If you’ve recently bought a new build home, there’s a good chance you expected modern, low temperature heating technology to come as standard. After all, energy efficiency is at the heart of everything these days, right? So it can feel a bit disappointing when you have no alternative but to settle for radiators.
You’re not alone in thinking “Why didn’t the developer just install underfloor heating?” And more importantly, “Is it too late to change it?”
The short answer is, it’s not too late at all and in many cases, upgrading is far easier than people expect.
Why Most New Builds Still Have Radiators
Despite how popular underfloor heating (UFH) has become, many larger-scale developers still default to radiators.
There are a few reasons for this, cost being one. Developers work to tight margins and radiators are cheaper and quicker to install across hundreds of plots.
Speed is also a factor and radiator systems are familiar, fast, and require less coordination between trades.
Finally, expectation plays it’s part. Even though UFH is increasingly desirable and homeowners are becoming more energy conscious, underfloor heating is still not expected as standard.
The Good News: You Can Retrofit Underfloor Heating
There’s a common misconception that underfloor heating is only suitable for new builds during construction. That used to be true when pipe in screed systems were the only option, but not anymore.
The market has responded to meet increased demand and expanded with products that solve install issues. The introduction of modern, low-profile retrofit systems means you can install UFH over your existing floor structure, without major disruption or height build-up.
And that’s exactly where Cozia comes in. We specialise in supplying low-profile underfloor heating systems designed for retrofit projects. And we have a system specifically designed for installing over new build floors that already have adequate insulation.
Our low-profile castellated tray system is a mini-screed system which delivers:
✓ Minimal floor height increase of just 20-25mm (ideal for existing homes)
✓ No need for major structural changes
✓ Compatible with most floor finishes (tile, LVT, laminate, engineered wood, etc.)
✓ Works alongside your existing heat source
This system requires the correct specification of UFH-approved screed, with special ingredients that enable a thin pour, whilst creating a solid base for your chosen floor covering. Our in-house screeding service has years of experience and expertise and takes care of all that. So even if your floor isn’t exactly level across your whole property, or you’re combining an extension with your existing footprint, we can advise on the best options.
So what can you expect if you decide to upgrade your new home with underfloor heating? Let’s revisit a project we delivered for a new build homeowner near Leicester, to walk through the process.
Case Study: New Build Heating Upgrade in Leicester
Our homeowner had purchased their 4-bed detached property from a housebuilder a few years ago. With a growing family requiring more space, an extension to create a large open plan living/dining/kitchen area was on the cards. Frustrated with both the inconsistent temperature control and layout limitations caused by radiators, they contacted Cozia to request a quote for retrofit underfloor heating.
We recommended our RetroTherm Flo 12 castellated tray system, a mini pipe-in-screed system with minimal height build-up. This system does not incorporate insulation the same way that other retrofit solutions do, but it wasn’t required as both the main house and extension were build to modern building regulations, with adequate subfloor insulation.
Working directly with the customer’s builder we scheduled the install to dove tail into the extension build programme and advised on floor preparation requirements. The extension floor was brought up level with the original floor and we could then lay the system across the whole ground floor.
Retrofitting in a new build does need a flexible approach and some decisions were made specifically to minimise disruption and cost:
- Because the kitchen was not being replaced, we worked around that and shuttered off the screed area just under the cabinets.
- We suggested wireless smart thermostats to control the system, to avoid chasing out walls that were perfectly intact.
- We installed a ‘mat well’ at the front door as the clearance there did not allow for pipes. This solution saved the considerable cost of replacing the front door.
Installed in less than two days
We arrived on site and installed the manifold, laid the crate system and pipework and pressure tested with water on Day One.
The project was left ready for screeding, which we returned to complete on Day Two. It was able to take foot traffic the following day and the customer had the floor fitter in within a week.
Our client is now enjoying enhanced comfort from better heat distribution, a cleaner, more modern look with more furniture layout freedom, and cheaper energy bills because low temperature underfloor heating uses less energy. That’s called a win-win-win!
A word from our homeowner:
“Cozia was excellent from start to finish. The team specified a system that ticked all the necessary boxes and liaised directly with our builder on important aspects.
“The whole process was much easier than we initially imagined and we love the difference underfloor heating has made to the comfort of our home.” – Guy C
Thinking About Making the Switch?
If you’ve been frustrated that your developer didn’t include underfloor heating, it’s worth knowing you still have options, and they’re more straightforward than you might think.
Cozia works with homeowners across the UK to deliver practical, retrofit-friendly UFH systems that don’t overcomplicate the job. Whether you’re planning a full ground floor upgrade or just looking at one larger living space, we can help you understand what’s possible and guide you through the process.
