A rising trend in the world of wetrooms is the installation of underfloor heating. Alongside a selection of wetroom accessories, heated flooring adds the perfect finishing touch to any luxurious UK wetroom. No longer will that relaxing feeling after a steamy shower be cut short by stepping onto cold tiles – bliss! What was once thought as a bathroom feature for the wealthiest of households, is now much more accessible and affordable – and one that you should be offering to more of your clients. Make sure you meet your client’s expectations by fitting the underfloor electric heating right the first time by using the tips below.
Like any successful project, careful preparation and planning is key, as it will help to reduce the likelihood of running into problems in the long run. Adopt the well known saying “measure twice cut once” – but in these circumstances, measure twice and order once to avoid ordering more materials than you need. As part of your preparation, measure the wetroom floor carefully, avoiding any areas with permanent fixtures such as the toilet or bath to save on materials and costs.
Furthermore, make sure that your workspace is clean and tidy before you get to work. Doing so beforehand will allow you to work more effectively and also avoid having to tackle it later on – which can be tricky once you’re in the midst of installing the underfloor heating. Also, make sure that you’ve checked that the floor is flat and even to make sure the installation goes smoothly as possible.
As the name here suggests, this step includes fitting thermal boards beneath the underfloor heating in order to limit heat loss. Explain to your client that whilst this is an optional step in the job, doing so makes the system more effective and will help to save them money in the long run. Also, once the job is started it won’t be easy to go in and make this change later on.
When you receive the underfloor heating, you’ll see electrical wire attached to a rolled-up mesh sheet. That means that when it comes to positioning, the job couldn’t be more simple! Roll out the mesh to cover the surface of the wetroom, making sure to leave 150mm between the edge of the underfloor heating and the bathroom wall.
When turning corners, or working with awkward areas, the mesh sheeting (note, not the electrical wire) can be cut and turned to fit the area that you are working with. If required, you can remove some of the mesh sheeting completely. That is as long as wires are at least 50mm apart, and you ensure loose wires are secured to the floor with tape. Top tip, before you start positioning the underfloor heating, make sure you’ve seen the two wires that come off the start of the mesh sheet, as these are what will be attached to the thermostat, therefore you’ll want to make sure that they are near where your client would like their thermostat to be.
In order to work with the thermostat and check the temperate of the floor, installation of a heating sensor is required. This sensor should be placed between two lines of wire within the mesh, and be close to the edge of the room where you plan on installing the thermostat.
When it comes to connecting your thermostat up, using the manual that comes with your thermostat is advised here, as each model is slightly different. When connecting the thermostat, it involves connecting up the two wires from the mesh sheet to the thermostat, then connecting the heating sensor to the thermostat. You’ll then be able to install and fix the thermostat to the wall. When connecting this to the house’s main power supply, a registered electrician will be required.
The final step within the process is to fit the wetroom floor on top. Luckily, underfloor electric heating works extremely well with tiles, making it the perfect fit for your clients’ wetroom. However, remember to give the tile grout adequate time to set and dry out before turning the system on to test for the first time.
By using the advice above, you’re well on your way to installing beautiful heated flooring in your clients’ new wetroom. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to get in contact with our CCL team!
Backing surfaces for tiling should;
When Tiling;
Grouting should be:
Gypsum plaster should not be used where;
