Underfloor heating is one of the most effective ways to heat your home. Many well-known construction companies are engaged in the production of materials for creating a heating system, including the German brand Knauf. They produce different types of warm floors with their own characteristics and features.
Types and characteristics of underfloor heating Knauf
The company is engaged in the production of two types of floors - dry and mats for hot water heating. The first option is a multi-layer structure consisting of a vapor barrier or waterproofing, side edge bands and expanded clay mixture. It has a simple installation, due to which an even and smooth coating is obtained. Typically dry backfill is used for electric underfloor heating. From above, everything is covered with GVL covering plates, which are developed using Knauf technology.
Underfloor heating for water heating is made of expanded polystyrene mats with protrusions for pipes. Differs in ease of installation, in contrast to the concrete screed. In addition, the classic concrete screed has a number of disadvantages:
- Labor intensity and duration of the process. You need to wait until it dries completely.
- In case of violation of technology, the screed is deformed and cracked.
- The complexity of dismantling.
- Forbidden to use on wood floors.
For this reason, a special bulk Knauf mixture is used for a wet floor, which solves a number of problems:
- Facilitating the installation process and speeding up the process. It is also easy to dismantle.
- Possibility of laying on wood flooring.
- Withstands significant loads.
- Sound absorption.
- Duration of operation. The floor does not deform during use.
- Does not burn, melt and does not emit harmful substances.
Knauf has created a quality replacement for other types of subfloors.
Despite the excellent characteristics of the Knauf coating, the technology has a number of disadvantages:
- Impossibility of using expanded clay mixture in rooms with high humidity.
- Dust formation in the process of the device. The master must use personal respiratory protection.
- Raising the floor by 6-8 cm due to the thick layer of the embankment.
Those who used Knauf underfloor heating note possible surface deformations. But most often this is due to a violation of the laying technology.
Top coat selection
The embankment is covered with special GVL plywood, which is the development of Knauf. The abbreviation stands for gypsum fiber sheet. The material is treated with a special compound that protects the sheets from crumbling and moisture. Available with and without side flanges.
Together with the top cover, the kit contains an accompanying passport, in which you can find out all the characteristics of the material, information about the manufacturer, and sheet sizes. They are also indicated on the back of the package. GVL meets international standards: it is non-flammable, does not emit toxic elements, does not melt, absorbs noise and is completely safe for human health and the environment. This is one of the best types of Knauf screed flooring.
Underfloor heating for water heating
The water heating system imposes a number of conditions on the choice of underfloor heating components.Knauf has developed special super-strong polystyrene foam mats for laying. This is an improved type of foam that is characterized by increased durability and strength. They have special grooves for laying the pipeline, which look like nail heads. Plates perform the function of thermal insulation, because they are made of high density material.
An important advantage during installation is the ability to walk on the flooring during work without further deformation.
Basic properties:
- The protrusions provide for the installation of pipes of the most used diameters. They are placed at a specific pitch.
- Super strength of the material. Knauf therm expanded polystyrene floor can withstand heavy loads.
- Good thermal insulation and noise reduction properties.
- The presence of special locks and latches to simplify the installation process.
- Additional heat and waterproofing due to the reliability of the locks.
- Presence of markings that simplify cutting of slabs.
- Does not emit toxic substances during operation.
- Melting point 180 ° C.
Recesses for pipes in case of deformation do not impair the functionality of the slab and the final result.
Required tool
Before starting work, it is necessary to measure the premises and purchase all materials and tools:
- Polyethylene film with a thickness of 200 microns. It will perform the function of waterproofing.
- Construction vacuum cleaner. It will help to collect the debris that is formed during the installation work.
- Paint brushes.
- Deep penetration primer.
- Scissors for metal.
- Leveling beacons.
- Building plaster.
- Spatulas.
- Self-tapping screws.
- Screwdriver.
You may also need PVA glue.
Installation of expanded polystyrene plates
Knauf therm underfloor heating slabs are laid on top of the concrete screed. Algorithm of work:
- Removing the old coating. All structures must be dismantled to the supporting base. You do not need to align it.
- Surface preparation. It is necessary to remove debris and dust, to putty large holes and cracks.
- First, you need to put a layer of thermal insulation, which will additionally protect the water heating from heat loss.
- Bonding damper tape along the edge of the wall.
- Laying moisture-resistant material or waterproofing on insulation. This is a protective layer that protects the floor from leaks.
- Laying of expanded polystyrene mats. Installation starts from the thresholds. In the case of importing pipes from another room, you need to monitor the coincidence of locks and latches on the threshold of the room. To do this, the sheets are cut along the markings applied on both sides.
- Delivery of heating pipes and laying them out in a pre-planned sequence.
- Screed on top of the mats with a special mixture from Knauf.
The work, including the thermal insulation, takes several hours. The reliability of the floor is guaranteed by the manufacturer - it can withstand 140 kPa in the event of a linear impact on the sheets. Plates are available with different thickness values, so before choosing, you need to calculate which one is needed for a given room.
Advantages of expanded polystyrene mats
Slabs for a water-heated floor must meet all the requirements. The material from Knauf is made with them in mind and has the following advantages:
- Low weight. This is due to the material from which Knauf mats are made for underfloor heating. The entire structure is lightweight even with the presence of the pipeline and the heat carrier in it, concrete screed, dynamic load during use.
- Creates a solid, level and reliable foundation.
- Ease of installation, high speed of work. The work is facilitated by the presence of markings on both sides of the mats, as well as the convenient location of latches and locks.
- Continuous reliable coating that does not require additional gluing of cracks and joints.
- Optimum heat distribution over the entire floor surface.
- Environmental friendliness of the material. During use, harmful substances are not formed from it, the mats are completely safe for health and the environment.
If the rules of installation and operation are observed, the time of use can be up to 100 years. The disadvantages of the system include a high price, but it pays off during operation. No complicated professional equipment is required for installation work, which reduces costs.
