Measuring & marking

Nailing the strips onto the floor. These will  hold
the wires in position (inset)

Details of laid wires

Thermostat control

Q : Is it safe to have undertile heating in a bathroom ?
A : Yes and it is totally safe.
This is one of the room, which to my opinion is one of the most important. The heating wires are covered with an aluminium meshing and connected to the earthing of the house. The system must also be protected with an earth leakage which is fitted on the distribution board.
Don't say, I will install a wall-heater later, and if you do your tiles will still be cold.

Q: My budget is limited and I can only afford undertile heating in some areas.
A : First of all remember that once the tiles are laid, there is no comeback. It is done! I keep on advising clients who are on a tight budget to allocate the money they would spend on undercarpet heating in the bedrooms to rather concentrate on heating the living areas which are tiled. After all it is there where you live, watch TV, chat, cook and move around. Wall-to-wall carpets can be uplifted at any time should you feel you need heating in these areas.

Q : What is the price per square meter ?
A : We do not quote per square meter but by kilowatt/square meter. The best way to quote is to provide us with the square meter of the room (example: TV room 5m x 4.5m = 22 m²). Phone the office 011 794 6068 or 794 6213 and we will quote you directly over the phone.

Q : What are the running cost of such a system ?
A : This is not an easy question to answer because there are so many factors attached to it. But let's be practical and work out an average cost:
In a lounge of 5m x 4m = 20 m², a 2 KW (2000 watt) heater is required. We consider that the system is going to work daily for a minimum of 5 hours to a maximum of 10 hours. The average price of the Kw/hour (Unit on your Escom bill) is around 85 cents(2012) and depending in the region where you live. Multiply the 85 cents by the number of working hours above and you get a consumption of between R.4.25 and R.8.50 a day, the thermostat being set on 20ºC/21ºC max.
NB: This is only relevant if the heater is correctly balanced ie. 100 watt per m of room space.

Q : Can I do the installation myself ?
A : Yes, you can. We have designed a DIY slide-show CD which takes you for a trip through a full installation of undertile and undercarpet heating. Step by step instructions with the help of over 170 pictures that you can control individually on your computer, shows you the in's and out's of the installation. Worth watching. You will have to provide us measurements of all the rooms that you want heated and a quote will be e-mailed or faxed. If you feel that you can do it, you could save yourself a few bucks.  

Q: What about the warranty ?
A: Our warranty for undertile heating elements covers all manufacturing defects for a period of five years. Obviously it will not cover damages caused by negligent workmen or tilers.That is something you will have to take responsibility for.
In any event, we are equipped with electronic equipment which can detect faults to a tile or two. It is then just a matter to remove the tile(s) and fix the culprit. I just want to mention that we use the finest alloys and heat-resistant polymers in the manufacturing process (our own plant), wires are continuously spark-tested at 3000 volt. This system, if properly installed and taken care of during the tiling stage will outlast the life of the building. And we mean it.

Thermostat types

Underfloor Heating Undertile Heating  
Undercarpet Heating systems 

FAQ about undertile heating

Q : Where do I start ?
A : As soon as it is getting chilly and warmth is needed. Turn on the thermostat to maximum temperature and leave it on for a period of at least 4 hours. This will boost the system and generate warmth quickly. Do not forget that your floor is extremely cold and insulation of floors in our country is totally inexistent, that is why it needs a boost at the beginning of winter. But thanks to the heat~A~room system, warmth is felt very swiftly. After that set the thermostat to your own needs. The considered comfort zone is said to be 21 º Celsius but you will have to experiment.

Q : How long will it take to warm up a room ?
A : This will depend on some few factors such as the insulation and the orientation of the room, the amount of heating power (KW) which has been installed. We recommend a minimum of 100 watt/m2 overall. But without getting too technical, standard ceramic tiles will be getting warm within an hour and will be at full potential within four hours. Anyway you should feel comfortable from startup within an hour. Do not forget that we are not trying to warm up the air here, but while the tiles are warming this faint soft warmth is emanating from the floor and rising and that is exactly what the human-body needs.

Q : What sort of floor finish can I use ?
A : You can use ceramic tiles, porcelain, marble, travertine, granite, terracotta, sandstone, all natural stones, wood and wood laminates laid on a cemented screeded floor. I would not recommend rubber and cork materials.

Q : How does a thermostat operate ?
A : A thermostat is basically a device which is sensing the difference in air temperature. Once set to the comfort temperature considered to be 21ºC for example, it will turn the system on and off automatically to keep up with the preset room temperature. Another type of thermostat that we use mostly with wooden floors and laminate as well as tiled bathrooms will be equipped with a floor probe, placed just under the wooden floor. It will sense the floor temperature. This temperature is usually limited to 28º Celsius maximum as recommended by most wooden floors and laminates manufacturers. This will minimise “expansion” of the wood. Other more sophisticated thermostats will be equipped with a floor sensing probe, room temperature sensor and digital timer, all in one.

Q : Must I turn off the whole system if I am going away for the week-end ?
A : If it is just for the week-end, I would suggest that you set the thermostat at 18 º Celsius. When you return, increase the temperature by a couple of degrees and you will feel great later. To turn off the system completely is fine if you are going away for a week or more.

FAQ about undercarpet heating

Q   : Can I use undercarpet heating under loose rugs ?
A   : Although these heating pads were originally designed for wall-to-wall carpets, they can also be used for loose rugs and carpets. Some very thick carpets are not suitable. The following points must be adhered to:
              1. Avoid high trafic areas
              2. These pads have to be laid on a COTTON underfelt only.
                  No sponge type.
              3. The pad has to be secured onto the underfelt with masking tape
                  to prevent sliding and folding.
              4. The electrical cord should also be taped onto the floor.
No blockage of the heat over the pad must be allowed. Flat bottomed furniture and mattresses must not rest over the heating pad. Overheating and discolouration of the carpet could occur. Check photographs in the

photogallery.

Q   : How long does it take to warm up ?
A   : Undercarpet heating is very fast. Warmth is felt over the carpet in a matter of minutes (15 to 30 minutes) depending on the thickness of the material. Warmth will dissipate also very quickly once turned off.

Q   : Can I use any type of carpets ?
A   : No. Some carpets are not suitable such as the ones with thick foam and rubber on the backing. Some Chinese rugs are quite thick and are not suitable.

Q   : Can I have my carpets shampooed ?
A   : By all means otherwise we would not be in business. The heating pads are made out of real aluminium and polyester lining, both are water resistant. The heating wires are fully waterproof.
Have your carpets cleaned before or after the cold season, and let the carpets dry naturally. Never turn the heating pad on whilst still wet, the carpet could get marked. In some cases a small amount of sediment will be left after cleaning, this may result in a light odour which will eventually dissipate.

Q   : Do you fit undercarpet heating under existing carpets ?
A   : Yes depending on the age and condition of your carpet.

Q   : Will my carpet look the same after lifting and re-stretching ?
A   : Yes, and sometimes better, as installations are done by professional carpet-fitters.

Q   : Will I feel the undercarpet heating pad and the electrical cord ?
A   :   The heating pad is a very thin layer, similar to the thickness of a bed-sheet and so long as the underfelt is reasonably thick to accommodate the cord and the connection block, you should not feel anything. Insist on a 1000 grams/m² when installing new carpets.