Cheshire's Specialist UFH Service

Independent UFH &Heat Pump Consultancyfor Cheshire Architects & Clients.

Independent design and specification for underfloor heating and air source heat pump systems, for architects, developers, M&E consultants, and self-build clients who need engineering reality, not a manufacturer's marketing brochure.

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5.0 ★ Google · Independent specification · Manufacturer-agnostic

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Tell us about your project

5+ Yrs

Specialist Trading

5.0 ★

Google Rated

Independent

Specification

MCS

Heat-Pump Compliant

RIBA 3+

Engagement Stage

Overview

Engineering specification by the team that will sit behind the install, not in front of it.

Architect support M&E consultancy Self-build clients Tender packs Independent of brand

Independent UFH and heat pump consultancy means specification by an engineering team that has no manufacturer commission to chase and no preferred-supplier discount that needs hiding. We model heat loss, design the system, specify the plant, write the controls architecture, and issue a tender-ready specification, usable to put the install out to competitive bid, or to brief an in-house contractor.

We work with Cheshire architects, M&E consultants, custom-build developers, and demanding self-build clients who want a heating specification they can defend at planning, at building control, at handover, and at the first-winter review. Specifications stand up to manufacturer scrutiny.

If you are at design stage on a self-build, leading a refurbishment that needs the heating reconsidered from first principles, or reviewing a specification someone else has produced and want a second opinion, this is what we do. Most consultancy fees are between £900 and £4,500 depending on scope, paid for in the install cost saving on the average project.

The Cost of Getting It Wrong

The specification is where the project is won or lost.

A weak specification produces a weak installation regardless of how good the contractor is. We are routinely asked to bail out projects where the design was inadequate from the start, by which point the slab is poured, the heat pump is chosen, and the options are expensive.

Plant sized wrong

Heat pump or boiler picked from the manufacturer's headline output, not from a project-specific heat-loss model. Result: oversized plant, short-cycling, premature failure, voided warranty.

Tender returns vary 200%

Loose specification means every contractor reads it differently. Comparing returns becomes impossible, and the cheapest bid usually delivers the most expensive lifetime cost.

Architect on the hook

Architects who specify mechanical systems from a manufacturer's data sheet inherit the risk when it underperforms. Independent specification moves that risk where it belongs.

Specification mistakes we untangle weekly.

01
Specifying plant by manufacturer name without project-specific sizing, common on small-developer schemes.
02
Leaving controls and BMS scope to the contractor's preference, with predictable variation in install quality.
03
Ignoring weather compensation and flow-temperature design, the single biggest factor in lifetime operating cost.
04
Specifying insulation thinner than the heat-loss model demands to hit a build cost, undermining the entire system.
05
Treating UFH and the heat source as separate specifications, then watching them not match at second fix.

Our Process

A meticulous, no-mess method.

Every project is handled by the same engineers, from first survey through final commissioning, and we're the team you'll call for service for the lifetime of the system.

Brief & drawing review

Architect's drawings, structural detail, glazing and insulation spec, client brief. We identify what's missing before we start work.

Heat-loss model & feasibility

Room-by-room CIBSE-compliant heat-loss model. Heat-pump feasibility, emitter sizing, plant location options, controls architecture.

Specification document

Tender-ready specification: UFH pipework, manifolds, controls, heat source, plant room layout, commissioning standard. Independent of brand where you want it.

Tender support

Bid analysis, contractor interviews, value engineering review. We help you compare like-for-like, not apples-with-oranges.

Install oversight (optional)

Site visits during install, commissioning witness, defects review. Optional but recommended on higher-spec projects.

What You Gain

Measurable outcomes, not vague promises.

Manufacturer-agnostic spec

No hidden commissions, no preferred supplier, no kickbacks. The specification serves the project, not the supply chain.

Defensible at every stage

Spec stands up at planning, building control, contractor tender, and first-winter review.

Tender-ready

Detailed enough that bids return comparable. Average client saves 8–20% on tendered install cost, typically far more than our fee.

Heat-pump grade specification

Designed at the low flow temperatures heat pumps actually need to perform. Future-proof regardless of current heat source choice.

Architect-friendly

Drawings issued in formats your architect can co-ordinate. Attendance at design team meetings on request.

Optional install oversight

We can also act as your engineer on the install, witness commissioning, sign off compliance, manage defects. Adds an audit layer where the project warrants it.

Technical Detail

What a real specification package contains.

There's a wide gap between a one-page 'recommended specification' from a manufacturer rep and a full engineering specification. Here is what's in a typical BHL package for a 4–6 bedroom Cheshire self-build.

Heat-loss model

Room-by-room CIBSE-compliant heat-loss calculation at the local design temperature, with U-values, infiltration, and ventilation losses itemised. Provided as a written report, not just a spreadsheet line.

UFH design package

Pipe-layout drawings per floor, pipe pitch per room, manifold positions and zone schedule, flow temperatures, blending valve specification, expansion vessel sizing, fill and pressure regime.

Heat-source specification

ASHP model selection with manufacturer-agnostic options, sizing rationale, position with acoustic modelling, condensate routing, electrical supply requirements, BUS grant compliance check.

Controls & BMS architecture

Controller schedule, thermostat locations, wiring centre layout, weather compensation regime, app integration scope, BMS interface where applicable.

Commissioning & handover standard

Cure cycle protocol, pressure-test regime, balancing standard with documented per-loop flow rates, O&M pack scope, training scope for end-user.

Domestic vs commercial spec differences

Domestic spec prioritises per-room comfort, low-temperature heat-pump compatibility, and family-friendly controls. Commercial spec adds BMS, footfall modelling, multi-zone control, and FM-ready documentation. We deliver both.

FAQs

Honest answers, on the record.

The questions Cheshire homeowners and contractors ask us most before a job. If yours isn't here, call 0161 531 1141, we'll answer it plainly.

When should I bring you in?+

Ideally RIBA Stage 3, once the floor plan is settled but before the slab and insulation are detailed. Earlier is fine. Later means you are reacting to decisions rather than informing them.

What does consultancy cost?+

Typical self-build feasibility and specification: £900–£2,500. Full design + tender support: £2,500–£4,500. Developer schemes priced per project. Fixed fee, no day rates, deliverables defined upfront.

Can you specify without recommending us as the installer?+

Yes, and we do regularly. The specification is yours to tender competitively, and we will not weight it to favour ourselves. Many clients use us for spec and then tender to multiple contractors including us.

Will my architect work with you?+

We work alongside architects, M&E consultants, structural engineers, and main contractors regularly. Drawings issued in CAD or PDF as preferred, meeting attendance on request.

Do you specify for heat-pump grant compliance?+

Yes, every heat-pump specification we produce is MCS-compliant and BUS-grant eligible. Documentation is provided in the format the grant application requires.

Can you review a specification someone else has produced?+

Yes, independent spec review is a common engagement. Typical fee £450–£900 depending on scope. We provide a written second opinion with specific recommendations.

What about retrofit consultancy?+

Same approach. We assess existing buildings, model heat loss against the actual fabric, and produce a retrofit specification that respects what's already there. Common engagement for listed and period properties.

Do you cover commercial schemes?+

Yes, small to mid-sized commercial schemes (offices, showrooms, restaurants, salons) up to around 2,500 m² floor area. Larger schemes referred or partnered as appropriate.

Who is responsible for the design?+

We are. Specifications are issued, signed and stand behind us, with manufacturer data and CIBSE-based heat-loss modelling underpinning every recommendation.

Related Services

Areas We Serve

Working across Cheshire & South Manchester.

Wilmslow Alderley Edge Bramhall Cheadle Cheadle Hulme Prestbury Macclesfield Sale, Manchester South Manchester

Your Next Step

Get a real engineering specification, independent of brand.

Send us your drawings and brief. We'll respond with a fixed-fee proposal for the specification package, typical turnaround five to ten working days from receipt.