What Substrate To Choose For Cable And Infrared Floor Heating

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

• Substrate requirements
• Appointment
• Underlay for cable floors
• Infrared floors
• Substrate depending on the topcoat
• Styling features

Today the underfloor heating system is very popular. This is due to the large number of positive qualities, as well as the possibility of flooring any type of flooring. In addition, you can choose absolutely any version of the heating system, depending on the need and the room itself. But it is worth noting that when installing all the components of a warm floor, special attention should be paid to the thermal insulation layer so that heat is not wasted just like that. Underfloor heating will be excellent options here. The main thing is to know which one to choose.

Substrate requirements

The main material for the underfloor heating is polypropylene, polyethylene foam. They are covered with a lavsan film with a metallized layer. The latter serves to distribute heat evenly. All other components do not allow the heat to escape to the lower floors, but is completely transferred to the room to warm the air from the base of the floor.

A porous underfloor heating substrate has very high permissible temperatures, which reach 90 degrees. This allows the heating elements to be laid directly onto the foil. All this indicates the excellent qualities of the heat and waterproofing material. In addition, other qualities that the substrate possesses are distinguished - these are sound insulation and a high degree of reflection.

On each element of the underlay for pouring the floor there is a special marking that resembles a grid. This contributes to the rapid and high-quality distribution of the electric underfloor heating cable over the surface, depending on the step that is selected.

The substrate allows you to save about 80-90% of thermal radiation. In this case, all energy costs are reduced to a minimum.

Appointment

The substrate is placed between the concrete surface in the room and the heating system. The main purpose of the material is to prevent the loss of heat that comes from the heating elements of the warm floor. Otherwise, the heat will be wasted without showing any effect. This will only warm up the ceiling on the lower floor.

If the substrate is chosen correctly, then the heating of the subfloor will be not only uniform, but also twice as fast.

Another purpose of this material in the underfloor heating system is a barrier. It keeps out cold, moisture and steam from the lower floors. This is especially true for ground floors above basements. Since the substrate has excellent soundproofing qualities, then in apartment buildings you will not have to listen to shouts and noise from neighbors. Other materials can be used for the substrate:

• Bung.
• Fiberboard.

• Foamed polymer.

  

• Penofol.
• Foil material.
• Extruded polystyrene foam.

But even this is not an exceptional option. Technologies do not stand still and materials are constantly being improved, which can be chosen as a substrate for an electric warm floor. The choice of a specific material will depend on the evenness of the base, where the installation is carried out, as well as on the type of flooring in the finish.

Underlay for cable floors

The greatest efforts for implementation are characteristic of cable underfloor heating. After all, here it is mandatory to fill the screed solution. Before starting installation, a number of actions should be carried out, which include:

• If the need arises, the base is leveled where the underfloor heating system will be laid.

  

  For this, a rough screed is performed according to all the rules and requirements.

• The device of the heat-insulating layer, where the choice of the substrate is carried out.
• Implementation of a concrete screed for thermal insulation, which will serve as the basis for a warm floor.

After all these measures, you can proceed to the implementation of the heating system. The mounting tape is attached to the laid substrate using self-tapping screws. It is in the tape that the heating cable of the heating system is fixed. When the cable is placed on a prepared base, all sensors and cables are fully connected to the power grid, concrete screed can be poured.

Particular attention is paid to the substrate. In this case, preference should be given to aluminum foil. Its main task is to qualitatively and evenly distribute the heat coming from the heating elements over the entire base of the floor.

There are two main reasons for this:

1. Creation of the same temperature level over the entire surface.
2. Avoiding local overheating of the heating element. All excess heat should be removed to a less heated area.

The use of underfloor heating allows you to increase the service life of the entire system. The heating cable can last much longer. It is constantly in operating mode, warming up throughout the entire volume. Many positive qualities at first glance and are invisible from the use of underfloor heating.

It should be noted that the duration of the cooling down of the base of the floor will depend on the area of its heating. In addition, an increased temperature is provided by the use of a substrate laid under all components of the heating system in the room. It is very important to install it during installation. The price is insignificant, but the displayed qualities are very high and necessary.

Infrared floors

Here it is no longer possible to consider the systems as a classic version. Despite the similar use of the underfloor underfloor heating components, it has a slightly different purpose. After all, infrared film and heating cable have different roles in heat sources. The cable acts directly on the floor, from which the air in the room is heated. Infrared film increases the temperature range of the selected floor covering, as well as the surrounding objects, which can be furniture, walls, etc. And already from these elements the air in the room begins to warm up.

On the existing base of the floor, a waterproofing layer is laid, on top of which there is a heat-insulating reflective material. The latter is the underfloor heating system. It remains only to produce the infrared film flooring. Film sheets are interconnected in certain places, after which they are connected to the mains.

A very important feature is characteristic of the underlay of an infrared warm floor - it cannot be foil. Aluminum foil cannot be used as a reflective element. This is fully compatible with the requirements for safe operation of the heating system. If damage occurs to individual sections of the heating elements, a short circuit to the laid substrate may occur.

The underfloor heating under infrared has two main functions:

1. Thermal insulation.
2. Reflection of infrared radiation that is directed towards the floor and not into the room.

The low cost of the substrate allows it to be purchased everywhere and used without fail. In addition, about 30% of the incoming heat is saved here. More precisely, losses are reduced during the operation of an infrared heated floor.

In this case, the main material for the substrate is polymers or expanded polystyrene. The reflective material is metallized lavsan. You can buy it in the same place where various floor heating systems are presented for implementation.

At first glance, this requirement is not mandatory when installing an infrared floor heating. But the efficiency of the system, as well as the safety of heating in the room, is significantly increased. Even a 30% reduction in heat loss for any system will be noticeable and substantial. It is very important in the process of laying to fully comply with the technology and follow it from the very beginning to the end.

Substrate depending on the topcoat

The most popular in underfloor heating is laminate. It is distinguished by its low cost, as well as ease of flooring. If this is the case, you should consider purchasing the backing needed to separate the flooring from the underfloor heating system. Otherwise, there will be a high probability that a gap will appear in the free areas between the heating elements and the laminate. While walking, this will cause tapping and a certain sound.

The thickness of the backing under the laminate is usually 2-5 mm. There is also a specialized material for flooring that has a high level of thermal conductivity. The underlay solves a number of problems:

• Additional insulation.
• Shock absorber between cover and base.
• Alignment of differences. To do this, you should purchase a soft backing. After all, laminate flooring requires a very flat base.
• Prevention of damage to laminate elements.

• Avoiding the appearance of a squeak.

  

Many manufacturers recommend using roll polyethylene as a substrate. In addition, it can be combined with concrete mortar, cement. It is able to withstand various chemical influences, as well as the effects of microorganisms that cause the appearance of fungus and mold.

Another option for the substrate is cork, which is sold in rolls or slabs. It is made from pressed cork chips. Preference should be given precisely to rolls due to the reduction of waste during the installation of the entire "pie". During operation, the cork will not deform and will not shrink. All this will tell you what kind of underfloor laminate to choose.

Another option for flooring is linoleum. Here, on the contrary, the underfloor heating substrate must be solid. Otherwise, heavy furniture or constant walking can dent the base of the floor. As a great option - fiberboard.

Ceramic tiles are often used. Without a warm floor, it has the ability to stay cold even in hot weather. For an electric underfloor heating, in this case, it is best to use a metallized lavsan coating as a substrate. This will allow the tiles to warm up with maximum efficiency. The main thing in this case is to use the material of the same thickness.

Styling features

The installation of all underfloor heating components is essential. The efficiency of the heating system during operation will depend on its quality. Particular attention should be paid to the substrate, to which certain rules are applied during installation.

1. When purchasing a substrate from a polymer metallized film, it should be spread with the reflective side up.

   

   The material will have the following qualities: environmental friendliness, elasticity, flexibility, thinness. This substrate will have practically no effect on the distance between the ceiling and the floor.

2. The substrate can be made of magnesite board or fiberboard. It should be laid on a screed that has been covered with aluminum foil.
3. The seams of the sheets are glued with tape or adhesive tape. This action is mandatory. In general, the material should be distributed over the entire surface of the floor in a continuous area.

All these requirements and the choice of a specific version of the substrate for the device of the electric underfloor heating system must be met if you want to get high quality.

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