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It is by no means new: even the ancient Greeks and Romans built systems for underfloor heating. Their designs were very complex and were based on burning wood in stoves and distributing hot air through an extensive pipe system. Modern systems are much simpler and are connected either to the electrical system or to the water supply.
Until recently, tiles and porcelain stoneware were considered the most popular coatings for underfloor heating. They have really good thermal conductivity, they are reliable, they can be successfully entered into the design of the room. Laminate and parquet boards were rarely used with underfloor heating, as heating negatively affects these types of flooring, causing them to deform. In addition, some types of laminate with constant heating emit harmful substances.
Now there are such systems of underfloor heating, which are just designed for laminate and parquet boards. On the other hand, laminate manufacturers have also begun to offer buyers varieties of coatings designed specifically for laying on underfloor heating. For installation under a laminate, as a rule, electric floors are used: cable and infrared. The heat-conducting element of cable floors is a heating cable, it is supplied either separately or attached to the base – this type of cable floor is called a heating mat. In infrared floors, heating elements are composite rods or conductive carbon strips applied to the film.
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1. “Alumia thermal suite”
Alumia from a manufacturer “Teplolux” – ultra-thin heating mat of a new generation. The heating element is a thin two-core cable 1.08-1.49 mm thick, fixed on an aluminum foil mat. The total thickness of the mat is 1.5 mm. Power – 150 watts per 1 m2. The maximum power of one set – 2700 watts – is optimal for an area of 18 m2. If you need to heat a larger area, you need to use several sets.
A distinctive feature of this product is that no screed or glue is needed for installation, no need to connect the strips – the mat is laid directly under the floor covering: laminate, parquet, carpet or linoleum. When working with soft surfaces such as linoleum or carpet, the manufacturer recommends using additional mat protection, for example, plywood, hardboard, fiberboard, etc.
The heating cable is insulated with durable thermoplastic material, which makes its operation absolutely safe and durable. The power and heating cables are connected to each other by a coupling with grounding, and the foil itself contributes to an even distribution of heat over the floor covering. The manufacturer provides a 25-year warranty for this product.
Advantages and disadvantages
2. “Teplolux Tropix TLBE”
“Teplolux Tropix TLBE” – two-core heating cable with a thickness of ≈ 6.8 mm and a power of 18 watts per linear meter. For comfortable (additional) heating, the manufacturer recommends a power of 150 watts per 1 m2, for the main heating in the absence of the main heat source – 180 watts per 1 m2. The cable can be laid with different pitches and thus adjust the heating power. The maximum power of the kit is 3500 watts, it is designed for 19 m2, for larger areas, several systems can be used. When mounting several systems to one thermostat, remember to check the declared maximum load.
The heating cable can act both as the main and as an additional source of heat in the room. If you use it as the main source, it is necessary that it be laid on more than 70% of the area of u3bu5bthe room. Installation is carried out in a XNUMX-XNUMX cm thick screed, so Tropix TLBE is optimal if there has never been a repair and it is necessary to level the floor.
Warranty for underfloor heating from the manufacturer – 50 years. The conductors of the heating cable have an increased cross-section, and reliable shielding and a strong sheath protect it from creases and ensure safe operation. The kit has one installation wire, which makes its installation convenient.
Advantages and disadvantages
What other underfloor heating under the laminate is worth paying attention to
3. “Teplolux Tropix INN”
“Teplolux Tropix MNN” – heating mat. The heating element is a two-core cable with a thickness of 4.5 mm, attached with a certain step to the grid of the mat. Power – 160 watts per 1 m2. The maximum power in the line is 2240 watts, this value is calculated for heating 14 m2. It is possible to use several sets with one thermostat, provided that the total power is combined with the permissible values uXNUMXbuXNUMXbof the device. The mesh can be cut if it is necessary to lay at an angle, but care must be taken not to damage the wire.
One of the main advantages of the mat is that you do not need to calculate the pitch and lay the cable yourself. Also, there is no need to mount it in a screed – laying is done in a layer of tile adhesive 5-8 mm thick (presence of a finished screed is still desirable, but not necessary). This solution is ideal if you are not ready to lift the flooring much and want to reduce installation time. The manufacturer recommends using this system for underfloor heating in the presence of main heating.
The stranded conductors of the cable are covered with a screen made of alumina-lavsan tape and have a strong insulation and sheath. All this ensures reliable and safe functioning of the warm floor. The guarantee for Teplolux Tropix INN is 50 years.
Advantages and disadvantages
4. Electrolux Thermo Slim ETS-220
Thermo Slim ETS-220 – infrared film floor from the Swedish company Electrolux. The heating elements are conductive carbon strips deposited on the film. Power – 220 watts per 1 m2 (We note in particular that a direct comparison of the power ratings of film and cable floors cannot be made). Film thickness – 0.4 mm, it is packed in rolls with an area of 1 to 10 m2.
For the installation of such a floor, neither a screed nor tile adhesive is needed – it is designed for the so-called “dry installation”. However, the surface must be even and clean, otherwise the film may be damaged. It is highly desirable to lay a plastic film between the film floor and the floor covering to protect the floor from moisture. The advantage is that even if one heating element fails, the rest will work. The downside is that the film itself is a rather fragile and short-lived material. The manufacturer’s warranty for this product is 15 years.
Advantages and disadvantages
5. Underfloor heating under laminate 5 m2 with XiCA controller
The set of infrared film underfloor heating is an ultra-thin film made in South Korea. It can be laid under laminate, parquet, linoleum.
Included in delivery are film rolls sized 1×0,5 m, switching clamps for connecting the film with current-carrying wires, insulating tape, corrugated tube for a temperature sensor. The temperature regulator is mechanical. Installation is simple, the film is simply laid out on the floor before laying the laminate. Heating area 5 sq.m.
Advantages and disadvantages
6. Hemstedt ALU-Z
ALU-Z – aluminum heating mat from the German company Hemstedt. The heating element is a 2 mm thick cable sewn into a mat about 5 mm thick. Power – 100 watts per 1 m2. The maximum power of one set is 800 watts, which are rated, respectively, for 8 m2. The manufacturer, however, indicates that the declared power is achieved when operating from a power source with a voltage of 230 volts. The maximum surface temperature is 45 °C.
No mixture or glue is needed for installation, the mat is laid on the subfloor, you can already lay the floor covering on it. But the manufacturer recommends performing heat and vapor barrier before laying. If you need to lay the mat at an angle, it can be cut. Warranty for ALU-Z is 15 years.
Advantages and disadvantages
How to choose underfloor heating for laminate
There are not as many options for underfloor heating for laminate as for tiles or porcelain stoneware. However, many things are not obvious. Head of the apartment renovation company Ramil Turnov helped Healthy Food Near Me figure out how to choose a warm floor for a laminate and not make a mistake.
Popular Solution
In recent years, underfloor heating technology has come a long way. If earlier only wealthy customers could afford them, then in 2022, most residents of megacities, when doing floor repairs, ask for heating. The decision is really reasonable, since the warm floor helps out in the off-season, when the heating has not yet been turned on or, conversely, turned off too early. When choosing a warm floor model, it is important to check with the manufacturer whether the model is suitable for laminate flooring, as tile systems can adversely affect the reliability of the decorative coating.
Types of underfloor heating under laminate
- Heating mat. It is laid in a thin layer of glue or even with the use of dry installation technology. There is no need to level the floor, although the surface itself must be level.
- Cable. It is laid only in a concrete screed. This method is suitable for those who have started a major overhaul or are doing finishing from scratch. Please note that the cable must be specifically for the laminate, and not for tiles or stone.
- Film. It is laid directly under the coating, but sometimes requires additional layers of insulation. The manufacturer informs about such a need in the instructions.
Power
It is not recommended to consider models with a power below 120 W / m², their use is permissible in regions with a warm climate. For ground floors or cold houses, the figure should be around 150 W / m². To insulate the balcony, you should start from the mark of 200 W / m².
Management
The operation of the heating element is controlled by many mechanical or electronic thermostats. For example, automatic programmable thermostats from the Teplolux company allow you to set the time to turn on and off the heating, and the model controlled via wi-fi allows the user to control it from a distance. If you need the flooring to heat up by a certain time, this is a very convenient option.
Under which laminate can not put underfloor heating
It is necessary to choose only the laminate that is intended for use with underfloor heating – the manufacturer always informs about this. It also indicates which underfloor heating the laminate is combined with: water or electric. The danger of laying heating elements under the wrong type of laminate is not only that the coating will quickly become unusable – a cheap laminate emits harmful substances when heated.