Thanks to modern materials Wooden floors, which have been popular for a long time, are being successfully replaced by laminated flooring. They have appearance wood, but much cheaper. However, no matter how high quality they are, they will not heat without a heating system. Laying heated floors is one of the options for creating comfortable temperature in room. Moreover, this heating method is much more efficient than radiator heating. A person feels more comfortable when the floor temperature is slightly higher than the air temperature at head level. All that remains is to choose the best place to put it under the laminate.

Which system is better to put under the laminate?

There are three types of heated floors:

• water;
• electrical cable;
• electric infrared.

They all have common advantages:

• uniform heat distribution;
• system efficiency;
• aesthetics, because heating elements hidden from view and do not spoil the interior of the rooms;
• There is no dust circulation as with radiator heating.

Let's take a closer look at each of them.

Water heated floor

This heated floor device consists of several layers. The first one is waterproofing coating, placed on the base. At this stage, the damper tape is laid around the perimeter of the room.

The second layer is thermal insulation. A heating pipe of small cross-section is laid out on it. After which comes the supporting layer, which is most often used as concrete screed, less often - materials based on gypsum fiber. Flooring is laid on top of these layers. Heating occurs due to warm water circulating through the pipes. Depending on the type of ceiling, the thickness of the water heated floors is 5-15 cm.

Due to the thickness of the water-heated floor, the ceiling height is reduced

Advantages:

• safety;
• reliability;
• independence from power supply (subject to natural circulation coolant).

Flaws:

• complexity of installation;
• the need to fill pipes with concrete screed;
• reduces the height of the room;
• difficulty of repair (in case of coolant leak).

You may find this article useful about which pipes to choose for installing a heated water floor:.

Electrical cable

The main element of an electric heated floor is the cable. Heating of the room occurs due to the fact that it converts electrical energy into heat. For electric heated floors, two-core and single-core cables are used. The first option has two cores: supply and heating. For residential premises, it is better to use a two-core cable, as it has less electromagnetic radiation. In addition, it is easier to install. However, due to the possibility of cable contact failure, there is a possibility of overheating.

For uniform laying of the heating cable, use mounting tape

To avoid this situation, a self-regulating cable is used for heated floors. If overheating occurs in any area, then the cable resistance increases in this place, which prevents the temperature from rising. The installation of such a system begins with surface preparation. Before laying the cable, clean the floor surface, level it if necessary and cover it with heat-insulating material. A thin screed (0.2-0.3 cm) is made on top using a reinforcing mesh and allowed to dry for at least two days. Then attach the mounting tape.

The use of electric mats makes it easier to install heated floors based on heating cables

Having decided on the location of the thermostat, lay the heating cable taking into account the manufacturer’s recommendations. After fixing the sensor and thermostat, the system is tested. After making sure that it works, fill the screed (3-10 cm). It will be possible to lay laminate flooring on a heated floor in 30 days, when the screed has acquired the necessary strength. Also, laying heated floors can be done using heating mats. Their installation is a little easier, since the cable is secured with a mesh.

Advantages:

• reliability;
• durability, service life more than 20 years;
• ease of installation and maintenance;
• possibility of control optimal temperature in room.

Flaws:

• weak electromagnetic radiation;
• high cost of energy.

Infrared film

The latest development in the field of underfloor heating - infrared film. It is laid on heat-reflecting material and covered with polyethylene on top. After which you can immediately lay the topcoat.

Advantages:

• reliability and durability;
• ease of installation;
• no need to fill the screed;
• After installing the heated floors, you can immediately begin laying the laminate;
• due to the small thickness of the film and the absence of screed, the reduction in ceiling height is insignificant;
• more economical use electricity compared to a heating cable;

Flaws:

• high price;
• impossibility of use in wet areas;
• To avoid damaging the film during installation, a flat base is required.

What is the best choice?

When choosing a heated floor, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the laminate. It contains formaldehydes, which are released into the atmosphere when the laminate is heated to more than 26°C. They can cause irreparable harm to health. Therefore, when choosing a laminate for installation on a warm floor, pay attention to the accompanying documentation. It should indicate whether it is allowed to install a heated floor, and which one, under this floor covering. In addition, heating the laminate above 27°C leads to its destruction. Analyzing all this data, it can be noted that infrared heated floors are the most good decision under laminate

Stages of installation of infrared heated floors

Necessary equipment

Before purchasing the required equipment, you should calculate the amount of reflective material and thermal film. The reflective substrate is taken over the entire area of ​​the room. The amount of infrared film is calculated taking into account the fact that it cannot be placed under furniture. Therefore, only free space. What materials and tools you may need:

• heated floor kit;
• thermostat;
• temperature sensor;
• thermal reflective substrate;
• protective film;
• tools: scissors, screwdriver, pliers, knife, tape.

Preparing the base for laying the film

Please note that installation of heated floors under laminate is carried out only on flat surface. The base must be clean and dry before installing the heated floor. Thermal reflective material with a dense layer is laid on the entire floor surface.

Materials based on aluminum foil cannot be used as a heat reflector for infrared floors.

It is secured together with tape. After laying the substrate, determine the location of the thermostat. If a built-in device is used, a groove is made for it and the supply wires.

Heat-reflecting material is laid over the entire area of ​​the room

Installation of thermal strips and connection to the network

To lay a film heated floor, you need to cut it into strips. With a film width of 0.5 m, the length of the strip should not exceed 13 m, with 0.8 m - 10 m and with 1 m - 7 m.

To minimize the number of cuts and connection points, it is better to lay thermal strips along the length of the room

Thermal strips should be laid at a distance of at least 1 cm from each other and 5 cm from the walls. In this case, the copper strip should be on the bottom.

To reduce the length of the connected wires, place the strips with the contacts facing the wall on which the thermostat will be placed. Thermal films cannot be placed on top of each other!

All unused tire cuts must be covered with bitumen insulation. The strips are connected in parallel. Therefore, by placing the wires on one side, they can be hidden under the baseboard.

To prevent the film from slipping during installation, it must be attached with tape to the substrate

To attach the contact clamp, one end is inserted into the cavity between the silver strip and the film, and the second is secured over the copper strip and clamped with pliers. This is done with all contacts.

One end of the contact clip is inserted into the space between the film and the silver strip, the other - on top of the copper strip

To prevent the film from slipping during installation, it must be attached to the substrate using construction tape.

The exposed wires are inserted into the contact clamps and secured using pliers. Connection points are isolated.

The wires are inserted into the contact clamps and securely fixed using pliers

The temperature sensor is fixed to the black strip of the heating film from below, using bitumen insulation.

The temperature sensor is placed on the black stripe at the bottom of the film and secured with bitumen insulation

To ensure that the surface for laying the laminate is as smooth as possible, cutouts are made in the heat-reflecting substrate under the wires, sensor and contact clamps. To prevent the wires from moving, they are secured with tape.

For wires and contact clamps, cutouts are made in the heat-reflecting substrate. This will help make the surface for laying the laminate as smooth as possible.

Then install the thermostat and connect the wires to it. Having installed the system, it is checked. Then the protective material and finishing floor covering are laid on top.

Systems with a power of more than 2 kW should be connected through a separate circuit breaker!

Having considered three options for heated floors, you can choose the most suitable one. Just keep in mind that the surface of the laminate should not heat above 25°C. But even this is enough to make the room cozy and warm.

Proper installation under laminate assumes that it will be done taking into account all the nuances. Heating equipment uses infrared waves to operate. Emitters that emit infrared waves are sealed inside a thin multilayer panel. They move upward, where they are delayed by massive objects. In this case . It accumulates heat in itself, gradually releasing it to the air.

The radiation is generated by carbon emitters assembled in several strips. In more powerful systems, the canvas is continuous. In any case, along its edge there are conductive bimetal busbars, which are responsible for transmitting electricity to the heater. Equipment power varies from 120 to 230 W. The sizes and thickness of the panels vary.

The latter figure does not exceed 2 mm, which allows you to easily install the material under any coating. The width of the standard film can be 100, 80, 60 and 50 cm. For ease of use, the film is divided into segments between which it can be cut. Average length such a fragment is 20 cm. Thus, if necessary, you can install a heating floor of any shape, even a very complex one.

Film flooring for laminate: what to consider when choosing a coating

Standard lamellas cannot be mounted on heaters. There are several reasons for this:

• The panels have low thermal conductivity, which will prevent heating of the room.
• Under influence high temperature The geometry of the plates may change, as a result the surface may warp.
• When heated, artificial turf can release toxic substances.

These are all good enough reasons not to use it. However, there are special models of material designed for installation on a heater. Special markings have been developed for them, which must be applied to the packaging. Another important point: Mandatory presence of locks on the slats. They should be laid only using floating floor technology, that is, without connection to the base. In this case, you cannot stick it.

Rules for placing heating fabric

This type can be either primary or additional. In the first case, it is necessary to put the film on 70% of the area, in the second, everything depends on the quantity and power of the main heat sources. However, in any option, important recommendations should be taken into account.

• It is prohibited to place heat-insulating objects on the floor covering above the film. Such as large furniture without legs, dense ones, etc. The system in such areas overheats and may fail.
• Heavy objects, such as bulkheads and furniture, should not stand above the infrared sheet. The lamellas under them may bend, which will lead to excessive pressure on the heater. In such conditions it quickly breaks down.
• If it is expected combined heating, we must not allow laminated coating heated from two heat sources simultaneously.
• It must be taken into account that the heating zone of the film material extends beyond its physical boundaries. For this reason, it is not recommended to lay it close to walls, large furniture, etc. The indentation should be about 3-10 cm. This depends on the power of the equipment.

It is optimal to lay the heating sheet at a distance of 0.5-0.6 m from each wall. This will allow you to painlessly rearrange the furniture in the future, if necessary.

Infrared film heated floor under laminate: proper installation technology

Heating system is a kind of layer cake, which is important to lay out correctly. Let's look at how to do this step by step.

Step 1. Setting up the base

It should be dry, smooth and hard. Laminate flooring can only be laid on a leveled base. Therefore, if the height differences exceed 2 mm per linear meter, you will have to carry out additional work. To level it, it is optimal to fill it with a leveling mixture and wait completely dry. Wooden surface The easiest way to level it is with plywood.

Step 2. Place thermal insulation

For the normal functioning of the system, it is necessary to equip a heat-reflecting layer. Standard aluminum foil is not suitable in such cases. This is because the heater is electric, therefore the substrate should not conduct current. Otherwise, accidents may occur. Polyethylene foam or cork with a reflective layer applied to it is chosen as an insulator.

Before laying the material, thoroughly clean the base from debris and dust. Use is required. We spread strips of insulator on a clean surface. We cover the entire area of ​​the room, even if the IR film is not installed everywhere. We lay the panels end-to-end one to the other with a slight overlap on the walls. To prevent the insulator from moving, we fix it with tape or fasten it directly to the base with a stapler.

Step 3: Lay out the film

We roll out the strips, orienting them along the most long sides rooms. This way it will be possible to minimize the number of contact connections. If necessary, we cut the fabric, but only in special areas that are marked. During the installation process, we ensure that the integrity of the elements is not compromised. The canvas should be laid so that there are no overlaps.

Copper current-carrying busbars should be laid down with the shiny side down. This is necessary for further connection of contacts. The panels must be fixed with tape.

After all the heaters are laid out, we determine which busbars will be connected to the cable. We immediately carefully isolate all areas not involved in switching. To do this, we cover them with bitumen tape, which should be included in the equipment kit.

Step 4: Install the temperature sensor

For correct operation of the system, the element is placed in the coldest point of the room. Moreover, it should be in the middle of the width of the strip, so that the distance from its edges is the same. Do not place the sensor close to the wall. There must be a minimum of 500 mm between them. Another important point. If the standard cable of the device is not enough to lay it in the chosen location, you should choose another one. Extending the wire is prohibited.

We cut a groove in the substrate for the sensor body and a channel for mounting its cable. We put the element in place so that it is located on the carbon heater. We fix the device with bitumen tape, stretch the cable from it to. We lay out the film and attach it to the substrate.

Step 5. Install the terminals

In areas where radiating equipment will be connected to the circuit, you need to install special clamps. Most often they have the form of a clip. In this case, we insert the upper petal of the element into the contact cut of the film, and place the lower one under it. Then we take pliers and squeeze the terminal tightly but carefully, ensuring reliable contact with the copper busbar. Sometimes there are other types of connections; the rules for assembling them should be found in the instructions for the equipment.

Step 6. Connect the cable

We stretch the wire, placing it near the connection areas. Typically, the cables are routed to one side of the system: this makes it more convenient to connect them to the heaters. Although it is also possible to output the neutral and phase wires to opposite sides of the room. In this case, you need to be especially careful when making connections so as not to select one conductive bus for switching both contacts.

We strip the ends of the laid cables of insulation to about 1 cm and insert them into the contact terminal. We crimp the resulting connection with pliers. We reliably insulate it using bitumen tape. Glue the strips on top and bottom of the contact, carefully crimp. The result should be a waterproof capsule that protects the connection from possible ingress of water.

Step 7. Connect the thermostat

The technology for laying a heated floor assumes that all cables must converge at one point. Where they fit into the thermostat. It can serve several sections of the system at once; in this case, it is extremely important to choose the fittings for connection wisely. These must only be certified terminal assemblies; homemade twists are unacceptable.

The thermostat control unit is equipped with special connectors to which wires are connected. To prevent errors, pictograms have been developed to indicate areas of grounding, load and supply voltage switching. After connecting, we place each cable in a special channel and fix the thermostat in place.

Step 8: Test run the system

We check the integrity and correctness of all connections made and start up the heating floor. If done correctly it should work fine. If any problems are identified, all defects should be corrected and the equipment restarted. For clarity, we offer a video of the installation of a heated film floor under a laminate.

Step 9. Lay the covering

Heaters do not withstand exposure to water, so it is necessary to put insulation on the canvas. It will be enough plastic film 200 microns, which will protect against moisture and will not block infrared radiation. We cut the material into strips required length and lay it on top of the heating structure with a slight overlap. Be sure to glue them with tape.

Now you can start installing the covering. How to lay the selected laminate model, you need to look at the packaging. The manufacturer must provide recommendations for obtaining best result. When working, some care should be taken so as not to accidentally damage the film heater.

Laminate as a material for flooring became incredibly popular. This is primarily due to its unique technical characteristics, variety of collections, ease of installation and maintenance. The only drawback is that it is not recommended to lay laminate flooring without preliminary preparation and insulation of the floor, as it will always be cold. The best option and the way out of this situation will be infrared film, which you can easily install yourself. In order to do everything right, it is enough to know just a few subtleties.

Benefits of infrared floor

Considering the thermal conductivity indicators of the laminate, we can conclude that without a third-party heater it will not be warm. Everything is due to the fact that the material of manufacture is synthetic components, and not wood. Therefore on preliminary stage you need to think about heating. Of course, there are water circuits, heating mats and cables, but they have a number of disadvantages.

Infrared film material does not have all of the above disadvantages. Its thickness is no more than 1 millimeter, so it is not required preliminary preparation surfaces and screed. Heating of the laminate occurs due to special radiation that is emitted by the surface of the material. The main advantages of infrared heated floors:

Thus, the choice is completely obvious. Of course, it is worth highlighting one single disadvantage - the rather high cost of materials, but the costs pay off as quickly as possible.

IR material device

The main element of the system is film heaters. The design of the presented elements is quite simple. Emitters are soldered between two polyester films. Soldered parts emit infrared radiation when applied to them electric current. Connection to the common fabric and connection of the emitters occurs through a bus conductor. Thus, even if one element fails, it will not affect the efficiency of the entire system.

Infrared film flooring is supplied in rolls ranging from 0.5 to 1 meter wide, it all depends on the manufacturer. The film itself can be cut, as there are specially marked places. When using materials, it is important to find out the power density of the infrared floor, as this creates certain loads on the home network. Today on the market you can find options with indicators of 150, 220, 440 W/m². The IR floor kit includes several components.

1. Thermostatic sensor with cables. Used to control temperature.
2. Set of connecting wires.
3. Clip terminals.
4. Insulating components.

Based on the presented materials, infrared heated floors are laid under the laminate flooring of the house. It is worth noting that it is important at the initial stage to develop the project of the future heated floor and calculate the performance indicators.

Currently, it is customary to trust the installation of the presented flooring to qualified specialists. You can, based on the recommendations in this article, cope with all the tasks yourself. The range of upcoming works includes:

• drawing up an installation diagram;
• preparation of the base;
• installation of film infrared elements;
• electrical connection and test run.

Initially, choose the location of the thermostat, since wires will be connected to it. Cable system must fit into a pre-made groove in the wall. Further you should begin the following tasks:

1. Draw a graphic diagram of the location of film elements around the room.
2. Open the films and carry out only according to the manufacturer’s intended measurements.
3. It is better to spread the material along the room, which will reduce costs.
4. The distance from the walls should be 30 centimeters.
5. You cannot lay the film overlapping; there should be a distance of 5 centimeters between parallel sheets.

The temperature sensor is installed in the coolest place in the room, but you need to take into account the fact that the cables that come with it should be enough. The presented conditions must be implemented in a graphical diagram. Once everything is prepared, you can begin installation.

Preparation and installation of infrared floors

The main task at the first stage is preparing the foundation. You will currently need to purchase thermal insulation material. This is done to increase the efficiency of the heated floor itself and eliminate heating concrete surface. This way the infrared radiation will be directed completely upward towards the laminate. It is recommended to clean the concrete floor from debris, dust and other contaminants.

Foil heat-reflecting material is laid completely over the entire surface of the floor. The joints must be taped to prevent extraneous movement.

Next, you should begin laying the infrared film sheet. After connecting all elements, it is recommended to check the functionality of the system. Don't forget about safety! If everything works without any failures, the temperature is sufficient, then you should start laying the laminate. This way you can enjoy heated floors in your apartment.

The basis of the materials from which laminate is made is wood, and it is known to be capricious. Any product made of wood or based on it requires proper care. This coating is sensitive to sudden changes in temperature and humidity. When the laminate is heated intensely, it dries out. The reverse process is observed with constant exposure to moisture; the laminate becomes oversaturated with it and swells. Considering all this, it is important to take the selection and installation of laminate flooring seriously. In this article we will discuss with you how to make a heated floor under a laminate with your own hands. Types of underfloor heating and guidance on laying film flooring under laminate will also be discussed.

Types of heated floors for laminate

Today there are three types of underfloor heating systems that can be integrated under laminate:

1. Electric.
2. Infrared.

They all have their advantages and disadvantages. We will briefly look at each of the systems, after which we will decide which would be better suited under laminate

Note! Before the beginning installation work It is important to consider the placement of furniture and other stationary items. Large objects cannot be placed on the film floor.

So, we looked at the features of choice underfloor heating under laminate Infrared floor is the most the best option. Among other things, we learned how to do all the work correctly so that ultimately our efforts would not fail. If you have experience in performing such work, then share your practical knowledge. Perhaps your tips and recommendations will be useful for DIYers who want to do everything themselves. Leave your comments and feedback at the end of this material.

Video

From the provided video material you can learn more about the features of laying a warm infrared floor under a laminate:

Scheme

Below is a number of diagrams from which you can learn more about the technology of laying heated floors under laminate: