Underfloor heating with insulation or without insulation: What's the difference?

R Floorzz

Jan. 28, 2025 11 minutes

Underfloor heating is a popular choice for homes and offices today because of its comfort and efficient heat distribution. However, an important question arises when installing underfloor heating: do you choose underfloor heating with insulation or without insulation? In this blog, we explain what the differences are, why insulation is crucial, and the benefits of bubbleboard underfloor heating with insulation installed.

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What is insulation under floor heating?

drywall_floor_plates_with_insulation

Insulation under floor heating involves placing a layer of insulating material between the floor heating pipes and the subfloor or under the subfloor. This layer of insulation prevents heat from being lost to the underlying structure or floor. The goal is to optimally conduct the heat from the underfloor heating upward, into the living space.

Without insulation, a lot of heat can be lost, resulting in higher heating costs and a less efficient heating system.

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The benefits of underfloor heating with insulation

  1. Better energy efficiency: Underfloor heating with insulation ensures that heat is conducted directly into the room, so you need less energy to reach the same temperature. The layer of insulation installed ensures that heat is not lost to other rooms. This leads to lower energy costs.
  2. Faster warming: With insulation, the floor warms up faster because no heat is lost. As a result, you enjoy a pleasantly warm room faster.
  3. Sustainability: An efficient heating system means less energy consumption, which is better for the environment. Insulation plays an important role here.
  4. Comfort: Better heat distribution with insulation makes the floor feel equally warm throughout.

 

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What happens with underfloor heating without insulation?

Floor heating tacking by R Floorzz

With underfloor heating without insulation, much of the heat is often lost to the underlying floor or ground. This has the following disadvantages:

  • Higher energy costs: Heat loss causes the system to have to work harder to heat the space.
  • Lower heat efficiency: The heat is not utilized optimally, so you enjoy less of the comfort that underfloor heating normally provides.
  • Slower warming: Without insulation, it takes longer for the floor and room to reach temperature.

Although the initial cost of underfloor heating without insulation may be lower, the higher heating costs and lower performance make this option less attractive in the long run.

Underfloor heating with insulation: The ideal choice

We recommend always installing insulation first, before laying an underfloor heating system. You can insulate under the subfloor and then lay the underfloor heating plate on the subfloor. We also always recommend doing this, because it optimizes the use of an underfloor heating system. A popular and efficient solution for underfloor heating with insulation is to use R Floorzz's underfloor heating plates. These plates have several advantages:

  • Suitable for all subfloors: R Floorzz floor heating plates are suitable for all subfloors. This makes choosing floor and heating plates a lot easier, because you don't have to think about this anymore.
  • Easy installation: Thanks to the bubble structure, the heating pipes stay firmly in place and the underfloor heating is very easy to install.
  • Optimal heat distribution: Because of the insulation you have installed and the quality of the underfloor heating plates, the heat is conducted upward. In addition, the floor is heated equally everywhere which ensures optimal heat distribution.
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Conclusion: choose underfloor heating with insulation

If you want to get the most out of your underfloor heating system and save on your energy costs, insulation is essential. Underfloor heating with insulation, such as bubbleboard underfloor heating with insulation, offers better performance, lower energy costs and a higher level of comfort. Although installation costs may be slightly higher, this investment quickly pays for itself through energy cost savings.

Underfloor heating without insulation may seem attractive because of the lower initial cost, but in the long run it results in higher costs and less comfort. Therefore, choose an efficient and sustainable solution with insulation under floor heating.

Interested in an underfloor heating with insulation? Then request a no-obligation quote.

Easily lay your own underfloor heating with R Floorzz pre-milled underfloor heating plates 

Drywall underfloor heating

With R Floorzz's pre-milled underfloor heating plates, you can easily install underfloor heating. R Floorzz has different systems for on existing subfloors.

Do you want to mount on a wooden subfloor on a ground floor or do you want a system with noise reduction? Both are possible to install yourself.

Read how to lay your own underfloor heating in this blog.

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Where can you order a complete floor heating kit?

Need help installing underfloor heating yourself?

Do you need help installing underfloor heating? Or do you simply want to outsource it? Get in touch or make an appointment.

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