In modern construction, floor laminated flooring has gained much popularity. Laminate has the appearance of wood, but is several times cheaper than it. In addition, due to sufficient thermal conductivity, it is ideal for creating a heating system “warm floor”. Outgoing heat from the floor creates comfort in the house even in the coldest weather. What is the warm floor under the laminate on a wooden floor and it fits or not? These questions are asked to anyone who has decided to arrange this system at home.
What is a warm floor under the laminate on a wooden floor or on a concrete base
Today there are 3 types of floor heating. All of them are based on completely different principles:
- Water system.
- Electric cable.
- Infrared electric.
The main feature of this system is that the heat sources are under the floor covering surface. The heat they release warms the coating, which transfers energy to the surrounding air. For each species, any of the following statements applies:
- heat is evenly distributed;
- the system is very efficient;
- lack of heating elements in prominent places;
- dust does not circulate around the room, as is the case with radiator heating.
Any of them can be mounted on a concrete base or on a wooden floor. The warm floor under the laminate of each of these types has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Helpful advice! In order for the water floor to function more efficiently, you need to create not one circuit, but 6 or even 8. This will allow you to more evenly distribute heat. The tubes will be shorter, so heat losses will decrease.
The source of heat with this device is heated water circulating through the tubes, which are located directly under the laminate. Modern industry produces tubular products for these purposes, made from the latest materials with the use of innovative technologies. Due to this, polyethylene and metal-plastic pipes ensure complete safety of the system operation. Any water leaks are excluded.
For laying water heated floor it is necessary to lay a damper tape around the perimeter of the room. Then, on top of the draft foundation, arrange hydro- and thermal insulation, expand the reinforcing mesh. Then the pipes are laid parallel or spiral. In the first case, the drawing looks like a snake, and in the second, it looks like a spiral. The ends of the pipe are closed on the heating circuit, so that the water circulates freely inside.
The next stage is to pour the whole structure with a sand-cement mixture. The resulting screed is leveled for laying laminate. In the process of circulation of the coolant through the pipes, the cement will warm up, evenly transferring heat to the laminate.
This type of underfloor heating has several advantages:
- safe operation;
- reliable operation;
- power supply is not necessary if the circulation of the coolant occurs in a natural way.
He also has disadvantages:
- complex installation;
- decreases ceiling height due to the installation of concrete screed;
- if the pipe is damaged, it will be difficult enough to repair the system.
Such a system is absolutely safe and for installation on a wooden floor. Warm floor under the laminate, arranged in this way will last a long time.
The principle of the system is based on the property of the conductors to heat up when electric current flows through them. The heating element is a special self-regulating electrical cable. He is able to automatically change the resistance in those areas where overheating is fixed. This is necessary to avoid burnout. The cable is single-core and strong.
Before installation, the surface level and make a thin sand-cement screed to 0.3 cm thick. If necessary, under it arrange insulation. Drying will occur in 3 days. Only then can the mounting tape be attached. Then it is necessary to fix the thermostat in a convenient place and put the cable according to the instructions on the package.
Upon completion of laying, again made the screed from 3 to 10 cm. Thick. Full drying, it will reach only a month. Only then can the flooring be laid. For this, a waterproof laminate of class 33 12 mm thick produced in Germany is very well suited.
Main advantages:
- reliability during operation;
- long, more than 20 years service life;
- simple installation and maintenance;
- electronic control of the optimum temperature.
Among the shortcomings, the following should be indicated:
- the presence of weak, but electromagnetic radiation;
- high cost of electricity.
Produced in Germany, waterproof laminate 33 class 12 mm perfectly combined with an electric type of warm floor.
Helpful advice! For the device of a heat-insulated floor at home it is better to buy a strong cable. It is much easier to stack.
The peculiarity of the use of an electric type of heated floor is the choice of the optimal mode, which ensures sufficient heating with optimal use of electricity.
This is the most innovative floor heating system. It is a film that, as a result of exposure to electric current, is capable of emitting an infrared range of electromagnetic waves. This range of the spectrum is invisible to the human eye, but is felt by the skin as warm. Half of the solar energy is infrared. The absence of glowing elements is the main feature of this material.
In the installation of such a system is the most convenient. It is enough to lay a heat-reflecting coating on the flattened base, and already on it an infrared film. The topcoat, which can be produced in Germany waterproof laminate 33 of class 12 mm thick, is laid directly on the film itself. There is no need to arrange a screed, which is a long and laborious process.
Helpful advice! Under the laminate is better to put the substrate is not made of polyethylene foam, as is most often done under normal conditions, and tuplex or isoplat. These materials have waterproof properties.
Advantages of infrared film:
- very reliable and durable system;
- the installation of such a system is the easiest of all types of underfloor heating;
- The absence of incandescent elements reduces power consumption very significantly.
The disadvantages are:
- too high price;
- fear of moisture;
- risk of damage during installation.
Feature of the operation of such a floor is extreme caution. He is afraid of gross mechanical stress. Therefore you should not put heavy furniture on such a surface. This can damage the film and disable it. It is better to use such a system in open spaces.
Each owner chooses the type of heated floor for the device at home. The decision is made depending on preferences and availability of financial opportunities.
