Low profile underfloor heating systems – what, where, how and why

Underfloor heating (UFH) has become more popular in recent years, and it’s easy to see why!

Homeowners are looking to tackle rising energy costs with a UFH solution that is energy efficient, looks good and provides optimal comfort. The government also has an ambitious build back greener strategy, with a goal for the UK to be operating at ‘net-zero’ carbon capacity by 2050, UFH helps address both these needs.

But, with so many different UFH solutions on the market, it can be tricky to know what the right low-profile underfloor heating system for your project is. In this blog, we will take a closer look at all things JG LowFit – RWC’s low-profile underfloor heating system from its JG Underfloor range.

Our JG LowFit low-profile underfloor heating system has been designed so it can be placed over existing timber or concrete flooring, while keeping overall floor height to a minimum without compromising heat output. This means that it can save installation time as you don’t necessarily have to prise up the building’s existing flooring, potentially adding unnecessary installation costs to your project.

The wide range of panels and boards available, including foil, mesh and castellated, means the system can work for almost any type of installation project including screed, non-screed, tiled and existing concrete floors.

Whether you’re working on a new build or a retrofit project, the JG LowFit system is a flexible solution for each application. It can be used with a variety of different floor finishes including carpet, vinyl, laminate, ceramic tiles, wood and engineered flooring, so it can be tailored to almost all homeowners’ styles.

The low-profile underfloor heating system has been specifically designed to keep overall floor height to a minimum, which makes it ideal for retrofit projects.

Many people assume that installing a low-profile underfloor heating system is complex, but the good news is that isn’t the case at all, especially with our JG LowFit UFH range.

Depending what products you’re using for your project, the installation will vary slightly. Here’s our tips on how to install the LowFit UFH panels systems.

To install our JG LowFit 16mm Castellated Panel you need to:

1. Make sure the floor is dry and free from any debris
2. Once the floor is cleaned, apply a SBR primer to ensure a good adhesion of the sticky back panel to the floor
3. We recommend then using a renovation screed that’s designed to run between the pipe support nodes and cavities of the castellated panel, this helps to minimise air gaps, ensures a better transmission of heat and increases floor strength

For our foil and mesh boards, you need to:

1. Make sure the floor is dry and free from any debris
2. Ensure the floor is level with no lumps or bumps in the surface
3. The boards can then be stuck down or left loose, please speak to our experts to find out what would be recommend for your project

Depending on your flooring finish, you may need to install a decoupling layer. Our technical team can advise your further. For more advice on installing UFH, why not check out our top tips for a successful underfloor heating installation?

Plus, the new JG LowFit manifolds feature 12mm JG Speedfit push-fit connections, making them fast and easy to install as you don’t need to fit any additional reducers from 15mm connections.

From installation advice through to a full design service, we can work with you to make your project as simple as possible. Simply let us know a few details about your project like room dimensions, drawings, and what the subfloor is made of, then we can provide you with a detailed estimate including a full bill of materials and free CAD drawing. If you’ve never fitted a low-profile underfloor heating system before, our technical sales engineers can do a site visit to help you find the solution that works best for your project.