#warmup

[ironinmyspine]

Enjoy this rich and creamy white peppermint hot chocolate, which is great for cold nights or holiday get-togethers.

Ingredients: 4 cups milk. 1 cup white chocolate chips. 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract. Whipped cream. Crushed peppermint candies for garnish.

Instructions: In a saucepan, heat milk over medium heat until warm. Add white chocolate chips and whisk until melted and smooth. Stir in peppermint extract. Pour into mugs and top with whipped cream. Garnish with crushed peppermint candies.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ill Stop When Im Done

[haleskaja]

Wonky cat warmup of the prettiest princess, her majesty of all of Czechia <3

[weirdkit1k]

june 8 ; 2026

[underfloorheatingwarmupaustralia]

Underfloor Heating for Australian Apartments: What You Need to Know Before You Renovate

Apartment bathroom renovations are one of the most common installation scenarios for underfloor heating in Australia — and one of the most misunderstood. If you own an apartment in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, or any other capital city and you are planning a bathroom renovation, here is what actually applies to your situation.

The short answer on body corporate approval

The question most apartment owners ask first: do I need body corporate permission to install underfloor heating?

In most cases, no — provided you are using an undertile heating system (not a hydronic or water-based system, which would require penetrating the slab), the installation is done within your lot, and you are using a licensed electrician for all electrical connections.

The body corporate's jurisdiction typically covers structural elements, common property, and anything that affects the building's shared systems — plumbing stacks, electrical risers, fire services. An undertile heating mat that sits beneath your bathroom tiles and connects to your apartment's electrical supply through the wall is no more a body corporate matter than replacing your hot water system.

That said, strata schemes vary and the specific provisions of your owners corporation rules should be checked before you begin. In virtually all cases, a licensed electrician's sign-off on the installation is all the documentation you need.

The floor build-up question

Apartment renovations have one constraint that freestanding homes do not: floor height. There is usually a maximum total floor build-up allowed above the original concrete slab — particularly at doorways, where a height difference between rooms creates a trip hazard and may not comply with your strata scheme's requirements for maintaining accessibility.

Undertile heating mats add approximately 3mm to the floor build-up — less than a thick tile adhesive bed. For most apartment bathrooms, this is within tolerance and requires no structural accommodation.

If you are changing tile format — for example, moving from small mosaic tiles to large-format 600x600mm or 900x900mm tiles — the tile adhesive depth may change more than the heating mat does. The total build-up calculation should include the heating mat, tile adhesive, and tile thickness compared to what was previously installed.

A Warmup technical team member or the specifying tiler can confirm the total build-up for your specific tile and system choice before work begins.

The weight question

Concrete slabs in Australian apartment buildings are designed to carry significant dead loads — heavy furniture, full bookshelves, people. A tile floor is already a substantial dead load. A tile floor with an undertile heating mat beneath it adds negligible weight — the heating mat itself is extremely lightweight.

This is not a structural concern in a concrete apartment building. If you are in a heritage building with timber floors, the conversation is different — but the buildings that present weight constraints rarely have tiles in the bathroom to begin with.

What thermostat to use

Apartment bathrooms in Australian cities — particularly in the compact bathroom designs common in apartments built in the 2000s and 2010s — benefit greatly from the DUAL thermostat that manages both the floor heating and a heated towel rail from a single wall unit. Wall space in a compact bathroom is often limited, and replacing two controllers with one keeps the wall looking clean.

The thermostat must be mounted outside the wet area zones as defined by AS/NZS 3000. In a small apartment bathroom, this typically means placing it near the door or on the wall opposite the shower — a licensed electrician will confirm the correct location.

Smart WiFi thermostats are particularly useful in apartments where the occupant may be in and out of the city for work, travelling frequently, or managing the property as an investment. Remote control and scheduling via phone means the system can be turned off entirely when the apartment is empty and set to warm the floor for a scheduled arrival.

Renting your apartment

Underfloor heating adds measurable appeal to a rental property. In Hobart, Canberra, and Melbourne's inner suburbs — where rental competition is high and bathroom quality is a genuine differentiation factor — warm bathroom floors command consistent positive feedback from tenants and can support rental premiums in the right markets.

Warmup's smart thermostat remote access allows a landlord or property manager to monitor the system remotely without access to the tenant's phone. The system can be scheduled to sensible defaults at the start of a tenancy with the tenant given full control to adjust through their own downloaded app.

The bottom line for apartment owners

Undertile heating in an apartment bathroom is a routine installation in Australia. It requires a licensed electrician, a thermostat with a floor sensor, and confirmation that your strata rules do not contain unusual restrictions on internal renovations. In the overwhelming majority of Australian apartments, none of these present any obstacle.

The cost — typically $750 to $1,200 all in for a standard apartment bathroom — is modest relative to what a full bathroom renovation costs and significant relative to what it improves. A bathroom that feels genuinely comfortable at 6am in July is a different thing from one that does not, and in Hobart, Canberra, and Melbourne that difference is experienced every single morning for five or six months of the year.

If you are renovating an apartment bathroom and not including underfloor heating, it is worth asking yourself why not — because the reasons most people give do not actually apply.

[o-coyote-cain]

Using Sandman panels of Dream of the Endless to warmup.

[underfloorheatingwarmupaustralia]

Underfloor Heating Solutions Showdown: Warmup Australia vs Cold Buster vs Thermogroup — Which One Actually Wins?

When someone first starts comparing underfloor heating solutions in Australia, the sheer number of brands can feel overwhelming. Warmup Australia, Cold Buster, Thermogroup, Hotwire, Warmtech — they're all out there, all claiming to be the right choice, and the pricing can vary wildly. So what's actually different between them, and does spending more get you anything meaningful?

This comparison digs into three of the most commonly researched brands — Warmup Australia, Cold Buster, and Thermogroup — to help buyers make an informed decision rather than just going with whatever the hardware store stocks.

Setting the Scene: Why Electric Underfloor Heating Is Worth Comparing Carefully

Electric underfloor heating isn't a purchase most people make twice. Once those cables or mats are embedded in the floor and tiles are laid on top, the system is in for the long haul. Getting it wrong — choosing underpowered systems, skipping quality thermostats, or buying from a brand with poor warranty support — is a costly mistake that can take years to surface.

Radiant floor heating works by conducting heat directly through the floor surface into the room. The efficiency and comfort of this process depend on cable quality, the evenness of heat distribution, and how well the thermostat manages temperature cycles. These are exactly the areas where brands differ most noticeably.

Brand-by-Brand Breakdown

Warmup Australia: The Premium Standard

Warmup Australia sits at the top tier of the floor heating Australia market, and the reasons are layered.

Product Range Warmup offers one of the broadest ranges of any underfloor heating brand in the country. Their systems include dual-conductor heating cables, mesh mats for easy installation, foil heaters for floating floors, and dedicated systems for timber. They've engineered products for almost every floor type and installation scenario.

Smart Thermostat Technology This is where Warmup Australia genuinely separates itself from the competition. Their 4iE Smart WiFi Thermostat and 6iE Smart WiFi Thermostat allow homeowners to control their floor heating systems via a smartphone app from anywhere. Heating schedules can be set, energy consumption is tracked, and the system can learn household patterns over time. For anyone interested in reducing running costs, this level of control is not a minor feature — it's fundamental.

Warranty and Support Warmup Australia backs their heating elements with a 25-year warranty on cables and mats. That kind of long-term commitment reflects genuine confidence in the product's durability. Their Australian-based customer support is a real advantage for installers and homeowners who need technical assistance during or after installation.

Underfloor Heating Installation Cost Warmup's systems are priced at a premium, which is worth acknowledging honestly. Per-square-metre costs are higher than Cold Buster, but the total cost of ownership — factoring in energy efficiency, thermostat savings, and warranty coverage — often balances out over time.

Cold Buster: The Accessible Entry Point

Cold Buster fills a genuine need in the Australian market. Not every buyer needs a whole-home electric underfloor heating setup. For someone wanting to warm up a small bathroom or laundry on a tight budget, Cold Buster products provide a functional entry point into radiant floor heating.

What Works Cold Buster systems are widely available in hardware chains across Australia. Installation is relatively straightforward, and the brand is familiar to many licensed electricians, which can simplify the process of finding someone to do the work.

Where It Falls Short The thermostat options available with Cold Buster are basic by comparison to Warmup Australia. There's no smart connectivity, no energy monitoring, and no learning functionality. For a small space used occasionally, that may not matter. For anything larger or used daily, the absence of intelligent temperature control becomes a real limitation.

Cold Buster's warranty terms are also shorter and less comprehensive than Warmup Australia's offering, which is worth factoring into the long-term value calculation.

Verdict on Cold Buster: A sensible choice for small, budget-conscious projects. Not the right fit for anyone heating a significant floor area or wanting long-term peace of mind.

Thermogroup: The Australian-Owned Middle Ground

Thermogroup occupies an interesting position — more capable than Cold Buster, more locally rooted than some international competitors, and genuinely well-regarded in the bathroom renovation space.

Their Thermosoft range is a consistent performer in tile installations, and their product quality has improved notably in recent years. Thermogroup's distribution through tile retailers means buyers can often touch and examine the product before purchasing, which many find reassuring.

Where Thermogroup trails Warmup Australia is primarily in thermostat sophistication and the breadth of their system range. For complex projects involving multiple zones or mixed floor types, Warmup's engineering depth gives it a clear edge.

Verdict on Thermogroup: A solid mid-range option for standard bathroom and kitchen installations. Works well when paired with a quality thermostat — some buyers actually combine Thermogroup heating elements with Warmup thermostats for a smart middle-ground solution.

Underfloor Heating Near Me: Installer Availability

Finding a qualified installer for underfloor heating installation in Australia is easier with brands that maintain active installer networks. Warmup Australia has a well-established network of certified installers across major cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth, which makes the post-purchase experience smoother.

Cold Buster and Thermogroup products are familiar to most licensed electricians, so finding someone to install them is generally not difficult — but the level of system-specific expertise may vary.

The Honest Verdict

For a buyer who wants the best underfloor heating solution Australia has to offer — the right combination of comfort, energy efficiency, smart control, and long-term reliability — Warmup Australia is the benchmark against which other brands are measured. The premium price point is real, but so is the quality differential.

Cold Buster serves its market well and shouldn't be dismissed if the project is small and the budget is tight.

Thermogroup is a quality Australian-owned brand that delivers consistent results for standard installations.

But for anyone making a serious investment in electric underfloor heating — especially across multiple rooms or a whole home — Warmup Australia is the brand that earns its place at the top of the shortlist. Warm floors aren't just a luxury. In the right system, they're genuinely smart home infrastructure.

[hybridcrows-draws]

figure drawing at 11pm on a school night

[autumnflier]

today's warmup… still spent too long on it, especially when I'm just working on thumbnailing my comic after. had fun experimenting, though