Electric Inslab Heating for New Builds and Extensions
Warmup inslab heating ties electric heating cable directly to the reinforcing mesh before your concrete pour, embedding gentle radiant warmth right into the slab. It’s the most cost-effective stage to add underfloor heating to a new home, extension, or polished-concrete living area anywhere in New Zealand.
Nationwide
Distributor Network
10 Years Warranty
For both elements and installation
Free Technical Support
Before and after install
Radiant Inslab Heating for New Zealand Homes
Inslab heating ties an electric heating cable to the reinforcing mesh of your concrete floor before the slab is poured, embedding the element within the structural concrete itself. It’s designed for new homes and extensions where the floor construction allows for a concrete pour, and it’s suited to almost any floor finish laid over the top — including wood, carpet, and vinyl, particularly where that finish may be replaced down the track.
Cable spacing typically ranges from 150mm to 300mm, with around 180mm being the norm, and cable is set to a typical design wattage of 150 watts per square metre depending on room size, floor finish, and desired heat output. Once the reinforcing mesh is down, the electric element is tied to it and the concrete is poured directly over the top, leaving the heater buried within approximately 20–60mm of concrete cover. Every element is factory tested at 5,000 volts before it reaches site.
Because the cable sits within the thermal mass of the slab, inslab heating behaves differently to heating installed closer to the floor surface: it takes longer to warm up and longer to cool down. That slower response makes it particularly well suited to living areas, open-plan spaces, and any room that’s in near-constant use throughout the day, where a steady background warmth is more valuable than a quick blast of heat. Rooms can be zoned individually, each with its own thermostat, so you only heat the spaces you’re using.
All Warmup inslab systems are approved and certified to New Zealand and international safety standards, and every installation should be protected by an RCD (Residual Current Device). Warmup’s heating elements carry a 10-year warranty, and the online running-cost calculator on warmup.co.nz can give you a running-cost estimate specific to your project before you commit.
Why New Zealanders Choose Warmup Inslab Heating
Warmup has been heating homes across New Zealand since 1994, backed by a nationwide network of local distributors and installers.
- Heating cable factory tested at 5,000 volts before it leaves the factory
- 10-year warranty on all inslab heating elements
- Individual room zoning and control via Warmup thermostats
- Compatible with wood, carpet, vinyl, tile, and polished concrete finishes
- Approved and certified to New Zealand and international safety standards
- Backed by a nationwide network of local Warmup distributors for quoting, project design, and installation
- Free online running-cost calculator to estimate your project’s running costs before you commit
Get a Free Inslab Heating Quote
Warmup’s network of local distributors can help you plan your inslab heating layout, provide a running-cost estimate, and arrange installation timed to your concrete pour. Contact us for a project quote or call 0800 WARMUP (0800 927 687).
Warmup Inslab Heating Cable
Warmup’s inslab heating cable is tied to the reinforcing mesh of your concrete slab prior to the pour, providing embedded radiant warmth beneath your chosen floor finish. Key features include:
- The heating cable is factory tested at 5,000 volts for safety and long-term reliability.
- Cable spacing is calculated for your project, typically between 150mm and 300mm (around 180mm on average), based on a typical design wattage of 150W/m².
- Suitable for installation under wood, carpet, vinyl, tile, and polished or coloured concrete finishes.
- Individual room zoning is possible, with a separate thermostat for each space you want to control independently.
- Backed by a 10-year element warranty.
Affiliations, Partners & Accredited Installers
Inslab Heating FAQs
A: The heating cable is tied to the reinforcing mesh of your concrete floor after the mesh has been laid and before the concrete is poured. The concrete is then poured directly over the cable, which ends up embedded within approximately 20–60mm of concrete cover.
A: Inslab heating is suitable for almost any floor finish, including wood, carpet, vinyl, tile, and polished or coloured concrete. It’s particularly well suited to situations where the floor covering (such as wood, carpet, or vinyl) might be replaced at some point in the future, since the heating element itself stays untouched within the slab.
A: Because the cable is embedded within the thermal mass of the concrete slab, inslab heating has a slower heat-up and cool-down time than heating installed closer to the floor surface. This makes it best suited to background, all-day warmth in rooms that are in constant use, rather than rooms where you want fast, on-demand heat.
A: Yes. Inslab heating can be installed in selected rooms, each with its own thermostat, so you can control the temperature in each zone independently and only heat the spaces you’re using.
A: Warmup’s inslab heating elements come with a 10-year warranty. This differs from Warmup’s undertile heating range, which can qualify for a lifetime warranty on both elements and installation when fitted by an accredited Warmup installer.
A: Inslab heating cable is tied to the reinforcing mesh and embedded within the structural concrete slab before it’s poured, making it a fit for new builds and extensions at the foundation stage. Undertile heating, by contrast, is installed later in the build — directly beneath the tile layer — and is better suited to renovations or projects where a full slab pour isn’t part of the plan.
