What kind of laminate for underfloor heating to choose?
Laminate panels are considered one of the most popular types of flooring in residential and public buildings. This material has a huge number of colors and shades, has good technical characteristics, strength, durability and wear resistance. Many property owners like such products, and they try to pick up laminate under a warm floor. Next we will get acquainted with the basic requirements and nuances of the choice of material.
Laminate under the film infrared flooring
Infrared floor heating technology has several advantages. For example, the heating is not the greatest power, but excellent heat output. That is why the film floor heating under the laminate is very well suited.
To determine which laminate is suitable for a warm floor, you need to make a choice according to the following criteria:
- resistance to wear and tear of class 33 or 34;
- The thickness of the panels should be no less than 0.85 centimeters;
- just like in the case of the previous type of underfloor heating, it should be marked that the installation can be made over an infrared underfloor heating (about “How to install infrared underfloor heating under a laminate floor. installation instructions”).
This type of floor heating can also be called the most aesthetic. Its functional parts do not stick out from under the flooring, similar to pipes of a heating circuit or wiring of an electrical system. You can’t tell from the photo or from the visual inspection that the floors are heated from underneath. “How to make underfloor heating for laminate flooring. a step-by-step guide”.
Installation procedure
The installation of laminated panels is carried out on a ready screed or a flooring system.
- If the design of the building allows you to mount a water heating system in a concrete screed, then usually choose this option.
- In houses with wooden floors the boards have to be installed on a set structure, since the weight of the concrete screed can not withstand them.
Concrete screed before starting the installation work is treated with primer to seal the top layer and dedusting. Waterproofing measures in this case are not required, the substrate is laid directly on the concrete. Carpet pad without a foil layer is laid on the walls with 50 mm overlap. The joints are glued with a nonmetallized adhesive tape.
The laminated panels are mounted on the carpet pad with a 10 mm gap between them and the wall. It is recommended to start the work from the left far corner of the room. To reline the joints the boards in the rows are laid with an offset. So if in the first row firstly the whole panel is mounted, then in the second row. shortened by 30-40 cm.
Characteristics of laminate flooring on a warm floor
Each manufacturer strives to fully meet all market requirements. That is why today’s popular laminate brands have models that can be used with a warm floor. Properly selected material will allow the coating to last a long time and please the household, warmth and comfort. First of all, it should be noted that this type of laminate has special requirements:
- resistance to high temperatures;
- Low formaldehyde emissions;
- high thermal conductivity index;
- the thickness of the laminate does not exceed 9 mm;
- Connecting lamellae to each other by means of locks.
The first requirement is the temperature to which the product can be heated without damaging it. Manufacturers usually indicate in the manual or on the package the maximum temperature to which the material can be heated (27 to 30 degrees). As a rule, the most durable and wear-resistant laminate is able to withstand even critical temperatures.
During the heating of the compressed carrier layer may release formaldehyde, harmful to humans. Therefore it is worth choosing a material with an E1 or E0 emission class.
By the way, according to GOST 32304-2013 in Russia allowed the production and sale of laminate flooring, corresponding to the emission class E1.
The thermal conductivity of laminate flooring describes the ability of the material to transmit heat. If the coating has a low thermal conductivity, it is better to use it over a room where there is no heating. Thus, the material will serve as an additional insulating layer. If it is placed on the heated floor, it will overheat the system and the heating of the room will take a very long time. In the end, the floor heating will simply fail.
It is worth mentioning that these days all manufacturers offer their customers products with a nominal thermal resistance index of less than 0.10 m2K/W, which makes its use very efficient. You can choose the most suitable thickness and color scheme.
Also an important aspect of the choice is the thickness of the laminate under the warm flooring. For a quality coating, this figure starts at 7 mm. But do not take the path of “the thicker, the better” as with increasing thickness the thermal conductivity of the coating decreases. 9 mm is the maximum thickness of the material suitable for underfloor heating.
The adhesive method of installing laminate flooring on top of a warm floor is highly undesirable. When heating and cooling changes the size of the panels. Glued panels can not move relative to the floor. This can lead to warping of the surface or gaps between panels. It is better to choose a coating designed for the floating principle of installation. This will allow it not to deform during heating and cooling. Therefore, the material with a locking joint will be the best.
Carpet flooring should not be used over laminate flooring on a warm floor. They make it difficult to heat and contribute to overheating the system. As a result, the floor heating can fail.
Choosing a subfloor by type of floor
The substrate for the electric and water heating is the same, but not all is suitable in one case or another.
- lamellas will not lie flat on the floor;
- Walking on the floor will damage the conductive elements and they will break;
- there will be unproductive expenditure of electric power for heating the bearing structures of the floor.
Electric underfloor heating underlayment is easy to distinguish. It is foil.
The material is laid on the floor with the foil facing down. A mirror reflects heat and directs it upwards. Therefore, the substrate material is made so that it freely transmitted heat. Above we have already said that the index of its thermal resistance should not be higher than 0,04-0,06 K / W per 1 m 2.
The substrate must meet the following criteria:
Underfloor Heating Pros and Cons. All You Need To Know About Underfloor Heating Pros And Cons
- conduct heat well;
- do not emit any harmful fumes when heated;
- Will not collapse or deform due to temperature changes;
- Be vapor permeable so that condensation does not accumulate under it.
Currently, there are three underlay materials that meet all of these criteria.
Polyethylene foam
The most common laminate. Comes in a variety of thicknesses. Popular because of the low price. It is well cut, it is convenient when working in rooms with complex shape. Places where mats are connected are easy to connect with scotch tape.
Extruded polystyrene
The best option for electric heating. Suitable for water heating. expensive than polyethylene, but it transmits heat better and is more durable. Thanks to its peoria it has a good vapor permeability.
Cork
The best material for a standard laminate. Suitable for water floors. But it is better not to use for electric heating. Cork is too good an insulator for this. The price is much higher than synthetic materials.
Benefits of laminate flooring for underfloor heating
What is the good of the laminate, laid on the warm water floor?
- low thermal conductivity, allowing for heat transfer up to 50 degrees;
- Reducing the consumption of thermal energy;
- Absence of a magnetic field, negatively affecting human health;
- a long-lasting dry surface, which prevents the appearance of mold and mildew;
- option with this kind of material on the floor heating is a significant environmental solution in the design of room heating;
- instant and uniform heating of the floor;
- increased service life of the material by the heating system.
Installation technology
The main advantage of the infrared membrane floor over other types is its simplicity, and the possibility of independent installation.
And to lay the final coating is not difficult to domestic handyman without experience in this work.
Preparation of the substrate and laying of thermal insulation
Before installing infra-red underfloor heating it is necessary to carry out the following works: to prepare the base and to make waterproofing.
Important! The base must be flat and solid, with a slope of not more than 2 mm per 1 meter.
It is necessary to carefully check the base for cracks and irregularities. If any are found, they should be puttied and allowed to dry. After that, the surface should be well cleaned from debris and dust (sweep or vacuum).
If there are significant differences in the concrete base, it is easier to pour a screed of leveling composition.
The next step is the laying of insulating and thermal insulation material. It is laid all the way down to the walls, even where the heating element will not be located.
Insulator can, serves polyethylene foam or cork, which has a reflective layer. Do not use aluminum foil, it conducts the current. Spread the insulation with the foil side up.
Carpet pad under the film should be 3. 4 mm thick, it is important, because it will make grooves for the cable routing. To prevent the insulation from shifting during the following steps, it should be fixed with a stapler and the strips should be connected with a double metallized adhesive tape.
Next, a recess is cut into the insulating material for the temperature sensor.
Installation of infrared film radiators
The heating foil must be laid out according to the available layout. Installation should be done carefully so as not to disturb the integrity of the heating cloth. It is recommended to cut the film with scissors, in the intended strips.
Install the heating elements away from the wall and furniture at a distance of not less than 20 cm, and from the devices heating 1 meter. This is to prevent the floor from overheating and breaking down.
It is necessary to lay the foil elements with copper bars facing downwards and then fix them with a tape. Allowed length of heating strips no longer than 8 meters.
The film should not be laid on the flap, the distance between the strips is 50 mm. To minimize the cost of wiring, lay the film in the direction of the thermostat, i.e. along the large wall.
Then you need to take action to isolate the areas where the current-carrying busbar has been cut, in places not intended for cable communication. For this purpose, it is necessary to use bitumen tape, it is better to press it tightly on all sides for good sealing.
Connecting the temperature sensor
It is necessary to place the temperature sensor in the center of the cloth, on the black carbon strip. At this point, in the substrate, when it is laid on the base, make a recess for it, as well as cable channels.
Fix the enclosure with asphalt tape. When the sensor is installed and the wires to the thermostat are brought out, the foil is put back and fastened with a masking tape. It is now possible to install the terminals.
Installing the terminals and connecting the cable
At the points where the floor is connected to the power, terminals are installed. To do this, the top of it should be inserted into the special slot, and the second plate should be left on the bottom of the foil outside. Using pliers, carefully but well crimp the clip to ensure a contact connection with the silver part of the copper bus.
There are some models of film floors, which provide another way of connecting the terminals. rivets, this is indicated in the instructions.
The next step is to connect the cable. The conductive wires should be stripped, inserted into the terminal and clamped with pliers. It is required to insulate the terminals, to do this, strips of bitumen adhesive tape must be glued on top and bottom, and carefully connected. Remove any air bubbles to make the unit hermetically sealed.
Take note! Bitumen tape has the properties of heating the first time you plug in the power grid, and take the form of the protected unit, thereby creating a maximum seal.
Connect the thermostat
Flooring. laminate, requires precision in the regulation of the temperature, so it is better to take an electronic device, rather than a mechanical one. The thermostat has a control unit with special connectors for connecting cables. According to the technology of installation of floor heating means that all wires must converge to one point, where the device is located.
To avoid mistakes when connecting the wire, the manual has a pictogram that indicates areas with grounding, load and voltage.
Important! It is not allowed to twist the wires, as this can provoke overheating of the structure.
After connecting the cables, they are laid in specially prepared grooves. The thermostat is attached to the planned location, convenient for use. Now you can start testing the floor for proper functioning.
Take note! Electronic temperature controllers have two devices, one for determining the temperature of the air, and the second. the floor.
There are the following options for the operation of the floor heating:
- Using only the floor sensor readings. For example, the heating is turned on when the temperature is less than 25 degrees, and off is set. when it reaches 29 degrees.
- Using the readings of two devices. It is planned that the heating will be turned on at 23 degrees in the room and turned off when it reaches 26 degrees, or according to the readings of the floor device. 30 degrees.
If the floor sensor breaks, you need to replace it, you will have to dismantle the flooring. To avoid resorting to such time-consuming processes, it is better to stock up on an additional device and attach it to the installation, as a fallback, by taking out the wires to the thermoregulator.
In the case of failure of the main sensor, simply disconnect the broken one from the thermostat and connect the spare.
The first start-up of the system
Before laying the flooring. laminate flooring, you need to make sure that the floor will function properly.
First, check the integrity of the system and then start it up. The test temperature can be small, because the main purpose of the test is to check the infrared floor connections. If there is no overheating of elements and sparks, it is possible to say that the film is of high quality, and the connections are made correctly. If any problems are detected, startup must be repeated after fixing them.
Then the system is disconnected from the power supply and the laminate flooring can be laid.
How to lay the laminate flooring
Before installing the laminate flooring, you should cover the heating elements with an insulating material to prevent water from getting onto them. To do this it is enough to put a plastic film of 200 microns, it will protect from moisture, but will not retain the infrared radiation. As the waterproofing is not very thick, it will not change the surface topography.
Cut the material into strips of the right length, and put it on top of the heating foil, making a slight overlap. It should protrude at the edges by 10. 20 cm. It is imperative to glue the seams with a tape, so when you install the laminate flooring it will not shift.
After the waterproofing has been laid, you can begin to lay the laminate flooring. It is necessary to mount the laminate flooring on the foil carefully, and with soft shoes, to avoid damaging the foil.
Place the laminate panels directly on the polyethylene foil, no additional carpet pad is needed. Each board has a locking mechanism, so you need to connect the panels at an angle, then lower it until it clicks. If a gap has appeared, it is sufficient to tap with a rubber mallet. Boards are connected to each other by the narrow sides, and then the laid strips are fastened. After the full completion of the installation of tiles, along the perimeter of the area is installed skirting, under it all wiring is hidden.
Important! When installing laminate flooring it is necessary to make gaps near the walls, as the laminate will expand from the temperature differences.
Once you have finished laying the laminate flooring, you can turn it on and check how the infrared film flooring works. However, to adapt the laminate to the new conditions, you should not turn on the heating immediately at full power.
You should start with a temperature of about 15 to 20 degrees and then turn it up to 5 degrees a day until the system is at full power.
Carbon rod
Carbon rod THP is a device consisting of self-regulating carbon rods, they are arranged in parallel. It is able to regulate the level of heating in the room, depending on the ambient temperature.
Powered by electricity, it emits infrared waves, they emit heat and heat the room.
Pros and cons
Due to the parallel connection of the rods, the whole structure continues to function when one is out of place. In addition, core heating flooring tolerates moisture well.
This model can be installed under the laminate, both with and without the screed. The main disadvantage of installation in the screed. time-consuming and labor-intensive work.
Installation
Laying the rod electric underfloor heating under the laminate floor is similar to the arrangement of a film system. It is necessary to begin with the installation of the thermostat, and piercing on the wall of his hole (groove) for the wire.
Next, the substrate is prepared. leveled and cleaned. A thermal insulating two-layer base. foam and lavsan film. is laid on it.
The next step is laying the rod mats, they are fixed to the insulation, then the connection of the device is made. That is, you install a temperature sensor, wire it and the mat to the regulator.
Only after the mortar has dried up can you proceed to install the laminate flooring.
Laminate flooring with integrated heating system. What is it? How it works?
alt=”laminate flooring with integrated heating system” width=”300″ height=”96″ /For homeowners who are hesitant to combine a warm floor with a laminate surface, a special floor covering with an integrated heating system has been developed. ALLOC Heating system is the only floor heating system in the world with a built-in underfloor heating system. This technology has only recently become available to domestic consumers.
It is a laminate flooring with built-in heating elements. With the Alloc Heating System you install both the floor and the heating system at the same time.
Unlike other systems, the Alloc Heating System has heating elements that are not under the floor, but are built into it, so they are much closer to the surface. The heating element is placed between the bottom layer of the HDF carrier board and the acoustic insulation. In this case, heat loss is reduced by 25-30%.
The installation of this covering is different, because before you click the locks, you have to connect the terminals, which protrude from the slats.
- Wattage: 60 W/sq.м.
- 30% cheaper than heating cables
- You can combine heated and unheated areas
- Inertia: 10 minutes at a room temperature of 20C
