Heated floor under linoleum: laying a film infrared heat-insulated floor

Linoleum is a relatively inexpensive and easy to install floor covering. But it does not always tolerate heating. Therefore, choosing a warm floor under linoleum, it is necessary to focus on a number of factors. With these guidelines should be familiar, agree?

We will tell you which option is better to choose floor heating system for laying under the laminated floor. Here you will learn how to install it, what technological rules should be followed during assembly. Taking into account our recommendations, you can equip a comfortable living space with your own hands.

Choosing the right brand of linoleum

There is an opinion that linoleum is a completely synthetic floor covering, which, when heated, releases chemicals hazardous to health, for example, phenol.

Also in reproach linoleum put a poor ability to endure heat. Under the influence of high temperatures, the coating can significantly deform.

Finally, initially the material was created not to transmit heat, but to protect against the penetrating cold from below. All this is true, but only in part. Linoleum differs in simple installation and moderate cost, therefore it remains exclusively popular floor covering.

Modern technologies and developments have allowed manufacturers to create new types of linoleum. Among them are those that transmit heat perfectly, tolerate moderate heat without compromising appearance, and do not emit any dangerous fumes.

There are five main types of linoleum:

• alkyd or griftal;
• nitrocellulose, he kolloksilinovy;
• relin or rubber;
• vinyl, and more precisely PVC;
• natural, known as marmoleum.

Without going into details of the production technology, it can immediately be noted that the first three options for use with a warm floor are absolutely not suitable. All of them react poorly to heat, and relin is not suitable for use in residential areas at all.

The most popular version of linoleum is its PVC version. This coating is very diverse in design and thickness, relatively safe, and has a pleasantly moderate price. After installation, the vinyl coating almost always exudes a not particularly pleasant, characteristic odor that disappears over time.

However, PVC linoleum is not dangerous, it is suitable for rooms in which people live. When buying it is recommended to study the labeling of the material, the package should be marked that this coating is intended for installation on floor heating systems.

For example, ordinary linoleum can be provided with an additional layer of insulating material, which is absolutely not needed above a warm floor.

Natural linoleum, it’s marmoleum, is a leading word in the flooring market. The material contains only natural ingredients, such as crushed bark. corkwood, pine resin and linseed oil, powdered limestone and natural dyes origin.

Of course, when heated such a material can not emit any harmful substances, only natural evaporation. Marmoleum is sensitive to strong heat, so the choice of temperature for such a coating has to be approached very responsibly. However, this is also true of vinyl materials.

Marmoleum can be blamed unless it is a solid price, but the high wear resistance and material safety fully justify such costs. Marmoleum does not change color with time, and also effectively resists fire.

Selecting linoleum for a warm floor, you need to pay attention to the thickness of the material. Too thin coating exposes all the irregularities of the base, in an overly thick material will reduce the efficiency of space heating.

Infrared film - perfect

As you know, warm floor divided into two main groups: water and electric, one of the varieties of which is the infrared version. The IR emitting system is volatile, since its operation requires electrical energy.

The film works in a favorable coverage range, thanks to which the infrared floor heating is considered an excellent choice for installation under linoleum.

As already mentioned, linoleum is sensitive to excessive heat. Even if the effects of overheating the surface do not become immediately apparent, over time they will manifest as deformation, softening, heaving, etc.

Thermal power of about 150-230 W per square meter of heated area is considered optimal for linoleum. Infrared film provides just such parameters.

The name “film” this material received because of the appearance. This is really a two-layer polymer film, inside of which carbon heating elements with a unique nanostructure are enclosed. It is this content that emits infrared radiation that can heat surrounding surfaces.

The heating elements, which look like black stripes about 15 mm wide, are connected by contact tires made of copper and silver. The polymer layer reliably protects this structure from damage. Infrared rays are considered not only harmless, but also to some extent beneficial to humans.

Film warm floor is not difficult to lay, because it is not necessary “wet” work on pouring screed. This system provides uniform heating of the room, perfectly adjusts to automatic mode and can be integrated into the “smart home” system.

Another positive point - easy disassembly of the floor heating. If necessary, you can simply remove the floor covering, remove the film and lay it on a new base even in another room. Electricity consumption when using film systems is about 30% less than when using electric heating cable in a similar area.

Preparation for laying a heated floor

Before installation, you need to carefully prepare for the work. On a regular sheet of paper, you should make a plan of the room, noting on it the places in which stationary pieces of furniture or large household appliances will be installed, tight to the floor. Here, laying infrared film does not make sense.

Then make a plan for laying the strips of film. The fewer the cut lines, the less connections will be needed, and the easier the installation will be. Therefore, film strips are laid along the long side of the room. When the plan is made, you can calculate the length of the film and the number of connectors that are needed for installation. The plan should also note the location of the temperature sensors and thermostat.

The delivery of film underfloor heating under linoleum usually includes infrared film and connectors, which are completed on two pieces, temperature sensors and a temperature regulator, and also a bituminous adhesive tape which carries out a role insulator.

Additionally, you will have to purchase:

• electrical cable;
• heat insulation material;
• film for waterproofing grounds;
• contactors (for work with high power systems).

To connect the film floor usually use copper cable with a cross section of at least 1.5 square meters. mm As a waterproofing material, you can put a layer of polyethylene of at least 0.1 mm. The list of thermal insulation materials that are suitable for the film floor is quite extensive.

Can be used extruded polystyrene foam, cork materials, liquid composites, etc. Under the linoleum successfully used foamed polyethylene or laminated izolon.

In any case, you should examine the labeling of the insulator to make sure that the material is allowed to be used with heated floors. The use of thermal insulation material with a metal foil coating is unacceptable.

The most sophisticated tool that will be needed during installation is a special tool to crimp contact connectors. But with a certain skill, regular pliers are suitable for this.

In addition, you need to prepare a screwdriver and pliers, scissors and a mounting knife for cutting the film, as well as insulation materials, a hammer, etc. In this way, device of a warm infrared floor Under laying linoleum can be performed using the most common construction tools.

System Installation Guide

If the layout plan for the film has already been drawn up, and all the materials and tools have already been prepared, you can start by preparing the foundation. It needs to be made clean and as smooth as possible.

The film itself is very thin, less than 0.5 mm. If the material is laid on an uneven base, the heating elements will be subjected to additional loads, and this may cause their damage.

In case of extensive damage, additional work should be done on leveling the base, for example, pour a new tie over the old base. But if initially the draft floor is sufficiently flat, it is sufficient to clean it of dirt and dust and eliminate individual differences in height, if necessary.

On the prepared base lay a layer of insulating material. If it is a rolled material, then usually the strips are laid end-to-end and fastened together with adhesive tape. Insulation should be very flat, with proper preparation of the base problems in this regard usually does not arise.

Cutting the infrared film into strips of suitable length is a crucial moment. For cuts there are special places indicated by the dotted line. If cut in other places, the film will most likely be spoiled.

The narrowest piece of film, cut along the dotted line, may be less than 20 cm, and the longest - about 8 meters. This allows you to make the strip of the desired length in the right quantity. The smaller the cuts, the easier the installation.

The cut strip of infrared film is laid out in accordance with the plan on top of a layer of insulating material. At the same time, the copper strip must be placed with the side up, which is indicated by the manufacturer in the instructions.

The film should be carefully leveled so that it fits snugly to the base. The presence of an air gap between the heating strips and insulation is unacceptable. After the strips of film are laid, you can begin the installation of contacts.

The connecting clip is mounted on a copper strip and clamped using a special tool or conventional pliers. The connectors should be installed in such a way that one part of the element is between the layers of the film shell and is attached to the copper bus, and the second part is outside.

After that, it is necessary to hide all the bimetal bus connection points to the power line under pieces of bitumen insulation. All contacts of the bands not connected to the wires also need isolation. They are on the opposite side of the connection.

After the insulation work has been completed, use the tape to fix the position of the film on the floor so that it does not move during the laying of the linoleum.

Now need install thermostat. It is usually hung on a wall in an easily accessible place. Connection must be made in accordance with the scheme. Inexperienced electricians at this stage should consult with a specialist. Thermal sensors are laid under the film and connected to the thermostat with wires.

To hide the cable leading from the thermostat, a wall can be made in the wall. If the repair is already completed, the cable is placed on top of the wall and covered with a decorative plastic box. Below to mask the cable using a plinth. The edges of the power supply cable are connected with connectors and pressed with pliers.

Then the connection is isolated. Where the insulation is installed, as well as in the place where the thermal sensor is attached to the film, thickening will appear. They may hinder the further installation of the flooring.

To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to cut grooves in the layer of heat-insulating material using a mounting knife. This will eliminate the drop in height, and the surface of the film will become flat again.

On this laying warm floor under linoleum can be considered complete, it remains to check the characteristics of the system before installing the floor covering. To do this, the film serves the power supply. First you need to make sure that the insulation is reliable with the help of an electric tester; you should check the absence of voltage on each isolated section.

After that check the degree of heating of each individual band. If there is no heat, or if some areas are colder or hotter than others, it means that the installation was performed incorrectly. It is necessary to find and eliminate possible errors.

Problems usually arise when such violations as laying the film strips are not butt-butt-lapped, this position of the heating material is unacceptable. It is also not necessary to cut the film too close to the copper bus; this can cause insulation failure. Complete or partial lack of insulation - one of the most common causes of faulty floor heating.

Features of laying linoleum

Under the linoleum will also need to prepare the base. First, a layer of polyethylene is laid over the infrared film. This material performs the function of waterproofing.

Separate strips are laid with an overlap of 10-20 cm and fixed with scotch tape. It is necessary to move around the surface of the infrared film very carefully, so as not to violate the integrity of the graphite heaters.

Next, mount a flat surface of fiberboard. This material will reliably protect a heat-insulated floor and will become the suitable basis under linoleum. The floor covering of this type is supplied rolled up, therefore it is recommended to spread it before installation and leave it for several days.

In the case of warm floors, the process can be improved. Linoleum is laid on the base of fiberboard without fastening, and then turn on the infrared film. Under the influence of heat, the alignment process will be faster. The thermostat should be set at a level of 28 degrees or less. For linoleum, this temperature is considered optimal.

After the coating is quite flat, it remains only to fix the linoleum on the ground. This operation is performed using double-sided tape or glue.

The use of adhesive composition is considered more suitable for use with heated floors, if not planned dismantling and transfer of equipment. Adhesive provides a snug fit and uniform warm-up.

With the specifics of the device of outdoor heating systems on wooden base and on the concrete floor You will learn by reading the articles we recommend.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

In this video, the process of laying the infrared floor is clearly and clearly demonstrated:

Film warm floor - an excellent choice for laying under linoleum. Installation of such systems does not seem too complicated, but it is a deceptive simplicity.

In laying the infrared film it is necessary to strictly adhere to the technology of work and accurately follow the recommendations of the manufacturer. This will avoid errors and lay the system correctly to ensure long life.

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