How electric underfloor heating works
Electric underfloor heating warms a room from the floor up. Instead of a radiator pushing hot air into one corner, the whole floor becomes a gentle, even heat source, so the warmth is spread across the room and there are no cold spots.
The EkoBuild system uses an amorphous metal ribbon. It is 1.8mm thin and rolls out across the floor, then connects to a thermostat. The ribbon has 300% more heating elements than a standard cable system, which is why it heats evenly and can carry a whole room rather than just taking the chill off.
Ribbon vs cable vs water underfloor heating
There are three common types. Here is the honest version, including where each one wins.
| Type | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Ribbon (EkoBuild) | Whole-room primary heat, floating floors, renovations, under carpet | Final connection needs an electrician |
| Electric cable / foil mat | Small rooms, taking the chill off tiled bathrooms | Fewer elements, usually sold as a top-up not primary heat |
| Water (wet) underfloor heating | New builds with a deep floor build-up, whole-house off a heat pump | Needs screed, raises floor height, disruptive to retrofit |
Water systems are a strong choice in a new build where you are pouring a floor anyway. Electric cable and foil mats are fine for a small bathroom. The ribbon's advantage is that it does the job those two struggle with: a thin, no-screed, whole-room heat that works as your main heating and goes under any floor.
Can electric underfloor heating be your primary heat?
This is where most guides hedge. The usual answer online is "only as a top-up, use a wet system for primary heat." That is true for thin foil and cable mats, because they do not have enough heating elements to carry a whole room.
The ribbon is different. With 70% or more floor coverage it can be the sole heat source in a room, with no radiators and no boiler. That extra element density is the reason. If you want the full detail, read our dedicated guide on electric underfloor heating as a primary heat source.
Does underfloor heating need screed?
Not with the ribbon. It tapes straight onto your subfloor and your finished floor goes on top. No screed, no digging out floors, and almost no change to your floor height. That is what makes it realistic for a renovation, where ripping up floors to lay screed is a deal breaker.
Most "low profile, no screed" systems you will read about are wet systems in overlay panels. The ribbon is a genuinely thin electric option. There is more detail in our guide to underfloor heating with no screed.
Which floors can it go under?
The ribbon goes under almost any floor finish:
- Carpet, including as a primary heat source, which most electric systems cannot do
- Laminate and engineered wood
- Vinyl and LVT
- Stone and tile
Because it runs at a lower surface temperature than a cable core, it is kind to timber and to carpet, and it spreads heat evenly so you do not get warm stripes and cold gaps.
Running costs and pairing with solar
Running cost depends on two things: how well the floor is insulated, and how it is controlled. Lay our Therm-All insulation under the ribbon and it pushes heat up into the room instead of down into the subfloor, which means a faster warm-up and lower bills.
The ribbon also only draws power for about a quarter of each hour once a room is up to temperature, and the WiFi thermostat schedules it so you are not heating an empty house. Pair it with solar panels and a battery on an off-peak tariff and your daytime heating can be close to free. EkoBuild supplies solar and battery storage too, so the whole setup can come from one place.
How it's fitted
The ribbon is built for DIY. You roll it out, tape it down with the supplied tape, and lay your floor on top. The only part that needs a qualified electrician is the final connection of the thermostat to your mains. Full installation guides come with every order.
What does electric underfloor heating cost?
EkoBuild pricing is simple and delivery is free across the UK:
- 0.5m Ribbon roll from £22.50, which works out from £45 per square metre
- 1m Ribbon roll from £65 for open floors
- WiFi smart thermostat £89.99
- Therm-All insulation £53.50 per 10m² pack
- Complete bathroom kit £299, with the ribbon, thermostat and insulation together
Every product is backed by a 15-year warranty on the ribbon. Use the Room Designer to get an exact price for your room.
Ready to work out your room?
Map your floor in the free Room Designer and get the exact ribbon layout and price, or browse the shop and order with free UK delivery.
Electric underfloor heating FAQs
Can electric underfloor heating be a primary heat source?
Yes. With 70% or more floor coverage, the EkoBuild Ribbon can be the sole heat source in a room, with no radiators. Thin foil and cable systems are usually a top-up because they have fewer heating elements; the ribbon has 300% more, so it can carry the whole room.
Does electric underfloor heating need screed?
No. The ribbon is 1.8mm thin and tapes straight to the subfloor with your floor on top. No screed, no digging out floors, almost no change to floor height.
Which floors can you put it under?
Carpet, laminate, engineered wood, vinyl, LVT, stone and tile. It is one of the few electric systems designed to run under carpet as a primary heat source.
How much does it cost?
The 0.5m Ribbon starts from £45 per square metre. A complete bathroom kit with thermostat and insulation is £299. Delivery is free across the UK.
Is it expensive to run?
It depends on insulation and control. The ribbon only draws power for about a quarter of each hour once the room is warm, and pairing it with solar and a battery on an off-peak tariff brings running costs close to nothing.
Ready to fit it? Follow the step-by-step installation guides for carpet, tile, wood and vinyl floors.