Underfloor heating in a log home

How to make a warm floor in a wooden house: variants of the device and installation

Underfloor heating is a 20th century invention. Our great-grandfathers did not have heating cables and gas boilers. Nevertheless, they came up with their own way of heating. They used the walls of the building for this. When doing the masonry, they left channels in them for the hot stove gases to move.

Today it is not necessary to resort to such tricks. Making warm floors in a wooden house can be done with minimal effort and money.

The choice of heating system is very simple:

Both heating options have earned positive reviews. They are equal in comfort and heat output, but not equal in energy cost. Electricity is much more expensive than gas, so the heating cable for underfloor heating is best used in small rooms: bathrooms, kitchens and hallways. For bedrooms and living rooms, a liquid system of pipes, gas or solid fuel boiler is optimal.

It has been written and said a lot about the fact that the floor heating is better than radiators.

We will only mention its most important advantages:

• Optimal distribution of heat. Comfortable temperature zone coincides with the living space (from the floor surface to a height of 1.7 meters). When the batteries are working, the air under the ceiling is heated the most.
• Radiator heating system activates the movement of dust to a greater extent than underfloor heating.
• Underfloor heating outperforms radiators in terms of aesthetics.

Options for underfloor heating in a wooden house

Underfloor heating is used in modern construction quite often. There are some project solutions for heating, where there is no traditional devices. Underfloor heating may be water, with the flow of the coolant from an autonomous boiler or central heating, as well as electric underfloor heating. Given the cost of materials and work such a heating solution will require a significant outlay.

Mostly only part of the floor is heated. The places where residents are more often. Agree that there is no need to heat the floor under the furniture.

Make a warm floor in a wooden house can be any.

• The easiest and least expensive variant is infrared floor heating. Heating of the floor surface is electric element embedded in the polymer film. Which creates infrared radiation similar in its characteristics to the solar. It warms not only the flooring, but also the surrounding objects. Install it quite simply. A foil insulation is placed on the rough boards, and a film floor heating is rolled out on it. The electric circuit is quite simple. All connections are made in the places marked by the manufacturer. It is cut according to the same marks. Electric underfloor heating regulators and sensors are sold. After the completion of electrical work, a test run and if everything is in order, you can lay the floor covering. Such heating without additional preparation can be mounted under linoleum and laminate.
• Electric floor heating in a wooden house can also be done with a heating cable laid on a plastic sheeting (mat).Sold in stores ready for installation and complete. Suitable for all types of flooring, including tile. After the installation of underfloor heating is complete, the heating sensors and the temperature regulator are installed. The test is carried out on serviceability. Only then are GFB boards laid on top of the mat. Then the laminate or linoleum. For laying ceramic tiles it is recommended to lay two layers of GFB with an offset at the joints.
• Traditional water concrete floor heating is also found in wooden houses. The main disadvantage of this design is its weight. The load on the beams increases considerably. Deflection and cracking of the concrete pie are possible. Nevertheless, the poured floor is still used, despite the fact that the process is very time consuming and dirty.
• The most complex and expensive way to arrangement of the warm floor is a water-heated floor in a wooden house without coupler. Technology execution of works on the device heating with the heating system involves a special pipe from cross-linked polyethylene. The water line is laid on the floor, on which the boards are 20 mm thick. in increments of 25 mm. Between the boards is inserted metal plate bent lengthwise in the form of a Greek letter Omega (Ω). This plate is half the width of a pipe. It is inserted into the gap of 25 mm between the boards. In the shed a pipe is inserted with the coolant, and then the plate is screwed to the boards with self-tapping screws. You get a solid sliding pipe mount and increased heat transfer area. These parts are made of galvanized steel, aluminum or its alloys (Dural). This is what’s called a dry floor heating system. After laying the pipe coil, the foil is placed on top. After GFB, if under a linoleum or laminate, in one layer if under a tile, in two. Board 20 mm began to be used only in order to save money. For such laying we produce special polystyrene sheets, which have factory-made channels for the pipe. These sheets are laid over the entire heating surface, t.everywhere where it is planned to lay a pipe. But the price of these sheets forced to look for a replacement. This method of heating device may well replace traditional heating

There is also a method of installation of a warm floor in a wooden house. Laying of the pipe is made on insulation such as polypropylene, extruded polystyrene foam. For this purpose channels are cut in the heat insulation according to the size of the pipe over the entire heating area. The channel is cut with a special thermal knife.

Then the pipe is laid. Connected to the boiler or heating system elevator. After checking the GFB is laid and the flooring.

Features

Wooden floors, in contrast to the concrete, is much warmer. Wood is a capricious material, and in the construction of the house is not always possible to achieve the desired effect. The ratio of thickness and thermal conductivity is often disproportionate, so the insulation of floors in the house of wood is simply necessary.

The possibility of insulating the floor is not only in new homes, but also in the long-established.

Floor insulation helps to maintain an ideal microclimate in the room and serves as a guarantee against such undesirable problems:

• dampness;
• The emergence and reproduction of mold;
• The emergence of microorganisms and fungi, detrimental to the health of those living in the house;
• High consumption of thermal energy for heating the house;
• Damage and destruction of the building.

Work on insulation of the floor can be carried out independently. This will significantly reduce the budget. In construction stores there is a wide range of materials, work with which is possible even without certain skills.

Thermal insulation of structures involves different types of work:

• Thermal insulation of floors over the basement floor;
• insulation of interfloor ceilings;
• Insulation of the ceiling between the living space and the attic.

In each case, materials are used not only to maintain optimum temperature conditions, but also for noise insulation. Well insulated first floor is a guarantee that the house will be comfortable for living.

How to choose?

In a log house, the correct choice of floor type is determined by the number of floors, climatic characteristics of the area of residence, the purpose of the rooms. The first floor requires special attention to all types of insulation, primarily moisture and thermal. If possible arrange their heating.

The second floor of a wooden house is protected from moisture and cold and will require less spending on the arrangement of the floor. Here there may be a greater choice of flooring. from linoleum to parquet of expensive species.

For the dacha on the first floor is better suited to the finishing floor, made of boards of the same species, of which the walls are built. Boards should be lined so that from the entrance to the opposite window they lie parallel. It is better to put a bath or shower cabin on the first floor, and if there is a need to use the second floor, it is best to use ceramic tiles for the bathroom, preventing water leaks.

Features: pros and cons

It is no secret that warm air always comes from the bottom up, which is why the second floor of the country house is always warmer than the first. At the stage of construction of a private cottage the owner himself chooses the method of heating the room. If desired, it can easily replace the radiators with a warm floor. And even the apartment residents can install this design as a secondary or main source of heat.

The effectiveness of underfloor heating is achieved due to a number of advantages that it has:

• does not occupy the free space of the room;
• The radiators do not heat the rooms evenly, which is not the case with the underfloor heating. It will not bring problems to people with allergies and asthma;
• does not dry out the air, providing the room with the necessary level of humidity;
• Heat transmits the path of radiation, not convection, which has a positive effect on the body of the occupants;
• In comparison with the batteries, the floor heats the room much faster;
• Heating components are carefully hidden and do not spoil the appearance of the room.

Depending on the type of system, there are different disadvantages:

• with the installation of underfloor heating significantly increase the cost of electricity, but in the absence of the owners of the house, the floor temperature can be reduced, and in this situation, you can on the contrary, save money;
• Electric networks in old houses are not designed for high loads;
• with the use of a system with heating increases the level of electromagnetic radiation. There is an opinion that it has a negative effect on the human body, but this fact has not yet been proven;
• if the power is cut off. the underfloor heating stops working, and if it is the only source of heat in the house, there is a huge risk of freezing
• The disadvantage of the water floor is time-consuming installation;
• the high cost of installing a water heating system makes many people think about its necessity.

If you are planning to install underfloor heating, you must carefully consider the choice of flooring. For example, under the influence of high temperatures, the coating made of wood can deteriorate, tile or laminate is better suited. That’s why it is necessary to consult with experts when choosing the material.

Underfloor heating for wooden houses in 3 options

Describe all the options in one article is not realistic, so I will give you 3 step by step instructions, and you decide which of them is more suitable specifically for your situation.

Variant Water-flooring in the screed

At first glance it may seem that such a heavy thing as a concrete screed for wooden houses is contraindicated. However, about half of all wooden houses are built on a reinforced concrete slab foundation and you can easily install a classic underfloor heating in these houses.

Underfloor heating in a suspended wood floor | Insulation | Screed

Poured concrete foundation is a good basis for underfloor heating.

If you are dealing with a concrete slab, you must first lay a layer of waterproofing over it. In the budget variant it is technical polyethylene, but ideally it is desirable to put a membrane “Tekhnonikol” or at least ruberoid.

Membrane “Tekhnonikol” is currently considered one of the best waterproofing coatings.

Concrete is a cold thing, and in order not to heat it in vain, on top of waterproofing is laid a continuous layer of extruded polystyrene foam. In this regard, the brand “Penoplex” and “Tekhnopleks” proved themselves well. Do not worry about the strength, this insulation can be placed even under the airfield slabs.

While the pipes are not installed, I recommend immediately fix the perimeter of the room damper tape. When heated, the concrete will slightly expand and this tape compensates for such fluctuations. Such tapes are made of polyethylene foam and it is not a problem to buy them.

Damper tape compensates thermal fluctuations of the concrete slab.

Next it is time to lay out the heating circuit of metal plastic pipes. To attach such pipes to the insulation can be several ways.

Another great option is to use a metal grid. Pipes are fixed to it with plastic clamps.

This option is also good by the fact that your concrete screed will be reliably reinforced.

According to absolutely all masters, the best is the mounting carpet with bosses. The pipe is placed between the plastic ledges and firmly fixed there.

By the way, there are sheets of insulation, on which such a mounting carpet is already stuck.

When the floor heating circuits are installed, you need to connect them to the system and start the boiler. After a couple of days if there are no leaks, you can pour the concrete screed.

The screed itself can be poured in two ways. The first way is cheaper, here you need to install on top of the warm floor metal screeds, after which the cement-sand mortar (1:3) is applied and leveled on the screeds with a plastering rule.

Screed on the beams is longer, but it is much cheaper.

The second method is faster and of higher quality, but at least 2 times more expensive. It uses a special self-leveling mixture for pouring the screed. You just need to dilute it according to the instructions on the packaging and pour it on the floor, then it aligns itself.

Self-leveling mixture is considered the fastest and highest quality way of arrangement of the screed.

But that’s not all, you can also pour a warm floor in the screed on the second floor of a wooden house. True, this option is possible only in the presence of very strong floor beams. Plus, the screed itself must be reinforced with a steel mesh, otherwise over time it will crack. Scheme of such arrangement with all sizes is given below.

Scheme of arrangement of floor heating in the screed on the beams of the floor in wooden houses.

Option Dry-laying water-heated floor

• If you are not confident in the strength of the floor joists, then there is a dry, lightweight option. Here, too, extruded polystyrene foam is laid between the beams of the floor;
• A layer of waterproofing is placed on it;
• Subsequently, a square grid of 100 cm thick boards is made to be installed perpendicular to the joists×20 mm or 150×20 mm. The crate is nailed with a pitch of 20 mm;
• To increase the heat output of the floor we will use special inserts, bent from a thin sheet of metal. Buy such inserts is not a problem and the price is penny;

Step-by-step instructions for installing dry floor heating.

• The width of the groove in these inserts is just about 20 mm. That’s why they fit perfectly between the floorboards;
• Next, you need to mount the contour of the pipe wiring and lay it in the grooves of the inserts according to the intended pattern;
• After testing the system, lay a layer of polyethylene foam on top of the floor, and it is already mounted laminate. In this case it is not desirable to lay a floorboard, as wood is a heat insulator and heating efficiency will be reduced by about half compared to laminate.

How to arrange a dry floor heating in a wooden house with their own hands.

Option Electric underfloor heating in a wooden house

Electric floors in the wooden house with their own hands can be mounted a maximum of 2. 3 days. You just need to decide on the type of heating element. There are only 4 types of such elements.

The thickness of such a film is about a millimeter. The uniqueness of the idea that infrared radiation heats the floor covering only partially, the main energy is used to heat everything on the floor.

Here we are dealing with an analogue of infrared film, only the heater is made in a different form.

Based on experience, I can add that if you do not want to bother with a concrete screed, the best option for electric floor heating in the wooden house will be the use of infrared film. Detailed, step-by-step instructions for installation are given below in the video in this article.

Infrared film flooring for a wooden house is considered one of the best options.

Warm floors in the log house in the toilet and bathroom

In these rooms with a periodically humidifying atmosphere, the only possible option for creating a warm floor is a water heating system. This is due to safety requirements: the occurrence of leaks would create the risk of short circuits or electrocution. Therefore, in a wooden house from a bar in the toilet, bathroom, shower, and sometimes in the kitchen is advisable to use water heated floors.

When laying the pipeline, which will circulate heated coolant, it is necessary to limit the freedom of movement. grooves are used in the intermediate layer between the subfloor and the floor finish, the width of the groove should be greater than the diameter of the pipe. They are formed as a result of fixing to the base of wooden rectilinear elements of equal thickness at a certain distance from each other. The result is a simple but effective serpentine laying.

Installation of electric underfloor heating in a wooden house

Currently, there are several options for performing work that allows you to make a warm electric floor in a wooden house. The most popular method involves the laying of heating cable, mats or films between the joists. In this case, they must be securely protected from below by a layer of waterproofing, vapor barrier, as well as insulation. If these conditions are met, will ensure reliable, efficient and, in this situation is especially important, safe operation of the heating system. In this case, the flooring should be laid in such a way that the thickness of the planks used does not exceed 2.2 cm.

Quite often used the second version of the device of electric underfloor heating. It provides for the installation of heating cable over the wooden flooring, for which special chinks are made in it. When using film coatings, they are laid on top without doing any additional work. Then the device is made flooring with laminate, parquet or linoleum.

Electric underfloor heating in a wooden house

Underfloor heating. one of the mandatory attributes of a comfortable home. As source of heat in such floors is often used plastic pipes with hot water circulating in it or a heating electric cable, filled with a screed of cement-sand mixture. In houses with floors of reinforced concrete slabs or with a shallow subfloor such warm floors are easy enough to implement, which can not be said about houses with wooden ceilings.

The main problem. the impossibility of screed on a lightweight structure of wood because of the heavy weight of concrete and the insufficient strength of wood. The second problem. a relatively low temperature of wood, which excludes the possibility of strong heating of the component parts of the underfloor heating. Nevertheless, the problem is solvable, and despite all the technological difficulties, electric underfloor heating in wooden houses can be arranged, and without excessive effort.