Should you’re searching for an modern and nearly invisible possibility for warming your dwelling areas, you’ll wish to know what skirting board heating is. A sensible various to conventional radiators, it’s designed to mix seamlessly along with your present decor. So good you gained’t even know that it is there.
Now not will it’s important to think about the finest radiators on your newest dwelling redesign. You possibly can merely take into consideration how you’ll use that now free wall area. Right here, specialists run by means of the various kinds of skirting board heating out there, how a lot you’ll be able to anticipate to pay to put in it, and the advantages it might deliver to your property.

Nicholas Auckland is a heating, cooling and vitality professional with over 20 years of expertise within the business, He’s devoted to discovering the very best heating and cooling options for each want, in addition to optimising vitality utilization, decreasing prices and serving to others stay with decrease costing vitality payments.
What’s skirting board heating?
To grasp what skirting board heating is, Nicholas Auckland, heating professional from Commerce Radiators, succinctly shares the essential idea of the heating system: “Skirting board heating techniques are skirting boards which have built-in heating parts, to warmth the perimeter of a room.”
He provides, “These techniques work by working sizzling water or electrical energy by means of heating parts embedded into the skirting boards. Usually, heated skirting boards heat up inside 15 to half-hour.”
As you would possibly anticipate, this technique sits low to the bottom, occupying much less area than a radiator (making it extra aesthetically pleasing and liberating up wall area), and gives a mix of radiant and convection warmth.
Attempt these if putting in skirting board heating
Thermaskirt Deco Bm3 Skirting Profile
Perfect for moist skirting board heating techniques this primary profile skiting board is extruded from aluminium and contains insulation foil, a high gasket, and 5 brackets for becoming.
Complement your skirting board heating with a recent new color. This Lick matt emulsion gives a easy, scrubbable, and stain-resistant end that covers 10m² – 13m² per litre.
This self-priming water-based paint is an effective selection for all surfaces together with steel, plastic and wooden. Accessible in a large selection of colors it is available in a delicate satin end.
Varieties of skirting board heating
Skirting board heating usually is available in two principal sorts, explains Auckland, “One is known as a hydronic or moist system because it heats up utilizing sizzling water, and the opposite is an electrical or dry system that makes use of electrical heating parts.”
How water-based skirting board heating works
Moist techniques carry sizzling water by means of pipes that sit behind the skirting boards. They’re just like a central heating system in that they’re fitted with feed and return pipes to flow into water to warmth up a room.
How electrical skirting board heating works
An electrical skirting board options electrical heating parts embedded throughout the skirting board. These are hooked up to an influence supply and a thermostat that helps management the temperature.
Which must you select?
Moist skirting board heating techniques are a viable possibility if you have already got central heating put in, and usually have decrease working prices. Electrical skirting board heating is easier to put in and is a perfect selection if a central heating system shouldn’t be in place.
Advantages of skirting board heating
Introducing skirting board heating comes with a number of advantages that are listed right here.
1. House saver
No radiators means extra wall area, as Auckland shares, “Heated skirting boards are an awesome space-saving resolution to conventional radiators as they don’t take up pointless area inside a room, which permits for extra freedom when furnishing an area.”
2. Even warmth distribution
Skirting board heating runs throughout a room, providing apparent advantages, as Viktor Velikov, Director of ELSERVE, factors out: “Skirting board heating provides off a gentle, lower-temperature warmth.” He provides, “This even unfold reduces chilly patches and creates a extra comfy, cocooning heat somewhat than sizzling spots close to the radiator and chilly corners elsewhere.”
3. No want for a central heating system
Should you’re searching for a substitute for a central heating system, electrical skirting boards are an acceptable selection. They merely connect with the prevailing electrical grid in your house and are powered by an electrical thermostat that controls the room’s temperature.
Skirting board heating prices
The set up prices will differ relying on the kind of system used and the scale of the room. Auckland notes, “Usually, moist techniques are dearer to put in than dry techniques, as they must be related to the central heating system and sometimes require pretty complicated pipework.”
Viktor Velikov, Director of ELSERVE, gives a normal guideline to prices: “A moist skirting board heating system normally is available in at round £250 to £400 per metre put in, relying on the pipework and labour.” He provides, “Dry electrical variations are cheaper upfront, nearer to £150 to £275 per metre, however their working prices might be larger as a result of electrical energy charges are larger than gasoline.”
Auckland provides, “Heated skirting boards usually take round a day to put in.” He continues, “This implies you’ll be able to anticipate to pay round £1300 for an average-sized room, whereas dry techniques begin at roughly £1,000.”

Viktor Velikov is an authority on heating techniques with in depth expertise in plumbing options, together with skirting board heating. His experience gives invaluable insights into set up, price effectivity, and comparative advantages.
FAQs
Can I set up skirting board heating myself?
Electrical skirting board heating is far simpler to put in than moist skirting board heating and might be tackled by a really competent DIYer. However, in actuality, the set up of each techniques ought to be left to an expert.
Auckland shares, “It’s necessary that you just rent a professional skilled to put in these techniques as they are often complicated and dangerous when not executed accurately”.
Can I paint heated skirting boards?
Skirting board heating techniques usually are available in a base color, typically white. So if you’d like a unique color, or wish to give them a refresh, you’ll be able to think about portray them.
Should you do resolve to color, Auckland says, “You need to use the right sort of paint. Common paints can flake off as a result of warmth, so it’s necessary to make use of a heat-resistant paint such as you would use on a radiator.” Do this Hammerite Radiator Enamel Aerosol from Amazon.
Auckland provides, “Earlier than making use of paint, all the time clear your skirting boards to take away grime and mud to assist the paint bond.” Be sure that you apply skinny coats and keep away from including too many coats of paint, as this may cut back the skirting boards’ warmth output.
Should you’re trying to set up skirting board heating, you’ll need to take away previous skirting boards to create space for the brand new ones. It is also a superb time to paint a room and paint doorways to provide an area a totally recent new look.