What Laminate To Choose For An Arranged Warm Floor In An Apartment

2023 Author: Philip Bishop | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 07:54

• Special marking
• Determination of thermal insulation properties
• Connection type
• Laminate class
• Choosing a quality substrate
• The choice of coverage depending on the type of warm floor
• "Two in one"
• Popular manufacturers

Relatively recently, the laminate was practically not used on the underfloor heating system, as it quickly failed. It was influenced by the temperature due to which it cracked, peeled and deformed. Now it is used no less often than ceramic tiles as flooring. To avoid disappointment when installing a warm floor system under a laminate, you should pay attention to certain nuances and subtleties when choosing a material for work.

Special marking

Every laminate option cannot be compatible with warm floors. The dies are endowed with excellent thermal insulation properties.

This suggests that such quality can be lost over time, even if the appearance remains the same. To avoid this as much as possible, manufacturers do not stand still. The special technology allows you to use the flooring without fear for electric or water-heated floors.

To make sure that the quality of the laminate matches the device for underfloor heating, the manufacturer's packaging must be marked accordingly. Specifies the permissible temperature limit to which the coating can be heated. In the standard version, it is 27-28 degrees.

The same applies to the choice of heating systems that will correspond to the selected laminate option for a warm water floor. It is worth noting that different floor heating systems have their own requirements for the flooring. So, a laminate for a water-heated floor cannot fit in any way for an electric option. Likewise in reverse order.

If you choose the material for the flooring correctly and according to the requirements, then during operation there will be no issues with heat loss, as well as excessive overheating of the surface. Features for warm floors are typical not only for laminate, but also for other flooring options.

All these subtleties will allow you to get an answer to what kind of laminate for a warm floor is best to choose, not losing out with its quality, which remains during operation.

Determination of thermal insulation properties

When choosing a laminate for a warm floor, one should pay attention to one more parameter - thermal resistance. Thermal insulation qualities will increase depending on the increase in this indicator.

There are European EN standards, according to which the total value of the coefficient relating specifically to the finishing coating in the form of a laminate, arranged over a warm floor, should not exceed 0.15 m ² * K / W. Resistance should be considered not only for the laminate itself, but also for the substrate under it.

In the example we can consider the following: make the purchase floor covering with a coefficient of 0.051 m ² * K / W, and the substrate in this case has a slightly lower figure - 0.049 m ² * K / W. If these two figures are added together, we get a calculated value equal to 0.1 m ² * K / W. For European standards, this is all completely suitable.

The calculated coefficient of resistance will completely depend on how dense the flooring is, as well as how thick it is. The optimum thickness is 8-10 mm. When installing an electric warm floor or water, it is better to choose the parameters: insignificant thickness within the normal range, as well as a lower density of the material.

It is worth noting that as soon as the resistance coefficient of the laminate increases, above the norm, there is a huge probability of its overheating, overheating of the underfloor heating components. This subsequently leads to the failure of both components of the comfort in the room.

Connection type

Laminate elements can be connected to each other using specially made locks or glued together. The locks are located on the end sections of the lamellas.

But with regard to the underfloor heating system, only floating installation with interlocking joints can be used. If you use glue in this case, then during the heating of the subfloor, heat will be transferred to the connecting part. This will break the surface and deform.

Laminate locks are of two types - Click and Lock. In the first case, we are dealing with more complex locks that snap together. But the Lock locks resemble the standard version of the "thorn-groove" type. In the people, the last connection option is also called "hammer-in". For the underfloor heating system (water or electric option), there is no particular role in which lock will be chosen. The high quality of fastening is guaranteed by the “Click” type. In this case, the bond strength is significantly increased. Even in the case of constant heating and cooling, drying of the wooden component, all the elements will fit tightly to each other. There will be no gaps and no deformations.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that the type of connection of laminate lamellas using the "Click" system does not impose serious requirements on the quality leveling of the subfloor in the room. Differences up to 3 mm are allowed for each running meter.

Laminate class

The class of the laminate indicates its quality and ability to withstand external influences, abrasion. During operation over any kind of underfloor heating system, it is exposed to elevated temperatures. This indicates the need to purchase a material with increased wear resistance. Accordingly, it is better to choose a class of 32 or 33. But if you choose exactly a floor covering for a warm floor with the appropriate marking, then it will have to have the corresponding class.

Depending on the type of room, there is a certain marking on the packaging from under the laminate. But first, you should divide the apartment or house itself into specific key zones, each of which has its own characteristics and requirements:

1. Sleeping area. In addition to the sleeping quarters themselves, rest rooms and children's rooms are also distinguished. Laminate here can be selected with a matte surface, which has such qualities as sound absorption, antistatic, moisture resistance, and the ability to resist fire. Due to the wide range of colors, you can choose an option for any interior. Laminate class 21 or 22 is often used. Heating mats are an option for underfloor heating. You can even do without a screed device.

   

   Plates are laid on the old base, which serves as the base.

2. Zone "Transit". These rooms include the hallway and existing corridors. The choice of laminate is the same as for the sleeping area.
3. Relaxation area. Bathroom, toilet and loggia. In this case, the air temperature should not exceed 29 degrees in order for the laminate to provide all its qualities. It can be regulated using a pre-installed temperature sensor. If the heating is carried out evenly and smoothly throughout the room, then the floor covering will not suffer in any way, will not deform.

4. Working area. Office or kitchen.

   

   Several people can be here at the same time. That is, the movement is constantly organized. There is a huge possibility in the process of cooking various garbage, drops of fat and any liquid. Therefore, it is best to choose a laminate with the following parameters: moisture resistance, with a water repelling effect (wax base). If necessary, all joints between the panels are sealed with a special sealant for better reliability. Maximum heat transfer from the water floor heating system will be guaranteed when installing a cement-sand screed.

Often in humid rooms a special version of the laminate is chosen - "aqua-laminate", capable of contacting with water.

Choosing a quality substrate

The efficiency of the heating system in the premises will also depend on the choice of a substrate for a laminate on a warm floor. Efficiency will be noticeably reduced when using thick and dense material. This will cause the need to increase the temperature on the thermostat, which will lead to increased power consumption. The optimum substrate thickness should be between 1.5 and 3 mm.

When buying a laminate for a warm floor, you should pay attention to a specialized underlay that is supplied from the manufacturer. It can be made of extruded polystyrene, with perforations in the form of small holes. They contribute to the active transmission of heat into the room from the heating elements, and also perform their main function - compensation for uneven areas of the subfloor, maintaining the laminate.

Specialized substrate options include Arbiton Izo Floor Thermo products. It is intended specifically for such a laminate, arranged over an electric or water-heated floor of various configurations.

The choice of coverage depending on the type of warm floor

Each option of a warm floor imposes certain requirements on the floor covering, especially if it is a laminate. They should be dealt with in more detail in order to apply them in practice.

1. Infrared floor heating.

   

   It is characterized by excellent heat dissipation. The flooring does not heat up as much, but the air warms up to a comfortable state. This suggests that the laminate is very suitable here, by the way, because there will be no special effects of temperatures on it. In addition, the uniform heating of the entire base of the floor and the floor covering stands out here. When choosing laminate products, preference is given to classes 33 and 34 in terms of wear resistance, and the thickness should not exceed 8.5 mm so as not to absorb a large amount of heat.

2. Heating mats and cable floors. When buying a laminate, in this case, the packaging must have a corresponding marking that it can be used for this type of flooring. In addition, the packaging should contain data on thermal conductivity, environmental safety, resistance to mechanical damage and resistance to abrasion.

So your own heating system in the room will give you the answer which laminate to choose for a warm water floor or an electric one.

Two in one

There is not always a desire to purchase a warm water or electric floor, and then arrange a laminate as a floor covering. Some will feel that they are doing double duty. To avoid this, you can purchase a two-in-one option.

This will not pose unnecessary difficulties in choosing a laminate and a substrate for it. For this, thanks should be given to the Alloc company, which made it possible for the performers to arrange in the apartment combined products of underfloor heating and laminate. It was named Alloc Heating System. The system consists of three layers:

• Soundproof and noise-absorbing underlay.
• Heating elements.
• Laminated strips with 32 and 33 class of wear resistance.

The system is characterized by aluminum Click locks, which guarantee not only excellent fixation during operation, but also the safety of the entire structure. Editing just got easier. To do this, it is first necessary to connect the wires of the heating elements together, after which the aluminum locking joints of the laminate lamellas must be snapped in. The set with the presented system comes with a thermostat, which can be easily programmed depending on the needs.

It can be said in simple terms that the ready-made system allows any performer, within a few hours, depending on the area of the room being arranged, to create a warm floor with a ready-made floor covering. All actions are performed on a turnkey basis, since after the distribution of the elements over the surface, nothing has to be done.

It is necessary to highlight other points that are characteristic of the "two in one" system. In it, heating elements are built into the floor, and not located under it.

Consequently, they are located very close to the surface, which can reduce heat loss by about 25-30 percent. There are also other characteristics of the combined system:

• Low cost compared to heating cables (about 30 percent).
• The possibility of combining areas with and without heating.
• The power is 60 watts for each square meter of the room area.
• Inertia - 10 minutes at a room temperature of 20 degrees.

It is worth noting that when choosing any option for a laminate under a warm floor, water or electric, you should pay attention to its manufacturer, who will be able to say a lot about their products. This will be one more point to decide which laminate to choose for underfloor heating.

Popular manufacturers

Different manufacturers make specific products. In some cases, it can even be called exclusive. So, these include the Belgian company Quick-Step, which offers its customers exclusive collections, a huge range of products with increased wear resistance.

The Ritter company can boast of exclusivity, which has serious and attractive collections, differing in decor and style.

If you want to buy a laminate at a low cost and at the same time get a pretty decent quality, then the choice should be stopped at the Kronospan company. Among these, the company can be attributed and Kronostar. Tarkett can share a huge assortment and high quality of laminate flooring, which also has a wide variety of colors, allowing you to choose an option for any type of interior in the room. Even the most demanding buyers from the presented list of products will be able to find a suitable option for themselves. All of them are of high quality and reasonable price.

When you need a laminate for a warm water floor, which one to choose, one should proceed from the specific points mentioned above. If they are combined in one floor covering, the result is a really high-quality construction. But you don't always want to think about which laminate to choose for a warm floor. In this case, you should pay attention to the heating system "two in one". By combining all the main components of a warm floor, we get turnkey heating, which is performed in a matter of hours. The article was written for the site

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