Reality Check · August 2026
22mm Chipboard & Structural Board Underfloor Heating Paths
Public board prices and how the calculator maps these routes for joisted and load-bearing floors.
Quick Answer
22 mm routed chipboard and structural boards are used when the floor itself needs to carry load or when you are working between joists. Public board prices typically sit around £20–£50 per board (roughly £15–£35 per m² for materials alone). Full installed figures include pipe, manifold, labour and finishing and sit higher.
The calculator already has dedicated paths for these systems. It starts from the public material prices and then adds the labour, pipe, manifold and practical work of fitting into older floors or between joists. That is why the planning bands sit where they do.
What public prices show
| Board type | Typical public price | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 22 mm routed chipboard (straight) | £20–£35 per board | ~1.44 m² (2400 × 600 mm) |
| 22 mm routed chipboard (with returns / all-in-one) | £25–£50 per board | ~1.44 m² |
| Structural / load-bearing board systems | Higher end of above + | Designed to replace the floor deck on joists |
These are material prices only. A complete system also needs pipe, manifold, actuators, insulation where required, labour and finishing. Online board prices alone are never the installed cost.
When these paths are used
On suspended timber floors the 22 mm board can replace the existing floor deck. The grooves take the pipe, the board carries the load, and the finished floor sits on top. Height rise is kept to a minimum.
Structural board systems are used when the floor itself needs to span between joists or carry load. They cost more than a simple overlay on a solid floor, but they are often the practical route on older timber floors in the South West.
How the calculator maps these paths
The underfloor heating calculator already includes structural and 22 mm board options alongside screed and overlay. It starts from the public material prices and then applies realistic labour, pipe, manifold and finishing allowances.
The planning band is set as a full installed figure, not a board-only headline. That keeps the number useful for early planning on older Devon and Cornwall properties where joisted floors and height limits are common.
South West notes
Many period terraces and cottages have suspended timber floors. Lifting boards, checking joist condition and fitting structural or routed chipboard systems is common work. Access and the condition of the existing structure can push a job toward the higher end of the installed ranges once the survey is done.
See the system paths for your floors
The free underfloor heating Passport already maps screed, overlay, structural and 22 mm paths and applies the realistic planning bands. No obligation. Every submission is personally reviewed.
Start UFH Passport →Frequently asked questions
What is a 22mm chipboard underfloor heating system?
It is a load-bearing board that replaces the existing floor deck on joists. The boards are pre-routed for the heating pipe so the system sits within the floor thickness rather than on top of it.
How much do 22mm structural UFH boards cost?
Public board prices typically sit around £20–£50 per board (roughly £15–£35 per m² for materials alone). Full installed figures include pipe, manifold, labour and finishing and sit higher.
Is this the same as a low-profile overlay?
No. Overlay boards sit on top of an existing solid floor. 22 mm structural or routed chipboard systems are designed to replace or form the load-bearing deck on joists.