BACKUnderfloor heating is a growing part of modern construction and renovation projects, becoming popularised by homeowners seeking sustainable heating options. Underfloor heating can be the difference between a house and a home, taking modern comfort to the next level. However, a top-quality installation of underfloor heating doesn’t just depend on quality materials – it relies on excellent coordination between all trades involved.
As we come into the colder winter months, tradie season gets busier than ever. Having multiple trades on site can sometimes be a recipe for chaos. From our experiences on sites over the past 40 years, we have picked up a few tips and tricks for a smoother installation process. Here is our guide on how to work with other trades to get the best underfloor heating installation for clients.
On any building site, there are 3 main trades that come into contact with underfloor heating: Electricians, tilers/ flooring experts, and builders.
Builders – Set the Foundation Right
The foundation for a successful floor heating installation starts with the planning. Builders are the license holders for the overall build and are responsible for ensuring that the work is completed to all the relevant standards. This includes ensuring all construction elements are completed in the right order, surfaces are level, electrical circuits are roughed in, waterproofing or appropriate floor preparation is completed, and timings align to avoid unnecessary delays or crossovers.
A good installation begins with proper communication in the lead up to the job. Upon requesting a quote, Speedheat needs floorplans (with measurements) to make sure that you are getting the right-sized heaters for your job.
Once the correct heaters are selected, it is important that the builder is able to organise the order of the trades effectively. Check out the preparation section of your quote for the information you can share with the different trades.
Before underfloor heating installation…
- The site electrician needs to have completed the relevant calculations to ensure the appropriately sized cables and safety switches are roughed in for the circuits, draw wires are installed before the plaster goes on and the thermostat cutouts are complete. This is so our installers know where to lay the heater to have the heater elements in the correct position to enable the site electrician to fit off the thermostat. This information is on the plans that we provide as part of the quote documents.
- Flooring specialists need to have completed any waterproofing, self-leveler and/or screed that is necessary, these need to be completely dry before the installation of underfloor heating can begin.
The installation of electric underfloor heating ideally needs to be booked in 24 hours before the flooring is laid. This mitigates the risk of the heaters being exposed to an open site, which is the most frequent issue in the installation process. Sharp stones wedged in shoes, tools being dropped, and heavy ladders and buckets being placed on top of the heating elements, can damage the heaters. For large areas we do recommend a thin layer of leveller be placed over the heaters to ensure a smooth flooring installation.
Tip: Share floor plans and preparation requirements early so all trades know what to expect with underfloor heating installation.
Electrician – Connect the dots
Electricians are an essential part of an electric underfloor heating installation. Responsibilities of a site electrician during an installation include positioning thermostats, routing wiring, and meeting Australian connection safety regulations, which require preparation and forward thinking. Depending on the size of the job, contactors may also be needed to split the load correctly. Heating can be connected into automation systems so this needs to be catered for early on in the building process. The thermostat cutout needs to be done pre-installation, so our installers know where to connect the heaters to.
Tip: Confirm thermostat locations and wiring paths before screeding or flooring goes down—last-minute adjustments can get expensive. Thermostat cutouts are standard General Purpose Outlet (GPO) measurements and can be vertical or horizontal.
The site electrician is the person to fit-off the thermostat.
Tilers & Flooring Specialists: Protect and Finish the Job
The final look and feel of an underfloor heating system depends on the surface finish. Tilers and floor layers need to work carefully over the heater mats, using adhesives and underlays suitable for underfloor heating. Particular tools can play a big part in the protection of underfloor heating. For example, trowels with curved edges (as opposed to sharp edges) are better suited to laying glue over the heaters.
For mosaic tiles or tiles larger than 600mm x 600mm and floorboards, it is essential for a leveller/ screed to be poured over the top of the heaters before the flooring is laid. This is to protect the heaters from being potentially compromised by the sharp and heavy edges of larger tiles. When it comes to mosaic tiles and floorboards, it also ensures an even heat distribution across the whole flooring space, avoiding hot spots. Our heaters are only 1.5mm thick, so the leveller/ screed can be as thin as 2mm.
When using underfloor heating in carpeted areas, it is important that the underlay is clean, even, and does not have any staples where the heaters are going to be installed. This is because staples can cut through the heater elements once weight is put over top of the heaters.
Tip: In the event that the heating is compromised during the flooring phase of construction, it is a good idea to have spare tiles on site “in case of emergency”. This is so any tiles need to be pulled up during a repair, the client still receives fresh new tiles in their home once the job is done.
Communicate Early, Avoid Problems Later
The best underfloor heating installations happen when trades are educated and on the same page. That means clear timelines and shared plans from the start of the installation. Delays often happen when one trade isn’t aware of the others’ needs or sequence of work.
Tip: A quick call or chat between trades before key stages—like pouring screed or laying flooring—can prevent costly repairs.
Underfloor heating isn’t a one-trade job. From prep to finish, it’s a team effort – so let’s make collaboration the standard. When we work together, we deliver better comfort, fewer callbacks, and happier clients. If you are looking to install underfloor heating in your next job but don’t know where to start, get in touch with our team—we’re here to support every step of the way.