If you’re building or renovating a two-storey or multi-storey home, you might be wondering:
✔ Can floor heating be installed on upper floors?
✔ Does it work differently than ground-floor heating?
✔ Is it worth the investment, or are there better options?
The good news? Yes, hydronic floor heating can absolutely be installed in multi-level homes—but it requires a different approach than ground-floor installations.
In this guide, we’ll explain how it works, the key considerations, and what you need to know to get the best heating solution for your home.
How Floor Heating Works in Multi-Storey Homes
In a single-storey home, the floor heating pipes are embedded in the concrete slab, where they warm the slab and radiate heat upwards.
In multi-storey homes, the upper floors usually have timber or lightweight construction—which means we can’t simply embed pipes into a thick concrete slab. Instead, we use one of these two methods:
1. In-Screed Heating for Suspended Concrete Floors
If your upper floor is concrete (not timber), you can install in-screed floor heating, just like on the ground floor.
✔ Heating pipes are embedded in a thin 30–50mm layer of screed.
✔ Works well with tiles, polished concrete, or engineered timber.
✔ Provides excellent heat retention—stays warm for hours.
🚨 Considerations:
- Screed adds weight, so your home’s structural design must allow for it.
- Slight floor height increase (usually 30–50mm).
2. Low-Profile Heating Systems for Timber or Lightweight Floors
If your upper floor is timber-framed, standard in-screed heating won’t work because it’s too heavy. Instead, we use low-profile hydronic panels, which:
✔ Are lightweight, so they won’t overload the structure.
✔ Use pre-formed insulation panels with heating pipes embedded inside.
✔ Work well with timber, vinyl, laminate, and thin tiles.
🚨 Considerations:
- Heats up faster than slab heating, but cools down quicker.
- Requires good insulation to avoid heat loss through the floor structure.
What Are the Running Costs for Upper-Floor Heating?
💰 Running costs depend on:
✔ Whether you use a heat pump or gas boiler.
✔ The level of insulation under the floor.
✔ Whether heating is zoned for different areas.
For a 200m² home with two levels, running costs typically look like this:
| Floor Heating Type | Daily Running Cost | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydronic Floor Heating (Heat Pump, Properly Zoned) | $1 – $2 | $30 – $60 | $400 – $700 |
| Ducted Reverse-Cycle Heating | $5 – $7 | $150 – $210 | $1,800 – $2,500 |
🚀 The result? Heating an entire two-storey home with floor heating can cost as little as $50 per month, making it much cheaper than ducted systems.
What Are the Biggest Design Considerations for Upper-Floor Heating?
When installing floor heating on multiple levels, there are a few extra things to plan for.
1. Proper Insulation – Preventing Heat Loss Between Floors
Unlike ground floors, upper floors don’t have a solid slab to hold heat—so insulation is critical to stop warmth from escaping.
✅ Best insulation for upper-floor heating:
✔ Thermal break insulation to stop heat escaping downward.
✔ Acoustic insulation to reduce noise between floors.
✔ Edge insulation around perimeter areas to keep heat inside rooms.
🚀 The result? More efficient heating, lower energy use, and better soundproofing.
2. Smart Zoning – Heating Different Levels Separately
One mistake people make is heating all floors together, even when they don’t need to.
✅ With zoning, you can:
✔ Heat the living areas downstairs during the day.
✔ Warm up bedrooms upstairs only in the evening.
✔ Reduce heating in guest rooms or unused spaces to save energy.
🚀 The result? You only heat the rooms you need, cutting energy costs by up to 30%.
3. Choosing the Right Flooring – Maximizing Heat Transfer
Floor heating works best when heat can rise efficiently into the room.
✅ Best flooring choices for upper-level heating:
✔ Tiles & polished concrete – Excellent heat transfer.
✔ Engineered timber – Works well, but must be under 15mm thick.
✔ Vinyl & laminate – Good option, but check heat compatibility.
🚨 Worst choices:
❌ Thick solid hardwood – Can block heat from transferring.
❌ Thick carpets with foam underlay – Insulates against heat, reducing efficiency.
Is Upper-Floor Heating Worth It?
Many homeowners assume only the ground floor needs heating, but upper floors can get just as cold in winter—especially if they’re not well insulated.
The benefits of heating upper floors:
✔ No more freezing bedrooms in winter.
✔ Lower energy bills compared to ducted heating.
✔ Perfect comfort throughout the entire home.
🚀 The bottom line? If you’re heating the ground floor, adding upper-floor heating will give you whole-home warmth and long-term energy savings.
Final Thoughts – Should You Install Floor Heating in Your Multi-Storey Home?
If you’re building or renovating a two-storey home, installing floor heating on both levels is one of the best investments you can make for comfort and efficiency.
💡 When is upper-floor heating a good idea?
✔ If your bedrooms feel cold in winter and need extra warmth.
✔ If you want lower running costs than ducted heating.
✔ If you prefer silent, dust-free, and even warmth throughout your home.
At Euroheat Australia, we design and install custom floor heating systems for multi-storey homes—so you get perfect warmth in every room, without high energy bills.
📞 Want to know if floor heating is right for your home? Contact us today for expert advice and a custom heating design.
