The design of heated floors has its own characteristics, taking into account which they can not be installed in every room. Experts do not advise to additionally insulate floors from solid boards and natural parquet, but a warm floor under a laminate can become a modern and more profitable solution. The installation of such material requires special skills and is distinguished by its nuances, which should be found out in advance, especially for those who plan to do home repairs on their own.
Is it possible to lay a warm floor under a laminate
Even the most modern heaters are not able to make the laminate more pleasant and warm to the touch. Its surface is not made of wood, it is a dense layer of resin that prevents premature wear and abrasion. Since it stays cool even during hot seasons, it is a good idea to install a warm base underneath to improve the natural properties of this practical material.
Laying underfloor heating under laminate flooring requires special attention, since this material is not compatible with all heating systems. This is a building material with a high content of wood and to some extent has its properties: it absorbs moisture and swells from its excess, shrinks or deforms if the temperature rises. The high percentage of resins in its composition softens the negative properties of the tree, however, it should be chosen especially carefully before laying on a warm substrate.
Surface preparation
Before laying an electric or standard underfloor heating under the laminate, it is worth assessing the degree of wear of the old coating. If it is not capable of performing its functions, it is dismantled; in an acceptable condition, it will be sufficient to thoroughly clean it from dirt and dust. It is also worth taking into account the permissible norms of the height difference, which must correspond to the height of the film, equal to 3 mm, in order not to be mistaken, you can use a level.
The places in the room where the equipment or furniture will stand can not be insulated, but if desired, the coating is made insulated around the entire perimeter. Power always depends on the area of the room that is heated, the more it is, the lower the level of its consumption. When choosing the appropriate type, the calculations are carried out independently or with the help of a specialist who can calculate the optimal level and select the desired thermostat option.
It is necessary to lay the laminate on a flat surface, if there are irregularities, they are eliminated and then dried with a vacuum cleaner. After these measures, you can start installing any type of coating.
Wooden base
Wood and plank flooring is less problematic than concrete screed. Old boards in Soviet-built houses should be removed before laying the heating system if they do not meet operating standards. A wooden base can be installed in a few days, rather than two weeks, which must be allocated when installing concrete. After such a replacement, the new floor will be perfectly flat without the various negative consequences of unnecessary savings.
Concrete base
A concrete screed is considered more reliable than a wooden one, therefore, most heating systems are installed on such a base.Concrete allows you to make a warm floor as strong and reliable as possible; this type of screed is used in new and secondary high-rise buildings, as well as in a number of private buildings. Of the minuses, it is worth noting the additional time during installation - the concrete takes at least two weeks to harden in the desired position.
Warm underlay
A heated floor must be reliably protected from moisture and other influences, therefore, before laying the laminate on the base, it is necessary to put a special film backing using standard technology. The best choice is a waterproofing and thermal insulation layer designed to prevent losses from downward radiation, which helps to significantly reduce energy consumption and increase the efficiency of the entire system.
Any type of insulation can be used, but a foam level material with a thickness of at least 3 mm is best for the laminate. It can be reflective or cork, its effectiveness does not decrease depending on the type, but when installing floors, it is important to take into account the thickness of such material. The most popular option is made from lavsan, it is more reliable than foil coating, which is not suitable for infrared floors.
Heat loss can be reduced by gluing the joints on the substrates with adhesive tape with a special metal spraying. This detail will be useful to anyone who plans to install underfloor heating at home.
Installation technology
At the initial stage, preparatory work is carried out, the room is completely vacated, furniture and other items are taken out of it. The old material is removed, if necessary, or simply leveled, the wooden base is replaced with a concrete screed, or left, if this is allowed by safety standards, the type of building and the specific room.
It is worth deciding in advance which floor to lay in the room, it can be infrared or water. A set of thermal insulation for electro-coating for a laminate is selected on the basis of reflective or foil materials, it is prepared taking into account the size of the room and laid with the right side up, connecting the strips with standard tape tape. The infrared film is laid on the entire surface in whole or in part, retreating from the walls by 10 cm from m. It should not be overlapped.
The connection of the thermostat requires special attention and is carried out according to the instructions:
- Choose a convenient place for connection, which should be located near the wiring.
- The wires are laid parallel to the film and fixed with pliers in the areas where the copper veins of the film are located.
- All joints must undergo an isolation procedure; for reliability, the ends of the copper conductors are filled with silicone sealant.
- The thermostat is connected inside or outside, in the first case a recess is made in the wall, in the second a special plastic box is hung on the wall.
- The thermostat is connected and activated, then you need to wait a few minutes and check the segments in different places for the degree of heating.
- The film is grounded using a foil-type adhesive tape, connecting its ends to a wire; for additional protection against damage, you can use a polyvinyl film.
In the process of work, it is important to observe safety precautions and take into account the operational standards of materials. This will help prevent accidents and minimize their risk.
Varieties of underfloor heating
Not all underfloor heating systems can be successfully combined with laminate flooring. There are three types of coatings that are used with this material: electrical, infrared or film and water-based. All options are suitable for installing the cover both indoors and on a balcony or veranda.It is best to give preference to options from well-known firms and brands that produce materials taking into account the characteristics of the laminate.
Infrared
The infrared floor is based on the effect of infrared radiation and is called film, as it looks like the thinnest film, supplemented by strips of material that conducts current. It is considered the most suitable option because its installation does not require the use of glue and screed. Also, the IR option is quite economical and is ideal for heating coatings with a low level of thermal conductivity. Such a floor is safe for health and does not harm the laminate by maintaining the heating at a certain level.
Electric
This type is considered the most popular, but not well suited specifically for laminate flooring. When laying the floor under the laminate, it is necessary to lay a substrate that has a low heat transfer and further reduces the heating efficiency. In order for it to evenly heat up, you need to wait at least an hour, which requires a lot of electricity.
Water
The cover of the water type is installed on the basis of the cable piping system hidden below, connected to the central heating. It is advisable to install such floors in private houses, since in multi-apartment buildings, laying pipes over other rooms is not allowed due to safety standards. The water version is quite expensive in terms of maintenance and installation; its repair also requires large material costs.
Using a thermostat
A thermostat or thermostat is needed to control the temperature and is responsible for the main tasks in the operation of the heated coating and taking into account the plus and minus values. The device establishes a base temperature level, programs the heating frequency, and also controls the on and off time of the entire system.
The thermostats are fixed at the optimal level, most often at a height of at least 20 cm. This allows the appliance to work more efficiently, which ultimately helps to stabilize the entire laminate floor system.
