There are two main ways to fit it. In new floors, such as an extension or a ground floor being dug out, pipes are set into a screed: a layer of sand and cement, or a flowing liquid mix, laid over insulation. In existing rooms, a low-profile or overlay system uses thin grooved boards laid on top of the current floor, raising it by a modest amount instead of breaking it up.
Older houses around Northamptonshire with suspended timber floors can often take underfloor pipes between the joists. Kitchen extensions in Northamptonshire are often the natural place to add underfloor heating when a heat pump goes in. Every underfloor design for Northamptonshire starts with the floor finish you plan to lay, from tiles to carpet.
Who it suits
- Homeowners who want even, gentle warmth with no radiators on show
- Rooms where wall space for radiators is scarce
- Ground floors being dug out or relaid as part of wider building work
- Self-builds and new floors where insulation and screed are going in anyway
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Northamptonshire can use the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which takes £7,500 off the cost of an air source heat pump when it replaces fossil-fuel or electric heating. Replacing oil or LPG heating qualifies for £9,000 for installations from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027, and air-to-air systems for £2,500. The MCS-certified installer named in your quote applies for the grant and deducts it from the price.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump anywhere in the UK until 31 March 2027. In England most houses can have an air source heat pump under permitted development, provided the unit meets the MCS noise and siting standards; the old 1 m boundary limit was removed on 29 May 2025. We flag listed buildings, flats and sensitive conservation-area positions at survey.
Underfloor heating with heat pumps prices in Northamptonshire
These are guide prices for Northamptonshire, installed and including VAT. Your final price is fixed in a written quote after the survey and depends on the heat loss of the house, the radiators that need changing and where the unit goes.
| Work | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Wet underfloor heating, one room | £1,500–£3,500 |
| Wet underfloor heating, whole ground floor | £5,000–£15,000 |
Installed, inc VAT. Floor finishes and screed drying time are confirmed at survey.
Towns we cover in Northamptonshire
We cover 10 towns in Northamptonshire for underfloor heating with a heat pump. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for England.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northampton | NN1 | Wellingborough | 7 h 42 min |
| Corby | NN17 | Desborough | 7 h 39 min |
| Kettering | NN16 | Desborough | 7 h 40 min |
| Wellingborough | NN8 | Rushden | 7 h 41 min |
| Rushden | NN10 | Wellingborough | 7 h 41 min |
| Daventry | NN11 | Towcester | 7 h 42 min |
| Brackley | NN13 | Towcester | 7 h 44 min |
| Desborough | LE16 | Kettering | 7 h 40 min |
| Oundle | PE8 | Corby | 7 h 39 min |
| Towcester | NN12 | Northampton | 7 h 43 min |
Underfloor heating with a heat pump questions
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.
Can I heat just one room with underfloor heating?
Yes. A single room, such as a kitchen extension, can have its own underfloor zone connected to the heat pump alongside the radiators in the rest of the house. It needs its own thermostat and a manifold, which for one room can be compact. The design checks the room's heat loss so the floor can meet it at the system's flow temperature.
Is underfloor heating better than radiators with a heat pump?
Underfloor heating usually allows a lower flow temperature than radiators, which helps a heat pump run efficiently. That does not make radiators a poor choice: correctly sized radiators also work well, and they are far less disruptive to fit in existing rooms. Many homes use underfloor heating in an extension or on the ground floor and radiators elsewhere.
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.