 

How much will floor heating cost for my kitchen remodel? 

Underfloor heating is an affordable way to bring energy-saving warmth to your kitchen, with complete systems available to purchase from under £500, including the cost of accompanying insulation and heating controls. Read our in-depth walkthrough on the cost of buying and fitting an electric heating system in a kitchen.  

Water systems will cost more and take longer to install than electric systems but with this greater expense, you could enjoy even greater long-term reductions off your energy bills. Looking for a more detailed cost breakdown of purchasing a new UFH system for your upcoming kitchen redesign project? Get a free quote now to discover the best heating solution for your needs and find out exactly how much it cost to purchase.