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BHL Underfloor Heating Ltd
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Cheshire's Specialist UFH Service

New BuildUnderfloor Heatingfor Cheshire Developers & Self-Builds.

Design, specification, and full mechanical install of underfloor heating systems for new build plots, self-build homes, and developer schemes across Cheshire. MCS-accredited, heat-pump ready, signed off to Building Regulations Part L compliance with documented commissioning every time.

5.0 ★ Google · Plot-stage to handover · Part L documented

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Tell us about your project

5+ Yrs
Specialist Trading
5.0 ★
Google Rated
MCS
Accredited Installer
Part L
Compliant
2 Yr
Workmanship Cover

Overview

Underfloor heating designed in at plot stage, not bolted on at second fix.

Self-builds Developer plots Custom & private clients Part L compliant ASHP & gas ready

New build underfloor heating is straightforward when it is designed in early and ruined when it is bolted on at second fix. We work with self-builders, architects, custom-build clients, and small to mid-sized Cheshire developers from plot stage through to handover. Pipework, manifold positions, blending sets, controls, and the heat source are all co-ordinated against the structural drawings before the first screed pour.

Our typical new-build project is a 4–6 bedroom self-build or custom plot in Wilmslow, Prestbury, Alderley Edge, or Knutsford, where the client wants a heat-pump-ready, low-flow-temperature system with proper room-by-room zoning and controls that survive ten years of family use. We also handle multi-plot developments where consistency, compliance, and on-site engineer support matter more than the cheapest sub.

If you are at planning, RIBA Stage 3, or just starting groundworks, this is the right moment to bring us in. We will model the heat loss, specify the system to Part L and the MCS heat-pump rules, co-ordinate with your M&E consultant, and quote a single fixed contract that the build programme can rely on.

The Cost of Getting It Wrong

New-build UFH failures are designed in, not built in.

By the time UFH is fitted on a new build, the slab, screed depth, insulation level, and floor finishes are usually locked in. If the design hasn't accounted for the build, the system will underperform on day one, and there is no clean fix without breaking out the floor.

Heat pump doesn't reach SCOP

An ASHP designed at 40 °C paired with insufficient emitter area runs at 50 °C or higher to compensate, killing the seasonal coefficient and pushing running costs above gas.

Part L sign-off delays

Missing or non-compliant commissioning paperwork at completion stage delays building control sign-off, which delays handover, which delays revenue.

Cold rooms in 'flagship' plots

Show-home plots with high glazing, vaulted ceilings, or large open-plan zones routinely under-perform when designed from area alone. The complaints land in year one of the warranty.

Mistakes we routinely see on Cheshire plots.

  • 01

    Specifying UFH from a system supplier's data sheet rather than a project-specific heat-loss model.

  • 02

    Pouring screed before agreeing pipe pitch, manifold positions, and control zoning with the M&E consultant.

  • 03

    Letting the groundworker drop the insulation thickness 'to save 10 mm', quietly destroying the floor's thermal performance.

  • 04

    Hiding manifolds in inaccessible cupboards that the homeowner cannot reach for balancing or service access.

  • 05

    Buying the cheapest control package on the project, then leaving the homeowner with a unit that has no UK service path.

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.

01

Design-stage engagement

We come in at RIBA 3–4 (or earlier for developers), model the heat loss, and produce a project-specific UFH design, control architecture, and heat-source specification.

02

Co-ordination & quote

Drawings issued to architect, M&E consultant, and groundworks. Single fixed-price quote with detailed scope of works, materials schedule, and commissioning plan.

03

First-fix install

Insulation, edge strip, pipework, manifolds, and pressure-test all installed and signed off before screed pour. Pressure logged in writing.

04

Second-fix & controls

Manifolds plumbed, thermostats wired, blending valves and weather compensation configured, heat source commissioned alongside our system.

05

Commissioning & Part L handover

Slow cure cycle, every loop balanced, full O&M and commissioning pack handed to client and building control. We also brief the end-user on operating the system.

From The Job Site

Real work, in progress.

New-build UFH pipework clipped to staple-down membrane over insulation in a single-storey extensionWhole-house new-build UFH pipework laid over DPM and insulation across an open-plan ground floorNew-build UFH pipework laid in serpentine pattern over DPM in a bay-window living roomOpen-plan new-build floor with UFH pipework laid across multiple zones over DPMLiquid screed pour over newly laid UFH pipework in a new-build extensionFinished self-levelling screed over new-build UFH pipework, cured and ready for floor finish

What You Gain

Measurable outcomes, not vague promises.

Heat-pump efficient from day one

Designed at 35–40 °C flow temperatures with the right emitter area, so a future or installed ASHP runs in its efficient band.

Part L compliant paperwork

Documented commissioning, balancing, and pressure tests handed to building control without chasing.

Buildable on programme

We hit the dates we commit to and co-ordinate around groundworks, screeders, and electricians so we don't hold up the build.

Consistent across plots

Developers get the same install standard, the same controls, and the same documentation on every plot, no surprises in customer care year one.

Single point of accountability

Design, supply, install, commission, and service all under one MCS-accredited contract. No finger-pointing if a system needs attention.

Homeowner-friendly handover

Plain-English walkthrough, labelled manifolds, app-based controls only where the client wants them, and a service number that answers.

Technical Detail

What we specify on a new build, and why.

We've published our standard new-build specification because it gives clients, architects, and consultants something to argue with before contracts are signed. Here is what's typically in the document for a 4–6 bed Cheshire self-build.

Insulation & slab build-up

Minimum 100 mm PIR under slab plus 25 mm perimeter edge strip, with a documented psi-value calculation at the slab edge. We will not install pipework over insulation thinner than the heat-loss model demands.

Pipework specification

16 mm PE-RT/Al/PE-RT oxygen-barrier pipe in 100 m loop maximum, fixed to insulation with rail or staple at 100–200 mm pitch per room. Screed depth minimum 65 mm sand/cement or 45 mm liquid anhydrite, pour-tested.

Manifolds & blending

Stainless steel manifold with individual flow meters, electric actuators, automatic air vents, and isolation. Blending valve and circulator sized to the loop, not the boiler, common error otherwise.

Controls & connectivity

Wired or wireless thermostats per zone, wiring centre, OpenTherm/0–10 V interface to heat source, weather compensation, optional app integration via Hive, Tado, Heatmiser Neo or Loxone. We avoid proprietary closed systems.

Heat source pairing

Sized at design flow temperature (typically 38–42 °C), not at boiler rating. We specify the ASHP or boiler to match the emitter system, not the other way around, the only way the maths works out.

Developer differences

On plots we standardise the manifold model, controller, and labelling so customer-care visits are predictable. On self-builds we tailor more aggressively to the client's brief. Both get the same install standard and documentation.

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 on a self-build?+

Ideally at RIBA 3–4, once the floor plan is settled but before the slab is detailed. Earlier is fine; later than insulation spec means we are reacting to decisions instead of informing them.

Do you work with my architect and M&E consultant?+

Yes. We are used to issuing pipe-layout drawings, manifold positions, and control schedules into a co-ordinated drawing pack. We attend design team meetings on request.

Can you handle the heat pump as well?+

Yes, we are MCS-accredited for ASHP. Doing both with us means a single design, a single contract, a single commissioning event, and the full £7,500 BUS grant if it applies.

What is a typical new-build cost?+

4-bed self-build: £8,500–£18,000 for UFH alone (depending on plot complexity and controls). Add £11,000–£14,000 net of grant for ASHP. Fixed-price quote after design freeze.

Do you work with small developers?+

Yes, we currently work with several Cheshire developers on plot counts of 4–30. We can provide standardised specification, programme integration, and customer-care support.

Can you sign off Part L for me?+

We provide all the commissioning, balancing, and pressure-test documentation required for Part L. Sign-off is issued by your approved inspector or local authority from our paperwork.

What controls do you recommend?+

Heatmiser Neo for most projects, Loxone for higher-end builds where home automation is on the brief. Both are open, well-supported, and serviceable. We avoid closed proprietary controllers.

How do you handle defects period?+

12-month defects visit standard, plus our 2-year workmanship cover. Manufacturer pipework warranty registered to the property, not to the original buyer, so it travels with subsequent owners.

Do you work in Wilmslow, Prestbury, and Knutsford?+

Yes, those are our core new-build postcodes alongside Alderley Edge, Macclesfield, and the wider Cheshire and South Manchester corridor.

Your Next Step

Bring us in at design stage.

Send us your floor plans and structural details. We'll model the heat loss, propose a system, and quote a single fixed price, usually within five working days.

MCS Accredited · NAPIT Registered · RECC Member · Gas Safe

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