Underfloor heating can cover one room, an extension or the whole ground floor, and it works alongside radiators upstairs. We design it from the same room-by-room heat loss figures as the rest of the system, set out pipe spacing and zones for each room, and confirm which floor finishes will let the heat through.
Homeowners in Edinburgh and the Lothians and across Edinburgh and the Lothians can mix underfloor heating downstairs with radiators upstairs on one heat pump. Kitchen extensions in Edinburgh and the Lothians are often the natural place to add underfloor heating when a heat pump goes in. Older houses around Edinburgh and the Lothians with suspended timber floors can often take underfloor pipes between the joists.
Who it suits
- Homeowners who want even, gentle warmth with no radiators on show
- Ground floors being dug out or relaid as part of wider building work
- Extensions, especially open-plan kitchen-diners with large glazed areas
- Self-builds and new floors where insulation and screed are going in anyway
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Scotland
In Scotland, heat pump funding comes through Home Energy Scotland rather than the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: a grant of up to £7,500 (up to £1,500 extra for eligible rural and island homes) and an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500. For a home in Edinburgh and the Lothians, apply and receive the written offer before the installation date is fixed.
Installing heat pumps is zero-rated for VAT across the UK until 31 March 2027. Scotland has its own permitted development rules for air source heat pumps and its own building standards, so we confirm what applies to your property at survey.
Underfloor heating with heat pumps prices in Edinburgh and the Lothians
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in Edinburgh and the Lothians, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Edinburgh and the Lothians can need quite different radiators and pipework.
| Work | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Wet underfloor heating, one room | £1,550–£3,550 |
| Wet underfloor heating, whole ground floor | £5,100–£15,300 |
Installed, inc VAT. Floor finishes and screed drying time are confirmed at survey.
Towns we cover in Edinburgh and the Lothians
We cover 12 towns in Edinburgh and the Lothians for underfloor heating with a heat pump. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for Scotland.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh | EH2 | Musselburgh | 6 h 57 min |
| Livingston | EH54 | Broxburn | 6 h 58 min |
| Musselburgh | EH21 | Dalkeith | 6 h 57 min |
| Bathgate | EH48 | Livingston | 6 h 58 min |
| Bonnyrigg | EH19 | Dalkeith | 6 h 58 min |
| Penicuik | EH26 | Bonnyrigg | 6 h 59 min |
| Broxburn | EH52 | Livingston | 6 h 58 min |
| Dalkeith | EH22 | Bonnyrigg | 6 h 58 min |
| Dunbar | EH42 | North Berwick | 6 h 57 min |
| Haddington | EH41 | North Berwick | 6 h 57 min |
| Linlithgow | EH49 | Bo'ness | 6 h 57 min |
| North Berwick | EH39 | Haddington | 6 h 56 min |
Underfloor heating with a heat pump questions
Can I put carpet over underfloor heating?
Yes, as long as the carpet and underlay together have a low tog rating, which measures how much they resist heat. For heat pump systems a combined figure of around 1.5 tog or less is a common target. Thick carpet on heavy underlay can cut output noticeably, so rooms with carpet may need closer pipe spacing.
How much will an overlay system raise my floor?
A low-profile overlay system typically adds around 15–25 mm for the boards, plus the thickness of the new floor finish. That can be enough to need door trimming, threshold strips and adjustments where the floor meets kitchen units or stairs. We measure these details at the survey so the build-up is agreed before work starts.
How long does a screed floor take before I can use the heating?
Screed needs to dry before the heating is used at full temperature and before most floor finishes are laid. Drying time depends on the screed type, depth and conditions, from around a week for some liquid screeds to several weeks or more for traditional sand and cement. The heating is then brought up gradually over several days to avoid cracking.
How much does underfloor heating cost with a heat pump?
Wet underfloor heating for a whole ground floor has a guide price of £5,000–£15,000, installed and including VAT, and a single room has a guide price of £1,500–£3,500. The spread reflects floor type, area, whether an overlay or screed system is used and how much floor preparation is needed. Your written quote fixes the price after the survey.