This site contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
A heated driveway may sound frivolous, however rising numbers of Brits are catching on to this internationally established driveway thought.
It really works like underfloor heating, with a system of electrical mats (or much less generally, water pipes) delivering warmth to the driveway floor. The aim is to soften snow and ice, making certain the driveway stays satisfactory and grippy for automobiles and pedestrians throughout dangerous climate.
You’ll in all probability have some questions on heated driveways: how are they put in, the place are they mandatory, and might they be justified from an environmental standpoint? To deliver some readability, we interviewed a number one heated driveway installer and a property skilled, whose recommendation will characteristic all through this information.
Robin Edwards
Robin Edwards is a property shopping for skilled at Curetons, a property shopping for company specialising in high-end residential properties. The Curetons group has vital expertise with viewing and shopping for properties with heated driveways.
Why are Brits putting in heated driveways?
By melting snow and ice, a heated driveway system makes your driveway design safer and extra useful. That’s a key profit for households in colder or wetter locations, such because the Scottish Highlands, Pennines or North Wales, and in addition for houses in different elements of the nation the place the driveway is north-facing and surrounded by tall constructions.
Some households will likely be joyful to maintain utilizing established strategies of snow and ice elimination, reminiscent of shovelling and spreading de-icing salts. Nonetheless, a heated driveway is clearly the lower-effort methodology.
“Heated driveways attraction most to consumers who worth comfort and security, notably older householders or these with bigger properties the place ice and snow clearance is bodily demanding,” says Robin Edwards, a property shopping for agent at Curetons.
“These driveways are sometimes seen as a logical extension of different good dwelling options, reminiscent of underfloor heating and remote-controlled gates, they usually’re a sensible addition for properties on sloped plots or rural roads that aren’t routinely gritted,” he provides.
A Heated Driveway Methods set up. Tarmac is laid over the electrical radiant heating system(Picture credit score: Heated Driveway Methods / Bo Nielsen)
Bo Nielsen
Heated Driveway Methods is among the UK’s main suppliers of heated driveway know-how, based mostly in Lincoln and putting in heated driveway methods nationwide. Earlier than founding the corporate in 2018, proprietor Bo Nielsen amassed many years of expertise as a builder, underfloor heating installer and warmth mat distributor.
The pictures featured on this article have been kindly supplied by Bo Nielsen and Heated Driveway Methods. All of them present the corporate’s personal methods.
Kinds of heated driveway methods
Most heated driveways are outfitted with an electrical radiant system. Comprising a community of wiring and mats, these methods ship electrical heating exactly when it’s wanted.
“Nearly the entire methods we match and provide are totally automated, with two floor sensors and an air temperature sensor,” explains Bo Nielsen, proprietor of Heated Driveway Methods.
“When the temperature falls under 3°C and moisture is detected, the sensors set off heating in order that snow and ice melts.”
One other kind of driveway heating based mostly on underground water pipes – often called a hydronic system – is usually utilized in North America, however not within the UK.
“Hydronic may be very costly, and just about each installer right here and in Scandinavia makes use of electrical radiant heating,” says Nielsen. “One exception is that soccer grounds typically use a hydronic system, as a result of these could be run at a decrease temperature to guard the grass.”
Are heated driveways dangerous for the surroundings?
Heating a driveway is a superb fashionable driveway thought however clearly requires using power – normally mains electrical energy. That is certain to generate carbon emissions, though there are methods to maintain utilization comparatively low.
“You’re 50-100 hours annual operating time within the South of England or the Midlands, and a system usually runs at 300W per sq. metre of heated space,” says Nielsen.
“In the event you’re apprehensive concerning the power use, you possibly can scale back it by putting in a system that heats solely 60-70cm tracks to your automotive.”
One other solution to scale back the emissions from powering a heated driveway system can be to make use of a home renewable power supply.
“Usually a heated driveway system is powered by a 240V family electrical energy provide, however it’s additionally attainable to make use of photo voltaic panels with batteries,” Nielsen notes.
In fact, probably the most environmentally pleasant solution to clear a driveway is to shovel it your self – in case you have the time and functionality to take action.
De-icing salts are doubtlessly extra problematic, as some varieties may cause ecological hurt or gradual injury to the driveway floor. In the meantime, hiring a snow plowing service generates various ranges of emissions relying on elements together with the tools used and the way far the supplier travels to achieve your property.
An infrared picture of a Heated Driveway Methods set up. The imaging know-how reveals how heating is supplied in monitor kind, which manages the prices of set up and heating(Picture credit score: Heated Driveway Methods / Bo Nielsen)
The heated driveway set up course of
1. Planning
It’s extraordinarily unlikely that you just’ll set up your personal heated driveway system. So, the set up course of begins with selecting an installer and planning the mission. The heated driveway commerce doesn’t have a commerce physique reminiscent of HETAS or FENSA, so that you’ll want to decide on a supplier based mostly on repute.
The installer will go to your property to survey the location and determine the place the heating system could be put in and linked. They’ll speak you thru choices reminiscent of the realm of the heating system – notably whether or not it should cowl the entire driveway or be laid as tracks simply vast sufficient to clear a path to your automotive.
You will additionally have to determine the contractors and electrician who will collaborate with the heated driveway installer.
2. Subsurface preparation
A group of contractors will now want to arrange the subsurface upon which the heated driveway system will likely be put in. Completely different subsurface supplies are used for various methods. In Nielsen’s case, tarmac is normally the popular possibility. The subsurface should lie on the ultimate peak to accommodate the heating system and floor that can go on high.
It’s attainable that different groundworks will likely be required at this stage, reminiscent of including improved driveway drainage to divert melting snow and ice.
3. System set up
Once more, this a part of the method will fluctuate relying on the kind of heated driveway system. For Nielsen and different installers of electrical radiant methods, it’s typical for the system to be ready off-site, then delivered to the property and rolled out over the subsurface. A management unit is put in indoors. These electrical methods can then be linked to the mains (or an alternate energy supply) by {an electrical} engineer.
Hydronic methods, that are uncommon within the UK, have a principally equal set up course of however require the involvement of plumbing and heating engineers.
Upon completion of set up (and earlier than the driveway floor is laid), preliminary assessments must be executed to make sure the system works completely.
4. Paving over the system
The heated driveway system can now be paved over, finishing the set up.
Numerous floor supplies can be utilized for this goal, together with concrete and paving slabs. Nielsen recommends a 50mm layer of tarmac. It’s all the time greatest to test along with your chosen heated driveway supplier to make sure their system is suitable along with your most well-liked floor materials.
As soon as the floor has been laid by the accountable contractors, your heated driveway must be prepared to make use of after closing assessments and activation through the management unit.
Merchandise to shift snow
Utilizing a snow shovel might really feel like a chore in the event you’ve been day-dreaming about heated driveways. Nonetheless, this mannequin’s adjustable deal with and light-weight aluminium building ought to make the winter rather less bleak.
Ecogrit Eco-Pleasant Snow & Ice Soften
De-icing merchandise have some infamous ecological downsides. Fortunately, some formulation are higher than others. This kind is deemed protected for pets, youngsters and driveway surfaces.
My Diy Waterproof Tarpaulin 5 x 8m Heavy Obligation Tarp Sheet
Despicable climate requires determined measures. If heavy snow is forecast, a method to make sure the driveway could be cleared simply is to cowl a part of it with a big tarp, like this one, then tip off the snow earlier than you allow the property.
Heated driveway prices
In itself, a heated driveway system is priced comparably to different heating methods reminiscent of a warmth pump or home underfloor heating.
“Most of my methods are within the £4-7,000 bracket, though smaller methods price lower than £4,000,” says Nielsen.
“A 12m lengthy driveway with 1m vast tracks and an space of 30m² works out at about £6,000 plus VAT. That’s the price of set up; then you definately want an electrician to wire up the system to the ability supply and a building firm to put the floor tarmac.”
The added prices {of electrical} work and particularly surfacing will likely be considerably increased than the price of the heating system itself. As such, one of the best time to put in a driveway heating system is everytime you subsequent have your driveway resurfaced.
Powering a heated driveway could be cheaper than some householders may count on.
“A system that prices £6,000 up entrance could be powered for about £5.40 per hour, which could be inexpensive for a lot of houses, particularly on developments with a shared driveway,” says Nielsen.
One of many monetary upsides to a heated driveway is that the characteristic may make the property extra saleable.
“It’s a element that may create a powerful first impression; the driveway is in spite of everything one of many first issues folks see and it conveys that the house has been constructed or upgraded with considerate, high-spec touches,” says Edwards.
“From a promoting perspective, the advantages are straightforward to elucidate: no have to grit or shovel snow, improved security underfoot and for automobiles, and safety for driveway surfaces that may in any other case be broken by frost or de-icing chemical substances.”
FAQs
How is a heated driveway maintained?
“As with every built-in dwelling system, the primary concern round heated driveway methods is long-term upkeep,” says Edwards.
“Heated driveways, particularly hydronic methods (these utilizing heated water pipes), require skilled set up. If there’s a fault beneath the floor, rectifying it may be tough and dear.
“From a growth or renovation standpoint, the presence of a heated driveway may complicate future groundwork, and for that cause it’s vital to maintain detailed plans and ensure the set up is future-proofed with entry factors.”
Nielsen recommends (and installs) electrical radiant heating methods relatively than hydronic methods, partly based mostly on the decrease dangers concerned of their operation.
“You don’t need to be digging up the completed driveway to repair a leaking pipe,” he says.
All heated driveway system upkeep is a job for the professionals, so do not make a driveway mistake by trying something with out steering. When you’ve got issues concerning the functioning of your heated driveway or its management unit, communicate to the installer.
Putting in a heated driveway system is undoubtedly a certain solution to make a driveway safer and simpler to make use of throughout winter, however it’s not the one possibility for households with a beneficiant funds. You may also contemplate a rotating driveway, which can make manoeuvring simpler and maybe safer in all climate. Or, if grandeur is the objective, a driveway soakaway is likely to be the fitting driveway characteristic for you.
