Warm floors under the laminate floor with their own hands

The warm floor is increasingly used today as the main room heating. But not always the material of flooring allows to arrange such heating. Among them, not the last place is occupied by laminate. The fact is that this material is very impractical in rooms with high temperature and humidity. After all, depending on changes in the temperature regime and humidity, it can change the geometric parameters. However, there are some exceptions. Let's figure out how to make a warm floor under the laminate.

How to choose a laminate for underfloor heating?

Many people in houses whose floors are covered with laminate, know that no insulation can not make it feel warmer. After all, there is no wood in the surface of this material. In order to resist abrasion, this building material is covered with a layer of strong resin. Because of this, the surface remains cool even in the hottest weather. If you put a warm floor under the laminate, then the room will become much warmer. But once it is worth saying that not every kind of laminate and not every system of the warm floor is suitable for such a purpose.

The laminate itself contains wood in its composition. Therefore, it has some properties of this material. In particular, it absorbs moisture and for this reason swells. In addition, it can in some cases deform and shrink. For example, with a sudden increase in temperature.

Of course, these properties are not as strong as in pure wood, but when choosing a laminate, you still need to pay attention to some important indicators. In particular, on the packaging of the goods, as a rule, there is a special badge, which indicates the compatibility of the coating with the warm floor. It is important that the thickness of the material is at least 9 mm. If the laminate is thinner, it can become deformed due to temperature changes.

Before choosing a laminate, you need to understand what it consists of. It is made by pressing components( for example, wood dust).These components are fastened together by means of various hard resins in which there is formaldehyde gas. And he, in turn, under certain conditions becomes harmful to our health. This gas is released when the laminate is heated above +25 degrees. Therefore, this material is usually used in those rooms, the temperature in which remains within 0. .. + 25 degrees.

When choosing a particular type of laminate, it is worthwhile to learn more about the characteristics of the material, which are usually indicated on the package. The coating must have a thermal conductivity. For a warm floor, the appropriate value of the coefficient is 0.05 - 10( measured in m2 x K / W).It is recommended to ask the sellers a certificate for the laminate they sell. It should specify the conditions in which this material can be used. In addition, there should be clearly spelled out its characteristics.

This is, perhaps, all the basic requirements for a laminate. Next, consider how to choose the right floor system.

Selection of a suitable underfloor heating system

Today, three versions of floor heating systems are used:

• electric,
• water,
• film( infrared).

Immediately it is worth mentioning that not all of them are suitable for laminate. In order to find out, we'll take a closer look at each of these options.

Electrical underfloor heating. Most often for the heating of premises use this option, but it is poorly suited for laminate and, in general, for most floor coverings. This is due to the fact that it has low thermal conductivity. The cable serving as the basis for heating is poured with a screed, onto which the flooring material is then laid. First, the cable is heated with a cable, then it must transfer heat to the installed floor covering. When carrying out work on laying a laminate under it is usually laid on a substrate that has a low heat output. Consequently, it further reduces the already weak burnt. Therefore, for the laminate to heat up to an acceptable temperature, it is necessary to wait long enough. During this time, a large amount of electricity will be consumed. By the way, it is the electric system of the warm floor that is most effectively used to transfer the heat to the covering from the tiles and porcelain stoneware. This is due to the fact that these materials, in contrast to the laminate, have a high thermal conductivity.

Now we'll figure out what the water floor is like. So, this is a system of pipes of small cross-section, which is directly connected to the central heating. This construction of the warm floor is usually laid under the laminate, but not in apartment buildings. This can only be done in private buildings. To the disadvantages is still to include the costs of installation and maintenance of the water-heated floor under the laminate. If a malfunction occurs, then its repair to the owners of the premises results in a fairly large amount. Even with a small leak will have to change the entire system of pipes and, most likely, the laminate itself, which because of such a malfunction may come into disrepair. In addition, because of the connection of the underfloor heating system to the central heating, strong temperature changes are possible, which is harmful for the laminate.

As for the infrared film floor, this is a system whose operation is based on the effect of infrared radiation. The base material of such a coating is a thin film, permeated with special strips that conduct current. This system of floor heating is considered the most suitable for laying under such material as a laminate. This is facilitated by some important features. In particular, it is possible to install this type of coating, even if the ties and glue are not available. It shows itself well when heating coatings that have low thermal conductivity. In such variants of a warm floor it is possible to regulate intensity of heating. Due to this, it is possible to choose the most comfortable temperature regime for both the occupants of the room and the floor covering( so that it does not deteriorate or deform).

From the above, it can be understood that the most suitable insulation for flooring with laminate is the infrared film system. By the way, today even there is a laminate, in which a film for heating is already built. But while such material has a very high price.

How to lay a warm floor under a laminate

The system of a film warm floor for a laminate is easy to install. In this case, very useful knowledge of electrical. Due to the fact that the film is very thin, such a floor, unlike other heating systems, does not reduce the height of the room. Laminate is laid directly on it. As a substrate for installation, you can take a special material with a soft base. It must necessarily have a coating of metallized film.

Phased work order:

• When installing an infrared warm floor under a laminate, you do not need to remove the old cover. But sometimes it's still worth doing. For example, when it can no longer perform its functions. In that case, if the coating is still in good condition, then it will be enough to clean it from debris and dirt to prepare it.
• The surface may not be perfectly flat, as required by the installation conditions. Therefore, it is worth checking the presence of swings and depressions with the help of a building level. For the infrared floor, bends equal to the thickness of the film are permissible. If the differences are greater, then they should be leveled. After that, the floor should be dried. Now you can start installing the very system of the warm floor.
• There is no need to insulate the floor area, which will be furniture and equipment. But if it is planned in the future to change the layout of the room, it is better to insulate the entire surface of the coating. It must be remembered that the power of the system of the warm floor depends directly on the area of ​​the room. The more it is, the less power is consumed.
• How to put a warm floor under the laminate? The first stage should be done laying waterproofing, which is needed to protect the heating from moisture. Next, a layer of thermal insulation is installed, which prevents heat loss from radiation directed downward. This layer of material allows you to reduce power consumption and increase the efficiency of the system.

• To make thermal insulation it is allowed to use almost any materials intended for these purposes. Which one you have not chosen, it will need to be carefully spread out and set with a metal coated side up. Joints are recommended to pasted with adhesive tape. It is believed that for laminate as a thermal insulation is best to use a foam material, the thickness of which is about 4 mm. It does not matter whether it will have reflective properties. The most important thing here is just the thickness of this layer.
• As a rule, the reflective coating is made from lavsan. With an infra-red warm floor under the laminate it is not recommended to use a heat-insulating material made of foil. In order to reduce heat loss, the joints of the substrate must be sealed with special adhesive tape with metal spraying.
• For a warm floor, you need a temperature adjustment. This is usually done with a thermostat. The thermostat allows you to do the following - set the basic temperature level, set the heating period program, and also it is intended for automation of heating on and off.
• Before installing the infrared heat-insulated floor, you need to select the place where you place the thermostat. It is best to place it at a height of 200 mm from the floor level. From the correct placement depends on how the sheets of thermo film will be fastened and the wires laid. After this, it is necessary to make a scheme for installing a warm floor under the laminate.
• Installation of the thermal film should be done directly on the thermal insulation, and according to the previously planned scheme. There is no need to insulate the entire floor of the room. Therefore, the film warm floor under the laminate is usually mounted only on sections of the room that will be useful.
• When there is a main heat source and additional heating is needed, the polyester film is laid on half the floor area of ​​the whole floor. At the same time its power should be from 90 to 150 W / m2.In this case, the warm floor in the finished form should be comfortable enough for the occupants of the room. If the floor is created as the main heating, then the film is laid on 75-85% of its area. In this case, its power should already be equal to 150 W / m2.
• There are some important rules for installing a thermal film. In particular, the wall should be indented at least 200 mm. In addition, do not place it near furniture. If there are strong heating devices in the room( for example, a fireplace), then there must be a distance of at least 1.1 m. To properly place the thermal film, it can be cut using scissors according to the pre-marked marks. It should not be forgotten that the strip along the length should not exceed 7.5 m.
• When installing the film, care must be taken that there are no overlaps of its individual parts on each other. The thermal film can have one or two working sides. In the first case( in the presence of a one-sided film), the system is stacked with the reinforced side down. The double-sided film can be mounted either side. To make the wires smaller, it is recommended to install it in the place where you place the temperature regulator. The material should be laid so that the contacts with copper sides look downwards, after which the clips are attached to the edge of the copper cable, and the remaining wires are connected to them.

• Open areas of copper should be covered with insulation. For these purposes, bitumen insulation, which is sold as a film, is suitable. Cut off from it a piece should be somewhat larger in size than the working surface.
• With the help of insulation, copper sections are glued on both sides. To place the insulated area, by means of indentation, holes are made in the film. After that they are sealed with scotch tape. At the point of fixing the wire, insulation is not needed yet. Preliminarily prepare metal clamps. For their fastening, pliers are used.

As you can see, you can install warm floors under the laminate with your own hands.

Edging of skirting board

When the installation of the laminate will come to an end, a plinth is mounted on it. Only after this work can be considered complete. In order to install a plastic plinth, tools will need a hacksaw for metal and a drill, and from fasteners - screws and dowels. To the skirting boards are also purchased corners from the plastic of the desired shade. In the doorway skirting boards are closed with plugs. Reiki are trimmed to fit the dimensions. In the walls should be made holes for the dowel.

If a wooden skirting board is planned in the plans, the carpentry chair is useful, which is a device that helps to cut the wooden parts( in our case the skirting board) at an angle of 45 degrees. After installation in the stool, the material is cut using a hacksaw. As a result, two adjacent skirting boards are connected by a beautiful and proper joint.

General tips for laying

1. It is recommended to prepare a scheme, or more precisely, a plan, according to which laying will be done, before the work is started. When drafting it is better to consult with professionals who will be able to indicate important points.
2. In small spaces with low ceilings it is advisable to use thin layers of warm floor. The choice of such materials is quite wide.
3. It is necessary to choose the type of warm floor under the laminate, taking into account the qualitative characteristics of the material.
4. To heat only upwards, it is recommended to install an additional layer of thermal insulation under the construction of a warm floor.
5. If the floor is located on the boundary with a wet cellar or close to the soil, then during installation of the heating system it is best to install additional waterproofing.
6. When laying a warm floor under a laminate, the temperature sensor is best placed in the middle of the structure. Due to this, less wiring is required during the installation process. In addition, this sensor must be located in the coolest place. Also it should be wrapped in a corrugated sleeve.
7. Installation of the underfloor heating system must be done strictly in accordance with the instructions.
8. If there are different rooms in the building, you can not use the same system of warm floors in the building. So, for example, you should not lay one floor for a room and a loggia. If you insulate these premises, then for each of them there must be a separate system.
9. If there is high humidity in the room, it is not recommended to install a thermal film.
10. You can not use screws and nails to attach the thermal film itself.
11. If it is planned to install massive furniture on such a floor, it is necessary to make air pockets in advance.
12. Do not make holes in the thermal film.
13. In addition, such a floor should not be installed at a low temperature.
14. During installation, the length of the 50 cm film can not be bent at right angles.
15. Make sure that the grounding of the wires is present.

Underfloor heating under laminate:

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