Installation of the most suitable underfloor heating under the PVC-tile
Installing water underfloor heating. Water underfloor heating is much more difficult to install than its electric counterparts. But no other type is better than it is not suitable for the arrangement in private homes, as in the apartments, its installation is very difficult and requires special permits.
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Most often it is laid according to the 3 scheme, which is given above:
- The first thing you install a manifold cabinet with all the constituent elements (circulation pump, valves and others);
- First, the substrate must be completely cleaned of debris, irregularities and differences. Then the coating is vacuumed, washed with water and dried completely for 1-2 days;
- Lay the thermal insulation layer;
- Now the perimeter of all walls are glued damping adhesive tape. It is necessary to contain the screed, not allowing it to damage the walls and “unravel” when it expands to the sides;
- a reinforced mesh is placed on the thermal insulation layer in order to attach the future pipe contour to it with special clamps / fasteners. Do not anchor the pipe too hard or too weakly to the grid. In the first case, the pipes will deteriorate prematurely due to overtightening, and in the second, they may shift after the screed is poured;
- Step back from the walls 5-7 cm and start laying the contour of the pipes according to the previously selected scheme (snake / snail / combined);
- after the installation is completed, the pipes are connected to the manifold and the system is tested for proper operation;
- if successfully started, the pipe contour is poured with mortar and left to dry completely;
- if necessary, the floor is additionally leveled so that it does not have any differences;
- laying the final coating. PVC-tile;
Laying of infrared film under PVC The floor is laid according to variant 4:
- Level the base, remove debris;
- We level the base with a screed layer;
- lay the plywood sheets with 1-2 mm gap to hide the cable in the gaps between the plywood
- Lay moisture- and heat-insulating layers;
- Choose a place for the thermal controller in the wall and make a vertical joint downwards;
- Cut a small hole in the insulation for the temperature sensor;
- Lay a film heating system;
- Connect all wires of the plates to create a single system. We connect the wires to the sheets by soldering, because this method is the most reliable. If you do not know how to do this, ask for the help of a craftsman;
- glue additionally heating blades of the system, in order to avoid shifts during installation of the final flooring. glue is applied on the edges of the joints between the panels. For convenience, the boundaries are marked with a pencil;
- connect the temperature regulator, sensor and foil;
- Start up the system and lay the PVC tile.
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Installing cable flooring. Assemble according to the 3 schemes:
- moisture- and heat-insulating layers are laid on the prepared base. Do not lay the cable on top of the thermal insulation, otherwise overheating might occur. Detailed instructions are included in the floor kits, which describe the subtlety of laying the cable on the thermal insulation, this is individual for each type of cable;
- install the cable according to the manufacturer’s instructions;
- install the temperature controller on the wall and the temperature sensor between the cables;
- connect the system elements;
- Apply tile adhesive to the structure and install the tiles.
Basic examples of installation of underfloor heating systems and subsequent installation of vinyl tile. This article is a recommendation, so the choice of floor heating system and its installation should be consulted with experts.
The right choice of floor heating and compliance with the rules of operation can guarantee trouble-free operation and long life of the floor covering.
All about water underfloor heating. what it is, what it consists of and how it is installed
In what water underfloor heating is inferior and superior to other home heating systems? Are there restrictions in the application, what is important to consider when choosing materials? This article reveals these and other issues. We asked Miralex experts to tell us more about the benefits of water underfloor heating.
Carpet for a water heated floor
Carpet is a material that does not transmit heat well. It is for this reason that many believe that it is better to give it up. The main misconception revolves around the fact that the carpeting seems to prevent the release of heat energy into the house, as a result, most of the heat goes into the screed.
- It does not slip on the floor. In addition, the carpet has a pleasant touch texture, so it is pleasant to walk barefoot or just relax on a warm floor;
- High level of compatibility with different subfloors (concrete, parquet, laminate, etc.); e. д.);
- Has excellent sound insulation (can muffle the sound of the circulating coolant in the water floor system);
- easy to install and clean.
- Carpet collects too much dust, so it is better not to use it for infrared and electric floors, the magnetic field of which increases the concentration of microparticles on the surface of the floor covering;
- Carpet can negatively affect allergic people;
- Creates a breeding ground for insects, so it is better not to install carpeting in wooden houses or areas where there is a forest or plantations.
Benefits of using quartz vinyl flooring and underfloor heating
It is not recommended to use quartz vinyl together with an infrared floor heating: mats can short-circuit, which will lead to overheating of the surface. For PVC tiles, heating over 50°C is critical. If you have chosen a quality film floor. we use PVC laminate with glueless installation.
Features of materials
Tile and porcelain stoneware have basically the same technical characteristics. The only difference is the composition, hardness and porosity. At the same time, both materials are excellent conductors in direct action structures. The floor, covered with solid tiles, is able to qualitatively heat the room even in standalone mode without wall radiators. However, such a coating requires a quality and sensitive thermostat. Good conductivity can cause overheating. Comfortable temperature is considered a floor in the range of 23-28 degrees.
Tiles made of vinyl and PVC have lower thermal conductivity. On the one hand this is good, because a critical temperature increase is avoided. On the other hand. it requires more energy to provide comfortable conditions in the room. Synthetic flooring responds better to impact, cushioning under heavy load.
Recommended floor coverings
Among the most popular and most often used as a finish coating for heated floors are the following materials:
Each of them has its own characteristics, pluses, minuses, scope of application. let’s analyze these features in more detail.
Ceramic tile
In terms of harmlessness, safety and environmental friendliness of the constituent components ceramic tile. the best flooring option for a warm water floor system. Its main advantages:
- Mechanical strength.
- Resistance to moisture.
- Durability.
- Heat resistance.
- Absence in the composition of harmful compounds.
- Easy surface cleaning.
Considering that ceramic quickly and easily transmits heat, it is necessary that the chosen tile has the following range of properties:
- Increased strength. The thinner the material, the faster it will give out heat, but also the higher the risk of its destruction. That is why floor tiles should ideally be of hardness class 5 or 6.
- Minimal moisture absorption. Ceramic tiles are used primarily for floors in bathrooms, kitchens and hallways. Therefore the degree of water absorption should be the lowest. not more than 3-6%.
- Suitable loads mechanical resistance. In areas of infrequent visits. baths, toilets. it is acceptable to lay tiles of class 2, in the kitchen, hallways and other rooms. 3-5 class.
- High resistance to aggressive substances. The index should be as high as possible for the floor in the bathroom, kitchen and other rooms with frequent cleaning and cleaning.
Laminate flooring
If you choose a laminate as the final coating on a warm waterborne floor in a private home, preference should be given to a specially designed for this purpose its variety. The thickness of the panels should reach a value of 8 to 10 mm, and durability class. 32. In this case, its operating conditions stipulate that the level of heating should not exceed 30 ° C.
Quality branded laminate of the type under consideration is characterized by the following set of advantages:
- Maximum heat transfer.
- Increased moisture resistance.
- Great durability.
- Resistance to chemically aggressive substances.
- Inertness to surface contamination. subject to easy cleaning.
PVC tile
PVC-based tiles are also suitable for finishing underfloor heating systems. Its main features:
- Appearance.
- Price availability.
- Suitable for loads. thanks to the combination of strength and elasticity of the material.
- Good heat transfer.
- Minimal thermal inertness.
- Easy installation.
However, you can not lay such a coating on the floor heating in rooms where the use of corrosive substances. For example, acetone or other solvents will quickly dissolve its structure. over, the material does not withstand a lot of heat. Under the influence of high temperatures it begins to collapse and release into the air harmful vapors of formaldehyde.
Linoleum
As the final finish to the warm floor is acceptable to use linoleum. Its main advantages are:
- Resistant to water and damp.
- Easy installation.
- Resistant to aggressive substances.
- Robust and resilient.
- Optimal heat dissipation.
- Ability to clean quickly.
When choosing a linoleum should take into account that not every type can be used in these conditions. It is best to give preference to a high-quality option based on natural fibers. Its thickness should be as minimal as possible, and it must not have a thermal insulating layer on the rear side.
Underfloor heating and PVC tiles
The flooring market offers a variety of options, with the most popular ones including. PVC-tile. In this regard, for buyers is very relevant question about the compatibility of such coatings with underfloor heating systems, whether it is possible to combine such material with temperature loads, how safe and harmless to humans will be such a symbiosis.
One of the main advantages of this model is the minimal heat loss. In addition, it is environmentally friendly, does not create electromagnetic radiation (in contrast to the electric floor).
Most often installed in private homes, cottages, because installation of a heating boiler is required. In apartments. It will require hydraulic compatibility with the pre-installed heating system of the room.
Water models are demanding on the thermal conductivity indicators of the finishing materials. In this context, PVC tiles are the best choice. The disadvantages include the risk of leaks, time-consuming installation.
Infrared film warm floors and PVC-tile
Have appeared on the market not so long ago, but have already managed to win considerable popularity. Are a flexible, slim system, the functioning of which is based on far infrared radiation. The heating element is a hexagonal carbon nanogrid encased in two layers of polymer material and connected by copper, silver-plated conductive tires. Installation is quite simple, on a leveled base is applied adhesive over which sheets of foil floor heating, and then the latter is applied to another layer of adhesive composition, which is already made by laying an adhesive PVC tiles.
The advantages include high efficiency, excellent thermal conductivity, excellent maintainability of the entire complex, as PVC-coating, and underfloor heating. In addition, the infrared spectrum is as close to the solar spectrum, so acts as a kind of “native” to humans in terms of physiology.
An undoubted advantage is that PVC-tile transmits radiation almost without loss, which leads to the effectiveness of the combination of such a heating system with this type of finishing floor coverings. Also worth noting the simple installation, which can be done with their own hands.
The disadvantages should include a significant energy intensity (especially in large areas of rooms), heating of furniture (without legs), dependence on a constant supply of energy. Electric cable underfloor heating and PVC tiles
These systems consist of a special meshes (cable mats) with electric heating cables serpentinally attached to them.
A cheaper variant is also used, which involves only the installation of a cable fastened to the base. The system is heated by converting electrical energy into thermal energy.
You cannot lay PVC tiles directly on top of this construction as installing the latter requires an even footing. So if you choose this type of floor heating, you will need to hide it under the concrete screed.
Advantages of this system include more budgetary installation (compared to the water loop), temperature uniformity along its entire length, and the ability to install it in rooms where the temperature drops to zero degrees (summer cottages, etc.).).
Which type is better to choose
Quartz vinyl tile installation can be done in conjunction with any underfloor heating. But a few conditions must be met:
WE HEATED A VINYL FLOOR // TLF 37
- quartz-vinyl should be laid on a solid base;
- the floor heating must not cause heating of the finishing coat over 40 degrees;
- the floor heating system should not be placed under furniture without legs, as the heated air will have nowhere to escape.
If the tiles are installed on the glue mortar, you should turn on the floor heating not earlier than 24 hours, when the glue finally dries. When using the dry method of tile installation using a locking connection, the underfloor heating system can be turned on the same day.
Water
Quartzvinyl tile is laid on a warm water floor installed in a screed. This method provides an even base under the finish material, and also protects the pipes with the coolant from mechanical influences. The disadvantage of this method is the long drying time of the screed and the difficult repair of the system. Therefore it is necessary to perform the installation correctly using quality materials.
The principle of the water floor is to lay the contours in a “snail” or “snake” pattern. Heated water circulates through the pipes and gives off the heat evenly. To transfer all the heat energy upwards into the room, a foil material is laid on the clean and even concrete base.
Electric
Electric floor heating is often laid in apartments, as it is difficult to obtain permission for water heating. Cables poured in screed are the carriers of heat. A monolithic concrete casting reliably protects the cables from mechanical damage.
installation is performed on a previously cleaned, repaired and even surface. Cables are placed over the insulating foil material, connected to the thermostat and tested to check the system. Only then is the screed poured.
The peculiarity of installation is that the electric floor heating is installed only in the open areas of the room. Do not install cables where there is furniture. The disadvantage is obvious. in such a room, you can not rearrange the furniture without losing the effectiveness of electric heating.
Infrared underfloor heating can be installed quickly. It comes in the form of film. It is laid out on a flat base and connected to the control unit. On top you can lay tiles. In this case, the installation is carried out dry, with the help of a locking joint.
