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FEBRUARY 2015 PRO INSTALLER
PRO PRODUCTS
www.proinstaller.co.uk
DISPELLING MYTHS ON
UNDERFLOOR HEATING
The ‘Ask for Underfloor’ campaign notes underfloor heating will continue to grow in popularity
over the next 12 months, but the industry still needs to dispel myths surrounding it.
An independent Censuswide UK survey, the
national Trade Association for underfloor heating ‘BEAMA Underfloor
Heating’ launched a
campaign this time last
year to raise awareness
of the growing demand
for underfloor heating.
The research showed
that a huge percentage of
people would prefer to
have underfloor heating but
mistakenly believe that it is
too expensive or disruptive
to install.
New research conducted
by Continental Underfloor
for the independent campaign, ‘Ask for Underfloor’
has revealed 30% of house
hunters want underfloor
heating in all or some
rooms of their new property. A fifth of respondents
would like underfloor
heating in key rooms such
as the bedroom, bathroom
or kitchen; a 5% increase
to statistics released by Ask
for Underfloor in January
2014.
The new data supports
further research carried
out by Ask for Underfloor
member Uponor, which
found 75% of installers
believe underfloor heating
will be a key heating solution for 2015.
Representatives from the
Ask for Underfloor campaign, which is backed by
BEAMA, believe the rising
popularity is down to
consumers becoming more
aware of the far-reaching
benefits of underfloor heating. Out of 2,000 respondents, 42% of those who
had underfloor heating
said it helped to provide a
better level of comfort than
other heating sources, 37%
found it had contributed to
lower energy bills and 32%
felt it provided a touch of
affordable luxury in their
home. One in ten even said
underfloor heating had
improved their quality of
life.
However, the research
revealed there are still some
misconceptions around
underfloor heating which
the industry needs to tackle.
Over half (51%) of respondents who don’t have underfloor heating said they think
it would cost too much
to buy, over a third (35%)
think it would be too disruptive to install and nearly
a quarter (23%) don’t think
it would be suitable for their
type of property.
“A lot of our members are
reporting an increase in
underfloor heating enquiries
and sales, and it’s great to
hear that installers are in
agreement that it’s becoming an important heating
solution,” commented Colin
Timmins from BEAMA and
the Ask for Underfloor
campaign. “Statistics from
the Construction Products
Association show that
private housing projects are
going to increase by 10% in
2015, giving both suppliers
and installers of underfloor
heating systems a great
opportunity.
“In order to maximise
business in this area though,
there is still some work
the industry needs to do in
order to dispel any myths
surrounding underfloor
heating. Specifiers, installers
and suppliers alike need
to communicate to their
customers that thanks to
product developments there
is now a system suitable for
almost any type of property
and many, such as systems
that lay over the top of
the existing floor, are very
straightforward and quick to
install, with minimal mess
or fuss. What’s more, with
a system for a three-bedroom property costing from
around £2,100 it can be an
affordable way to update a
home.
“With the construction
industry continuing to
improve, along with homeowners increasingly asking
for underfloor heating, 2015
has the potential to be a
fruitful year for suppliers
and installers of underf loor
heating. The challenge the
industry faces is to carry on
educating homeowners of
the benefits of underfloor
heating and ensure it is up
to date with all the latest developments so it can provide
customers with the very best
products and services.”
For more information
about underfloor heating
and the Ask for Underfloor campaign, visit www.
askforunderfloor.org.uk
Handy Man’s Delight
Following extensive research
among tradesmen, C.K Magma has introduced the C.K
Magma 18” Open Tool Tote.
The C.K Magma 18” Open Tool
Tote is a high quality, robust and
practical storage solution with
an affordable price tag, lending a
helping hand to those installers requiring multiple storage systems.
The tote features 12 vertical
storage pockets, offering instant,
easy access to equipment. There is
also a large internal storage area
with 33 additional pockets and
holders, letting tradesmen keep all
tools neatly organised to increase
efficiency while at work.
For those carrying the tote onsite from their vehicle, a padded
shoulder strap provides maximum
comfort, while a heavy-duty steel
handle bar ensures the tote can
be comfortably carried even when
housing particularly heavy tools
and equipment. The tote also
features adjustable straps specifically designed to hold a large
aluminium level securely when on
the move.
In line with the existing C.K
Magma range, the tote is built to
withstand the rigors of building
sites and industrial environments.
The tote features a durable 600
denier polyester construction, rigid
frame and 100% waterproof
and crackproof polymer
base to protect against wear
and tear, particularly when
working outdoors in adverse
weather conditions.
Vanessa Molloy, C.K Magma brand manager, said:
“We aim to produce products that are guaranteed to
be popular, and we achieve
this by working closely with
professional tradesmen and
paying keen attention to
their feedback while developing new products. The
new open tote is a direct
result of this process.”
‘working closely with professional tradesmen’