We installed tile in our entryway, bath and laundry, but did not put in heating. Regret it ever since. I think that since tile isn't easily replaced it is worth the extra expense and an added feature for resale. I was under the impression that it only takes a few minutes to warm up, but that would probably depend on the brand.

Go for both! Underfloor heating works well when wall space is at a premium due to window openings; properly designed with thermostatic control it should keep the room warm. If you are able to install a multi fuel stove then do so - they can be a great feature in a room and will warm the room (and possibly much of the house!) on those super chilly days - the thermostat on the underfloor heating will ensure this compensates for stove's heat. The only issue we come across with stoves is positioning the flues - particularly if they are in single storey extensions. Of course it is possible to incorporate an aesthetic chimney into the design but there are planning permissions and building regulations to consider - height of flue in relation the windows, roofs etc. If a stove is not possible because of flue issues, consider a gas fire with a balanced flue through and external wall - again these can create a great feature as well as help warm a room

Regardless of what finish you choose, the thing with wet UFH is that it relies on heat building up in and being stored in the floor slab. You don’t really ever turn it off in the winter, you just set the room thermostats for different temperatures at different times of the day. In the summer you just set the thermostat to frost setting so it never kicks in. We have tiles and I like having a cool floor in the summer heat, as do my dogs. In autumn and spring other finishes may feel more cosy as sometimes the tiled floor doesn’t feel obviously warm when the air is up to temp, tho it’s not properly cold either.

Hi, thanks for the replies. Yes, we've looked at air source and ground source, but there are multiple complications because of our location and the fact we're retrofitting an old house. We're looking at potentially putting an MVHR system in the loft to ventilate/heat the bedrooms and bathrooms, but it's not possible to run ducting throughout the whole house, so downstairs has to be approached separately. The finish on the ground floor will be a micro-cement skim. Steve, I will contact you via your website, thank you.