Wet and electric systems · Laois
Underfloor Heating in Laois: New-Build and Heat Pump Systems
Find a local installer for new-build wet underfloor heating, heat pump systems or an electric retrofit across Laois. 2026 prices per m², SEAI guidance and plumbers from Portlaoise to Stradbally.
The basics
Wet or Electric: What Underfloor Heating in Laois Involves
Underfloor heating in Laois comes in two forms. Wet systems circulate warm water through pipes laid in the floor screed, running off a boiler or, ideally, a heat pump, and suit whole houses, new builds and extensions. Electric systems use thin heating mats or cable under tile, and suit bathrooms and single-room retrofits. Which one suits your home comes down to how much floor area you are heating and what your heat source is.
The installers listed here cover the whole county, taking in Portlaoise, Portarlington, Abbeyleix, Mountmellick, Mountrath, Rathdowney and Stradbally. Enquire directly about wet, electric or low-profile retrofit systems.
How Long Does Underfloor Heating Take in Laois?
A wet single-storey system takes two to four days plus screed curing. An electric bathroom mat is usually a one-day fit under the tiler.
SEAI Grants for Laois Homeowners in 2026
Up to €6,500 for a heat pump and €1,200 for solar water heating, through SEAI-registered contractors. Underfloor heating is the ideal heat-pump partner.
Local coverage
Underfloor Heating Across Laois: The Areas Covered
Laois is an inland midlands county centred on Portlaoise, which serves as both the county town and a significant regional hub for the midlands. The natural gas network covers Portlaoise and extends to some other towns in the county. Rural Laois, which is largely agricultural, relies on oil and LPG for heating. Portlaoise's growing population and active residential development means consistent demand for gas boiler installation and service work.
Laois has an inland, largely rural character with market towns as service hubs. Portlaoise has significant recent growth due to its position on the M7 Dublin-Cork motorway corridor. Portarlington has expanded as a Midlands commuter town. The rural county has a high proportion of older farmhouses and bungalows with oil-fired systems, many of which qualify for SEAI upgrade support.
Laois sits in the Irish Midlands with no coastal moderating influence. Cold temperatures are common in winter, with some of the most persistent frost periods in Leinster recorded in this area. The Slieve Bloom Mountains in the north-west of the county can receive significant snowfall in winter.
Portlaoise has a solid local plumbing trade serving both the town and much of the county. Portarlington and Mountmellick have local coverage. Rural south Laois around Abbeyleix and Rathdowney is typically served by travelling contractors from Portlaoise or Kilkenny.
Every area above is served by installers in the Laois plumber directory.
The options
Wet, Electric or Retrofit: The Right System for Laois Homes
Portlaoise has natural gas network coverage, as does Portarlington. Rural Laois and smaller towns including Abbeyleix, Mountmellick and Rathdowney rely primarily on oil or LPG.
Wet Underfloor Heating
Warm water pipes in the floor screed, run off a heat pump for lowest running costs. The natural fit for new one-off homes across rural Laois, where high heat demand rewards an efficient low-temperature system. Supply and fit.
Retrofit / Low-Profile UFH
Slim overlay panels add just 15 to 20 mm to the floor, so wet underfloor heating can retrofit into an older Laois farmhouse or bungalow without a full dig-out. Popular when renovating rural homes off the gas grid.
Electric Underfloor Heating
Thin heating mats or loose cable set under tile or stone, controlled by a room thermostat. Quick to fit and the common choice for bathrooms, en-suites and single-room retrofits. Supply and fit.
2026 prices
Underfloor Heating Cost in Laois 2026: Prices From Portlaoise to Stradbally
Typical supply-and-fit Laois ranges. All figures include labour and VAT at 9%.
Wet UFH per m²
€60–€90
Whole floor, pipes in screed, supply and fit
Electric UFH per m²
€50–€75
Mat or cable under tile, supply and fit
Single-room electric
€600–€1,100
Bathroom or en-suite, fitted
Whole-house wet system
€6,000–€12,000
New build or full retrofit, all zones
Manifold and zoning
€400–€900
Per manifold, sets the room-by-room control
Laois is served from the Emo Court wellfield and other groundwater sources. Water hardness varies by area; some parts of the county are on moderately hard limestone aquifer water, making scale inhibition in boilers a worthwhile investment.
SEAI grants
SEAI Grants for Laois Heating Upgrades
Underfloor heating pairs perfectly with a heat pump, and SEAI grants are available for heat pump installation (up to €6,500) and solar water heating (€1,200). The underfloor heating itself is not separately grant-aided, but as part of a heat-pump upgrade it delivers low running costs, and work must be carried out by an SEAI-registered contractor before any grant can be claimed. A fabric-first upgrade makes the biggest difference, and SEAI-registered insulation contractors covering Laois are listed at wallinsulationireland.ie.
See SEAI-registered plumbers →Hiring
How to Find an Underfloor Heating Installer in Laois
Underfloor heating is a specialist fit best handled by an experienced plumber or heating installer in Laois. Here is how to choose and hire correctly.
Browse Local Plumbers in Laois
Every plumber listed in the Laois plumber directory works locally and can be contacted directly. Browse the county, find heating installers near you, and enquire about wet or electric underfloor heating. No fees and no sign-up to get in touch.
Get Three Written Quotes for the Work
Quotes should specify whether the system is wet or electric, the floor build-up, the number of heating zones, the manifold and the controls. A quote without a floor plan and zone layout is incomplete, since the specification affects both comfort and running costs.
Confirm the Heat Source and Controls
Wet underfloor heating runs best at low flow temperatures, so confirm whether it will pair with a heat pump, a boiler or a blend of both. Ask about weather compensation and room thermostats, as good controls are what make underfloor heating cheap to run.
Agree the Screed and Commissioning Steps
For a wet system the installer should pressure-test the pipework before the screed goes down and commission the manifold once the floor has cured. Ask for the commissioning sheet and the manufacturer warranty on completion, and keep them with your home file.
Underfloor Heating in Laois: Common Questions
How much does underfloor heating cost in Laois in 2026?
Wet underfloor heating costs €60 to €90 per square metre supplied and fitted across a whole floor in Laois. Electric underfloor heating is €50 to €75 per square metre, and a single bathroom in electric mat runs €600 to €1,100 fitted. A whole-house wet system is €6,000 to €12,000. Figures include labour and VAT at 9%.
Is wet or electric underfloor heating better in Laois?
Wet underfloor heating is the better choice for a whole house or new build in Laois, running cheaply off a boiler or heat pump across large areas. Electric underfloor heating suits single rooms such as bathrooms and en-suites, where it is quick to fit but costs more to run over a full house.
How long does underfloor heating take to install in Laois?
A wet underfloor heating system for a single storey in Laois takes two to four days to lay and commission, plus screed curing time before you run it fully. An electric mat in one bathroom is usually a one-day fit under the tiler. Whole-house wet systems in a new build run alongside the wider build programme.
Does underfloor heating work with a heat pump in Laois?
Underfloor heating and heat pumps are an ideal pairing. Underfloor heating runs at low flow temperatures, exactly where a heat pump is most efficient, so together they give low running costs. Laois homeowners can claim SEAI grants of up to €6,500 for a heat pump, which makes the combination attractive for new builds and deep retrofits.
Does underfloor heating suit an older home in Laois?
Yes, in most cases. Many older Laois homes take underfloor heating well, either as a wet system in a new extension or as a low-profile overlay that avoids lifting the existing slab. Paired with a heat pump it gives the efficient, even heat that older rural houses in Laois often lack, and electric mats cover single-room upgrades.
How do I find an underfloor heating installer in Laois?
Browse local plumbers and heating installers across Laois on plumbersinireland.ie, then request quotes directly. Ask for three written quotes that set out the system type, floor build-up, zones and controls, and confirm whether the installer has fitted underfloor heating with a heat pump before.
Get Underfloor Heating Quotes in Laois
Underfloor heating in Laois, from wet screed systems to electric bathroom mats and heat-pump pairings, matched to local plumbers near you. Free, no obligation, reply within 24 hours.