Glasgow has been at the forefront of Underfloor Heating for centuries. Underfloor heating was used on the northernmost edge of the Roman Empire, the Antonine wall. At the Bearsden's Roman Baths, only 5 miles from the centre of Glasgow, soldiers enjoyed the comfort of underfloor heating from raised floors heated by hot air circulation coming from two furnaces.

underfloor heating glasgow

These days underfloor heating in Glasgow has moved on to fully automated systems using extremely thin floors and a range of energy sources, most of which are renewable. Room temperatures can be set individually, by smart thermostats or via mobile phones. Scotland is renowned for producing a large percentage of renewable energy and given our climate, especially on the West of Glasgow, it is no surprise that underfloor heating Glasgow is on the up!

The Advantages of Underfloor Heating in Glasgow

Obviously, it is not only Glasgow and the rest of North West Scotland that appreciate the benefits of underfloor heating. Scotland's climate is actually quite moderate but also very changeable as well.  A reliable heating system that keeps the temperature in a home constant and can even be used as a cooling system is therefore popular around the globe. 

What a the benefits of underfloor heating? 

1. Unrivalled comfort: with underfloor heating, your whole floor turns into one giant heat emitting surface. The floor warms up the room evenly whereas with conventional radiators you have hot and cold spots with the cold spots usually being on the floor and the hot spots the higher areas in a room. Heat coming from radiators rises up to the ceiling and then comes down again, whereas with underfloor heating you will always have warm feet and a cool head as the temperature only drops about 2 degrees at a height of 2 meters from the floor. On this page you can find a nice illustration explaining this: Conventional radiators versus underfloor heating.

2. No dust movements or condensation on the floor: due to the even heat emission and no air rising to and from the ceiling there are less dust movements in the room, ideal for people with allergies or breathing problems. The constant temperature also prevents condensation and the risk of mould.

3. No ugly radiators: sorry it has to be said, most radiators are ugly and to enable them to emit their heat efficiently they shouldn't be covered up with decorative panels or furniture. Not having radiators means that you are free to position your furniture or artwork everywhere you want. Also the use of ceiling to floor curtains is now much easier. But if you want, you can still have your designer radiator in your bathroom to hang your towels. It is also possible to combine underfloor heating with the characteristic radiators and marble fireplaces, a design feature typically found in Georgian townhouses. You can see an example here: Underfloor Heating Townhouse.

4. Economical: with a conventional central heating system the central heating boiler feeds the radiators with temperatures around 75 – 80 degrees to heat the property. Underfloor heating on the other hand, works on a low temperature of around 45 degrees. This means that the boiler or heat pump does not need to work so hard to heat the house. This way the temperature on the thermostat can be set approximately 2 degrees lower than a conventional system. And that is beneficial for the heating bills and the environment.

5. Sustainable: even with a conventional boiler an underfloor heating system saves energy. Just imagine the result when the heat is generated from a renewable source like a heat pump? Due to the low operating temperature, underfloor heating is the preferred method of heating a house by means of renewable energy like air source and ground source heat pumps. More details can be found on this page: Renewable Energy and Underfloor Heating.

Underfloor Heating for Commercial Properties in Glasgow

The fact that underfloor heating is the most sustainable and economical central heating system is not the only reason why it is used more and more in commercial and public buildings. It is ideal for area's with high ceilings like entrance halls and atria as heat is generated from the ground up and not from the ceiling down. 

Underfloor heating also provides great benefits to architects and designers who want to prepare for future changes in the layout of a space. Not to mention, modern office environments will benefit from the lack of radiators as it allows for clean minimalist design.

Incognito Heat Co

Incognito Heat Co was clearly not as early in designing and installing underfloor heating systems as the Romans, but from its inception in 2005 has developed itself consistently into one of the leading suppliers of underfloor heating systems,  ground and air source heat pumps in Glasgow and the Central belt in Scotland.

Like for instance:

• A 400m₂ AmbiStructural UFH system for the new Dalmarnock Community Centre in Glasgow in the shadow of Celtic football club’s stadium) during the summer of 2014;

• A (wet) underfloor heating system during a renovation and extension of a private house at Westbourne Gardens G12 9PF in Glasgow as well as in Milverton Road, Giffnock Glasgow;

• Installation of electric underfloor heating during renovation of Broadfield Farmhouse;

• A wet underfloor heating system for the new respite care home of Ardlui Care Home in Helensburgh;

• A 25mm grooved and foiled overlay system installed to 130m₂ on the first floor of the “The Ark” a new media / enterprise / community hub in Coplaw Street Glasgow in May 2016.

• A series of newly build private houses in Newton Mearns, G77 6NJ, with UFH on all levels with screed on timber deck;

• A wet underfloor heating system at a renovation and extension of a private house on Craigmillar Avenue, Milngavie, Glasgow G62 8AX;

• Two ground source heat pumps with underfloor heating for renovation of East Gavin Farm PA9 1DJ;

• Kilchattan House, Colonsay PA61 7YR;

• A new private build house in Longriggend ML6 7RS;

• Elderslie Kirk, PA5 9EF, UFH to new church extension

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