Wet systems
Wet systems circulate low temperature water (typically 50˚C) through a series of continuous pipe loops under the floor.
Great for: New-build properties, complete renovations, extensions and large areas.

Cost: Can be as little as £12 to 16 per sq m (for your average four-bedroom house), but as much as £30 per sq m for small areas, so the more rooms you have fitted with underfloor heating, the more cost-effective the system will prove. If underfloor heating will be the main form of heating in your home, it is more economical to choose a wet system.

Underfloor heating, whether wet or dry, provides an even heat that rises from floor level and frees up space from floors and walls that would otherwise house radiators.

Electric systems
Electric underfloor heating can be bought in the form of cable systems (available as either a basic heating cable or woven mat), flat cables, or heating films, made from carbon or aluminium.
Perfect for: Small areas (such as one room) and refurbishment projects, where you don’t want too much upheaval, such as your floor being dug up.
Cost: Approx £20* to £25 per sq m.

Note: you can lay a lot of the systems yourself (try Speedheat, Devi or HandyHeat for information on systems and advice on how to install them), which will save you some money on labour costs, although you must make sure you get a qualified electrician to do the all-important wiring up.

For more information on all the different types of underfloor heating and a list of manufacturers, go to www.continental-ufh.com, and the Underfloor Heating Manufacturer’s Association website at www.uhma.org.uk.

*Prices may increase

source: 4homes

OK, you may not be convinced about my interior design credentials, but the same friends have all now accepted that their fears were unfounded. Almost without exception they loved the new colour scheme and indeed one from the ranks of these doubters, who lives in a designer minimalist habitat, claims I have invented a new aesthetic that he is rather jealous of.

Still unconvinced? Well, rest assured. Organic paints have come on in leaps and bounds over the past decade, and they also come in more subtle colours. My first experiences with them, over 10 years ago, involved messy mixing of pigment powders and base paint. Some of the external gloss paints were also disappointing as they crumpled into dust within a year. However, the clever souls at Ecos Paints have put an end to all that with hardy long-wearing gloss paints and a wide range of beautiful ready-mixed colour emulsions . They even have the British Allergy Foundation stamp of approval.

I became interested in alternatives to petrochemical-based paints after reading about their health risks. The industry uses a wide range of chemical compounds such as pigments, extenders, binders, solvents and additives. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified painting as an occupationally related cause of cancer, having found numerous scientific studies showing a higher incidence of cancers among professional painters. The British Coating Federation is also concerned about the issues associated with VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds – solvents widely used in paints that evaporate when being used and even when the paint is dry) and laudably developed a labelling system to warn consumers about the VOC contents of the tin of paint they were buying. It varies from “Low” (under 8 per cent) to “Very high” (over 50 per cent). Have a look at the paint tins in your cupboard to see where yours rate.

But even the lowest amount of VOCs seems unnecessary once you’ve used organic paints. A friend who recently switched to organic paints, was so pleased with the lack of chemical fumes that he swore never to use petrochemical paints again.

The mainstream paint industry faces a range of environmental challenges. It is based on non-renewable petrochemicals, creates large waste streams during production, and some VOC’s are greenhouse gases.

A recent visitor said to me, “Donnachadh, you are always banging on about how green your house is, but you never talk about how beautiful it is.” Now there is a visitor who will be asked back again, soon.

* For more information visit www.ecospaints.com

source: Independent