Underfloor heating prices per m2 in South Africa
| 3-8m2 coverage (150W – 750W) | R 3 050 – R 3 550 |
| 9-12m2 coverage (1kW – 1,2kW) | R 3 650 – R 4 050 |
| 13-16m2 coverage (1,2kW – 1,7kW) | R 3 950 – 4 750 |
| 17-20m2 coverage (1,7kW – 2kW) | R 4 450 – R 4 950 |
| 21 – 25m2 coverage 21kW – 2,5kW) | R 4 750 – R 5 150 |
| 25 – 30m2 coverage (2,5kW – 3kW) | R 5 050 – R 5 650 |
The above costs include labour, materials, and a manual thermostat, however, you can upgrade to a digital thermostat for an additional cost. A 3kW digital thermostat starts at around R 1 749 from our partners at Leroy Merlin. Underfloor heating has advanced in many ways over the years. Gone are the days when the heating was embedded in the screed of the flooring. Thanks to an advancement in the materials we use, your underfloor heating is now installed directly under the floor surface. Thus, it comes through the flooring much quicker and costs less to run.
Underfloor heating has its appeal. After all, who wouldn’t want to make the winter months more cosy with lovely warm feet? Underfloor heating can be used to simply warm your floor or act as a primary heat source, replacing heaters or other heating sources.
Running Underfloor heating prices
There are too many factors that could influence this answer but for all practical purposes, it is best answered in the form of a working example: In a room of say 4m x 4m = 16 m ², a 1,5kW heater is required. Generally you will have the underfloor heating run for roughly 8 hours per day, regulated by a thermostat. The average price of the Kw / hour is around R5.44 (according to Eskom). Multiply the R5.44 by the number of working hours multiplied by the power consumption (kW).
1.5Kw x 8 Hours x R5.44 = R 65.28 per day, and R 1 958.40 per month.
Thermostat
Dependent on the programming, a thermostat can save between 25% – 55% on electricity per month.
The thermostat, which allows the user to set the temperature and turn the heating system on and off, is essentially the heating system's brain. Additionally, some of the more sophisticated thermostats had additional features like remote management, zone control, and wi-fi and smartphone app connectivity. However, almost all thermostats come with standard features including individual temperature settings and a 24-hour timer cycle.
The different types of underfloor heating in South Africa
- Under tiles – The best flooring materials to use with an underfloor heating system are tile and stone. They are all very resistant to warping or breaking, excellent heat conductors, and do not expand or contract significantly when exposed to heat. For this reason, tiles made of porcelain, ceramic, or stone are a fantastic option for flooring above radiant heating.
- Under carpet – electric floor heating panels heat your carpets economically and safely. They are quickly and easily installed under existing or new carpets.
- Under wood or laminate – laminate installations include a floor probe for floor temperature limitation. The floor surface is limited to the maximum allowable temperature of 27 degrees in accordance with the SA Wood and Laminate Flooring Association’s (SAWLFA) specifications. This ensures that laminate flooring preserves and maintains its aesthetic appearance without buckling or warping.
The benefits of underfloor heating in South Africa
- Even, consistent temperature all around the room
- Heaters are hidden and silent
- Climatic conditions that reduce the growth of dust mites and moulds in the indoor environment
- The heating systems are maintenance free
- Because the floor itself is heated, your home retains heat much better than air heating which is evaporated rapidly
- Comfort is reached at lower temperatures with radiant heating, reducing energy usage
The disadvantages of underfloor heating in South Africa
- The main problem with underfloor heating is the cost. It can be expensive, and difficult to install and to run.
- In older buildings, adding underfloor heating can take time and cause major upheaval.
- It can take a long time to warm up – so it’s vital to use a timer to make sure your rooms are warm enough when you want to use them.
- You can’t use it under some items of furniture or fittings. In fact, if you want to install underfloor heating, you might have to get rid of some large, heavy items altogether.
- If you use a smaller system, you may find you have a lovely warm floor but the rest of the room is still chilly – meaning you’d need additional heaters anyway.
Finding the right Pro
Kandua.com has a list of vetted, background checked Pros all over South Africa that are perfect for underfloor heating installation. You can get multiple quotes in minutes. All you need to do is:
- Answer some questions about the job
- Share your contact details so no more than 5 Pros can contact you directly
- You’ll be contacted with quotes or a request for more info by affordable, experienced and trusted Pros
- Read their online reviews
- Areas we service: Johannesburg underfloor heating specialists – Pretoria underfloor heating specialists – Cape Town underfloor heating specialists – Durban underfloor heating specialists
Choose the Pro that best suits your requirements. Then you can discuss the details of the project with them.
