Underfloor Heating in an Existing Home: Which Option Fits You Best?
Underfloor heating is one of the most popular upgrades when making an older house more sustainable and comfortable. It delivers even, gentle warmth at low water temperatures — perfect if you already have (or plan to install) a heat pump. But not every system suits every home.
Below is a clear overview of the key choices, with checklists, pros/cons tables, and realistic 2026 Netherlands price ranges (excl. VAT, incl. professional installation unless noted). This helps you quickly decide what works for your situation — without needing lots of extra questions.
1. Hydronic (Water-Based) vs Electric
| Type | Advantages | Disadvantages / Limitations | Checklist: Choose this if... | Approximate Price per m² (incl. install) | Payback Period (with heat pump + good insulation) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hydronic | Low running costs, even heat, whole-house capable, future-proof with heat pump | Higher build-up, more complex, higher upfront cost | - You have an existing boiler or plan a heat pump - Larger areas (living room/kitchen >30 m²) - Low energy bills are a priority | €50–120 (dry €60–100) | 7–12 years |
| Electric | Extremely thin (1–10 mm), fast warm-up, easy to install, great as supplemental heating | High electricity costs, less efficient for large areas, not ideal as main heating | - You only want to heat bathroom/kitchen/bedroom - Very limited height available - No heat pump planned | €50–120 (but much higher running costs) | 12–20+ years (rarely cost-effective as main heat) |
Conclusion: For a family home with an existing boiler or heat pump plans → hydronic (dry construction) is usually the best choice. Electric is only for small zones or temporary solutions.
2. Dry Construction vs Wet Construction (Hydronic Only)
| Type | Build-up Height Above Concrete | Drying Time / Disruption | Heat-up / Response Time | Checklist: Choose this if... | Approximate Price per m² (incl. install) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Construction | 30–50 mm (slim versions 25–40 mm) | No drying (days only) | Fast (30–60 min) | - You have limited height loss tolerance (doors, skirting) - You want quick completion - Renovation without demolition/mess | €60–100 |
| Wet Construction | 60–100 mm (or milled/grooved 30–60 mm) | 2–8 weeks curing | Slow (hours) | - You are replacing the screed/floor anyway - You want maximum thermal mass (stable comfort) - Lower budget priority | €45–75 |
Conclusion: In an existing home renovation → dry construction almost always wins (faster, cleaner, less height loss). Wet only if you're already pouring a new screed or milling into existing concrete.
3. Recommended Dry Hydronic Build-Up for Laminate (Eco-Friendly & Thin)
Step-by-step layering for a family living room/kitchen with high traffic:
- Existing concrete subfloor — level if necessary (leveling compound extra €5–10/m²).
- Base insulation + pipe carrier — ÖKO 30 wood-fiber panels (30 mm, eco/recycled wood fiber, pre-grooved with aluminum heat spreaders for fast, even heat).
- Heat-conductive / load-distribution layer —
- High traffic (family, kids, furniture) → CompactFloor Pro 12 (12 mm fiber-reinforced board, high compressive strength)
- Minimal height critical → CompactFloor Direct (1.5 mm aluminum-coated mat, thinner but less robust)
- Cheaper alternative → Fermacell gypsum fiber (10–20 mm, recyclable, breathable)
- Final floor covering — Laminate (8–10 mm, FSC/recycled core, low thermal resistance <0.10 m²K/W for quick heat transfer).
Total build-up: 40–52 mm (thin for renovations). Heat transfer: Very efficient (80–95 % upward thanks to aluminum + conductive layer). Surface temperature stays ~25–28 °C (safe and comfortable).
4. Cost Estimate for 100 m² Living Room + Kitchen (2026 NL, excl. VAT)
| Component | Materials Price Range | Total with Pro Install | Cost-Saving Tips / Cheaper Alternatives |
|---|---|---|---|
| ÖKO 30 wood-fiber panels (30 mm) | €5,000–8,000 | — | No cheaper eco equivalent |
| Heating pipes (16 mm) | €1,000–2,000 | — | Wavin/Comap instead of Uponor: save €500–1,000 |
| Manifold + accessories | €400–800 | — | — |
| Top layer (Pro 12) | €2,000–3,500 | — | Fermacell instead of Pro 12: save €500–1,000 |
| Eco laminate (8–10 mm) | €1,500–4,000 | — | — |
| Total materials | €10,000–18,000 | — | Mixing components → €8,000–14,000 possible |
| Installation (professional) | — | €3,000–6,000 | DIY materials → save €2,000–4,000 |
| Full turnkey | — | €13,000–24,000 | With ISDE subsidy €1,000–2,000 lower |
Quick Decision Guide for Your Situation:
- Very limited height (<5 cm addition)? → ÖKO 30 + CompactFloor Direct + thin laminate.
- Family with high traffic? → ÖKO 30 + Pro 12 (or Fermacell) + durable laminate.
- Sustainability priority? → Wood-fiber base + recycled laminate + apply for ISDE subsidy on biobased materials.
- Tight budget (< €15,000)? → Mix cheaper pipes and use Fermacell; consider DIY for panels and laminate.
Which scenario matches your home best? Do you have limited height, a busy family, or a strict budget? Feel free to share in the comments — I read them all and reply often.
Thank you for reading. Next week: combining underfloor heating with a heat pump and solar panels for maximum savings.
(Sources: CompactFloor/ÖKO/Jupiter specifications, RVO/Milieu Centraal, 2026 market prices via Warmteservice, Vloerverwarmingzelfleggen.nl and forums.)
