Vinyl underfloor heating. Choosing a vinyl laminate: advantages, features, prices, reviews. The choice of underfloor heating under the laminate

Currently, the underfloor heating system has become an integral part of every home. There are the following advantages of a warm floor:

Creation of an optimal microclimate;

Creating a small air circulation, which reduces the amount of dust.

When laying laminate flooring on a warm floor, it is very important to choose the thermal insulation under the laminated board. The substrate must have a small resistance to heat transfer, otherwise there will be no sense from warm floors. Not every manufacturer can guarantee such qualities.
By the way, the laminated board itself must be suitable for laying on heated floors. If you use a low-quality product, blisters and cracks will appear.

That is why specialists, designers and architects recommend using tiles or vinyl coverings instead of laminate.

One of these solutions, which optimally combines the ratio of “power of warm floors + heat transfer”, is considered to be vinyl flooring.

Before laying the cover, remember the following:

1. Check if the distance between wall and floor material is sufficient. The gaps must be at least 8 mm.

2. Make sure that the room you have chosen is suitable for laying underfloor heating.

3. The base for vinyl flooring can be concrete without backing.

4. In case of laying the coating on a warm floor, a polyethylene film should be laid on the concrete screed.

5. The gaps at the end of the installation of the flooring are closed with a special profile (plinth), which is easy to match in color.

6. Particular attention should be paid to places where there are pipes or partitions.

You can safely use a warm floor, but after it is installed, you need to make a screed on top, and it is advisable to lay a polyethylene film on it.

Installation and laying of the coating on the warm floor is carried out only after a thorough check of the heating system and running water in it. It is necessary to carefully check the entire circuit of pipes for tightness and reliability. Make sure that the lowest layer consists of waterproofing, especially if there are neighbors living under you, whom you can flood.

After the installation of the floor is completed and it is checked, the coating is laid in the same way as on a conventional concrete floor.

It is more expedient to use a water-heated floor under vinyl flooring, the price of which is relatively low, in apartments or country houses.

As for the prices for the installation of such a system, they can vary from the area, the complexity of laying the warm floor and the requirements of the customer. Easy repair for you with vinyl laminate!!!

Best regards, Europoly LLC

In apartments and private houses where traditional heating systems are installed, during the winter period, the air in the rooms cannot be heated evenly. Due to convection, warm air escapes upward, under the ceiling. Cold air streams rush to the floor - many people have cold feet even in centrally heated rooms. To create a comfortable environment, lay underfloor heating. For example, a film underfloor heating under a laminate is an ideal solution for an apartment. You can walk barefoot on this floor. This is very important for families with children. But laminate is a rather capricious floor covering. Let's look at how to "make friends" underfloor heating system and laminate.

Often, two types of systems are offered on the modern market. These are water floors and electric. Electrical systems are installed in apartments - the installation of such systems is quite simple, and the amount of work is small. As for water floors, everything is a little more complicated here. Such a system requires a boiler to work.

How the system works

Underfloor heating is a very efficient heating system. It can be used both as an additional source of heat and as the main heating. The principle of operation is that air heated from below rises up, cold air falls down and heats up.

Thanks to the warm floor, cold air will be under the ceiling, but warm air will be at the bottom. This will allow you to breathe easier and the air is not as dry as with "traditional" heating.

Such heating systems help to heat up efficiently, and then maintain the optimum temperature in any room. Such floors can be equipped in any premises. Both water and electric floors are often installed under laminate, but a variety of floor coverings can be used instead of laminate.

Water or electricity

Among the advantages of water systems is the low cost of heat production. The system is connected to a central heating system or to a heating boiler. Heating with water systems occurs more evenly, which allows the use of such systems with any type of floor covering.

The disadvantages include the lack of any possibility of adjusting the temperature regime if the floor is connected to central heating. To be able to tincture, you need a separate boiler.

There are big problems with the installation of water systems in high-rise buildings. So, in order to pump pipes, there may not be enough pressure in the central system. In addition, during installation, there are risks of damage to heating pipes, which can lead to flooding of neighbors. That is why professionals do not advise installing water floors on any floors except the first one. It is quite another matter - electric and film underfloor heating under the laminate. There are no risks here, the installation of the system is quick and simple.

Electrical systems are more convenient to operate. You can install equipment in any type of premises, and there is no dependence on central heating. The temperature can be adjusted in a variety of ways - a thermostat is provided for this. A modern electric floor under a laminate can operate in a variety of modes, including the mode of economical energy consumption.

Among the disadvantages are the rapid heating of the floor, which can damage the finished floor coverings. But coatings such as laminate are laid on a special substrate that will allow the floor to heat up to optimal temperatures and not damage the coating.

Types of electric underfloor heating

There are several options for electric floors. Different systems have the same principle, but different execution and technologies. So, they distinguish between cable underfloor heating, which can be laid under a laminate, heating mats, infrared systems.

cable system

In cable-type systems, a special heating cable is used. It is laid in the floor screed, then the substrate is laid and the top coat can be laid. The disadvantage of this solution is certain difficulties in laying the cable. Also, it should not be mounted in places where furniture or sanitary equipment will stand. This cable solution is great for all types of wood flooring, but certain installation rules must be followed.

So, in the case of laminate, you should use a cable with reduced power. In general, it is better to select the power based on the requirements of the laminate manufacturer. If the floor is laid not on the logs, but on the screed, then the thickness of the substrate should be minimal. Otherwise, the floor will not warm up enough.

heating mat

This is another cable system, but here the only difference is that the cable is laid on a special grid. Such an electric underfloor heating can be easily and effortlessly installed with your own hands under a laminate and other wooden coverings.

There are single-core and two-core systems. In the case of a single-core, both ends of the cable must be connected to the thermostat. The peculiarity of this heater is in the magnetic field that it emits. Such a mat is much cheaper than a two-core one, and is relevant in bathrooms and kitchens.

A more modern version is a two-core mat. Here in the cable is not only a heating core, but also an electric cable. This greatly simplifies installation and dampens electromagnetic radiation.

Mats are installed very simply - just spread such a mat on the site, and pour the screed. The laminate is laid on a thin substrate.

Electric floor installation

The first step is to measure the room, determine the installation location of sensors, thermostats and other equipment. It is also necessary to carefully prepare the base. Next, the thermal reflective material is laid, and then the thermal film is laid out. At the next stage, a thermostat is installed, the wires are laid out, connected and insulated. Then check the reliability of the insulation and install a temperature sensor. At the last stage, the system is fully tested. If all is well, the polyethylene film and the protective backing are laid.

Infrared heated floors

IR warm floor under the laminate - these are two layers of special dense polymeric materials. Between them are heating elements. They are a carbon nano-structure that has unique properties. So, the system can radiate heat in the far infrared spectrum. This radiation heats the floor to a comfortable temperature.

Benefits of infrared floors

This solution is much more convenient to install than all other underfloor heating systems. Installation can be carried out without the need for a screed.

Such a system has practically no restrictions on floor coverings. The use of film underfloor heating under the laminate is a great solution. Film floors are much safer for laminate than all other systems.

The film has a thickness of 0.4 mm. A floor with a similar heater practically does not change its height. There is no need to make thresholds and steps.

Another advantage of these systems is the high speed of both heating and cooling if necessary. IR radiation allows you to heat the room as evenly as possible, so there will be no temperature differences in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe ceiling and floor.

Film flooring is an ideal solution for those rooms where heavy loads fall on the flooring. Due to the special design, the installation of such a floor is not difficult, and the heating element can save a lot.

The choice of underfloor heating under the laminate

When choosing a suitable heating design, it is very important to take into account the characteristics of the laminate. Laminate flooring contains formaldehyde. If the laminate is heated above 27 degrees, these substances will be released into the atmosphere and can cause significant harm to human health. Not every laminate is suitable for installation on a warm floor. Overheating of the laminate, and this heating to 28 degrees and above, leads to damage to this coating. In this case, the characteristics of the film floor under the laminate fit perfectly. Such a system is most optimal for laminate.

Infrared floor installation

Before purchasing all the necessary equipment, calculate how much thermal film is needed, as well as a reflective substrate. The substrate is covered over the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room, and the film is laid only on free places.

The film is laid on a perfectly treated surface, which is thoroughly cleaned. But in the beginning put heat-reflecting materials. It is imperative that this material has a sufficiently dense gasket. The sheets are connected with adhesive tape, and then the thermostat is installed.

Before starting installation work, pour the screed. Then foilizol or polypenourethane is placed on the resulting base. This lining will reduce heat loss. Heating elements are laid separately for each room, and then a layer of concrete is poured. The thickness should be at least 2, maximum 4 cm.

You can also install without a screed. To do this, the film is laid on a substrate, then covered with a substrate under the laminate, after which the top coat can be laid. Many manufacturers today offer a special one. a more porous substrate that conducts heat better and, due to its porous structure, does not interfere with the movement of air.

And for those who for some reason are afraid to use laminate and underfloor heating, manufacturers offer a special laminate that is already equipped with a built-in heating system.

Can I lay tiles on IR floor heating (infrared floor heating)?

Infrared film underfloor heating can be laid under the quartz-vinyl Fine Floor, provided that soft foam substrates are not used, which decrease in thickness under the action of a vertical local load (parimer from cabinet legs). Here we take into account that the quartz-vinyl flooring does not distribute the load, and transfers it completely to the base. Underfloor heating manufacturers recommend laying a thick soft foil substrate in order to avoid excessive heat losses on an uninsulated screed and to hide wires and terminals in it without gating.
Application is possible if the thick substrate is replaced:

1. On a thin cork technical substrate with an additional layer of foil membrane and deepen the wires and terminals.
2. Without the use of a substrate, on an insulated screed with a recess for wires and terminals. In this case, heat losses increase, but the "warm floor" is protected from overheating and burnout.
3. On the foil membrane, in this case, infrared radiation will be reflected inside the room.

What is the thermal conductivity of fine floor quartz vinyl tiles?

The thermal conductivity of the tile is R = 0.25 W / m * K, this indicator characterizes the thermal insulation properties, for us the thermal conductivity indicator is more important, which shows how quickly the material conducts heat through itself, and the thermal conductivity of quartz-vinyl corresponds to such wood as ash, which is why when touched to the surface of the tile we feel thermal comfort.

How soon after laying the Fine Floor tiles can you turn on "warm floors"?

Not earlier than 24 hours when installing adhesive quartz-vinyl.
Immediately field installation of free-lying castle quartz-vinyl.

How to put underfloor heating film under FineFloor and what should be used?

Base: concrete screed.
1. Lay out the underfloor heating carpets on the screed and mark with a marker the places where their docking falls. In the marked areas, we make recesses to hide all the wires and terminals in them.
2. We drill recesses, remove debris.
3 Lay the film floor. Wires and terminals must be hidden in pre-prepared recesses in the screed and puttied with one-component polyurethane sealant to create a smooth surface.
4. Lay the Fine Floor according to the instructions.

You can arrange the furniture immediately after laying, avoiding the installation of furniture over floor heating mats.

Which underfloor heating systems are suitable for FineFloor vinyl tiles?

Fine Floor is suitable for any underfloor heating systems that do not require a thick foam underlay. The temperature on the floor surface is regulated by SanPiN standards and is 27-28 O C. Heating tiles to higher temperatures is possible, but it should be taken into account that the tile becomes more plastic and its technical parameters change, that the adhesive tile, while thermally expanding, does not move into thermal gaps, and the lock free-lying one shifts, therefore thermal gaps near the walls in in this case must be observed.

The times when the choice of types of flooring was limited to natural wood or stone have long since sunk into oblivion. This event happened, unfortunately, or fortunately, users who set out to change the floor covering in their home have to understand from their own experience. The modern market of building and finishing materials offers the widest range of materials. One such modern material is vinyl laminate.

Judging by the description, this is a unique material that has only positive qualities: wear resistance, beauty, ease of installation and maintenance, low price and health benefits. Is it really?

What is vinyl laminate?

To try and make the right choice in favor of vinyl flooring, let's take a closer look at what this material is.

History page: Vinyl chloride was synthesized in the early 19th century, in 1872 Eugene Baumann received a polymer of vinyl chloride (PVC), and by 1912 the industrial production of PVC was also mastered. It began to be actively used by the 30s, and in the post-war period, a real triumphal procession of polyvinyl chloride began. This polymer is widely used in a wide variety of fields. In particular, it has found great application in the construction industry. One of the directions is the production of decorative finishing coatings.

Vinyl laminate flooring is commonly referred to as a floor covering made from polyvinyl chloride. On sale there are various options - in the form of square or rectangular tiles of different sizes, plates, with their dimensions close to the boards of the usual laminate, as well as in large format sheets. The most common tile sizes are 300x150, 300x300, 200x200, 490x490 mm.

Vinyl laminate has dimensions 191x1316, 324x655 mm. A distinctive feature of the material is its small thickness - it does not exceed 5 mm. This quality allows you to use vinyl laminate over old flooring without reducing the height of the room.

Varieties and features

In addition to the size, coating, commercially available vinyl tiles differ in the installation method:

• With a lock. Vinyl laminate locks are similar to conventional laminate locks. The locking connection allows for quick and easy laying, significantly increasing the speed of work. The lock device allows the use of the coating in the temperature range from 0 to 40°C;
• Adhesive laying. For laying, special types of adhesives for PVC are used. The tile is glued to the base, covered with adhesive mastic. This installation method is not very popular for self-installation;
• Adhesive panels. On the wrong side of the panels there is an adhesive layer protected by paper. Perfectly fastens tiles to even substrates, allowing you to lay the floor covering on old ceramic tiles or linoleum. The disadvantage of this method of laying the coating is the inability to remove the tile and rearrange it in case of an error in laying;
• Tile with adhesive tape. Another option for adhesive-backed vinyl tiles is a type of adhesive lock panel. The slats are arranged in the same way as laminate boards - there is a lock around the perimeter. But the connection is not made mechanically, but with the help of an adhesive smart tape.

Vinyl tiles are flexible and rigid. Rigid laying requires an almost perfectly level base, because if there are significant differences, the panel may crack.

And, of course, the entire wide range of vinyl products offered is distinguished by good design. In addition to the standard multi-colored options, quite successful drawings are offered that imitate natural materials - stone and wood.

Modern technologies allow not only to reproduce in detail the pattern of marble or the texture of a wooden board, but also to supplement visual perception with tactile sensations - vinyl laminate boards have a relief texture of natural wood.

Just like MDF-based laminate, vinyl laminate has a multilayer structure. The basis is a layer of polyvinyl chloride, which gives the product the necessary flexibility or rigidity. The second layer also consists of PVC, only this layer is soft and has reinforcement, for example, with fiberglass. Next comes the base layer, which gives the board or panel strength. It consists of the same polyvinyl chloride, only with mineral additives. Fine quartz sand can be used as an additive. A decorative paper coating with a texture pattern is glued onto the base layer. The very last layer - protective polyurethane, protects the decorative coating from damage.

Advantages and disadvantages of vinyl flooring

Each new type of emerging building materials is touted by manufacturers as the most wear-resistant, beautiful, and, most importantly, safe. In reality, everything is usually not as smooth and rosy as in advertising booklets. First, let's look at the positive aspects of the material.

Vinyl laminate is usually advertised by manufacturers as:

• durable, wear-resistant coating, scratch-resistant and furniture pressure-resistant;
• durable in operation - manufacturers talk about the service life of vinyl flooring up to forty years;
• easy to maintain - easy to clean;
• moisture resistant - can be used in rooms with high humidity;
• finishing material with a variety of designs;
• easy to install with the ability to disassemble the cover with a locking connection and assemble it in another place;
• environmentally friendly coating, which is approved for use in children's and medical institutions;
• fireproof material;
• economical material for finishing the floor;

Even without analyzing the disadvantages of vinyl laminate, you can criticize the listed advantages:

• The use of a cutting tool other than a knife is not intended for cutting vinyl panels. If the material can be easily cut with a regular knife, is it as resistant to scratches, chips and gouges as the manufacturers describe?

Important! According to some reviews, chips on the coating appear already a month after the start of operation. The coating is not recommended to be laid near stoves and heating appliances. Vinyl floors also leave marks from cigarette butts or hot objects. Floor coverings made of natural materials are not only more resistant to mechanical stress, but also absolutely repairable - ordinary parquet can be cycled and varnished, getting new floors for decades. Worn and cracked vinyl tiles will need to be replaced. And the need for repairs will be required quite quickly;

• The coating is not resistant to solvents and some household chemicals. On contact with the rubber, a chemical reaction may begin, leading to staining and discoloration of the pattern;
• The moisture resistance of the coating is relative: by itself, the surface of the tile, of course, absolutely does not let water through. But it can penetrate into the seams if a lock-joint coating is used;
• Simplicity and speed of installation is achieved only under ideal conditions for preparing the base - the device of a flat subfloor using levelers. Therefore, advertisers are cunning, assuring that laying vinyl laminate with a lock connection is as simple as a children's designer - in order to simply and quickly lay thin vinyl panels, systematic work may be required for a month to create a perfectly even screed. Any unevenness will cause cracks in the rigid tile, or the flexible vinyl laminate will wrap around bumps. Although the reviews of professionals about vinyl laminate are quite positive: it is much less capricious and demanding in laying, compared to a conventional MDF coating. The ability to assemble, disassemble and reassemble the flooring is also doubtful - this quality of the material plays a positive role only in the minds of marketers. In practice, I did not have to face such a need as using the old coating in another place;
• The variety of design of artificial flooring is really very large, and the possibilities for creating a high-quality imitation of the pattern of natural wood or stone in modern industry are quite significant. But is it worth it to qualitatively imitate natural materials for a price higher than the cost of natural wooden parquet?
• Manufacturers are actively introducing the idea of ​​cheapness of artificial finishing materials into the minds of buyers. But if you really try to conduct market research on the finishing materials market, it turns out that the price of vinyl laminate can be even higher than for piece natural oak parquet;
• Vinyl coating really refers to materials that do not support combustion, and, therefore, are not hazardous from the point of view of fire. But when heated, the material releases toxic chlorine-containing substances and compounds;

Environmentally friendly vinyl laminate

The environmental friendliness of this material raises the greatest doubts. Even a quartz-vinyl laminate can hardly be called environmentally friendly, just because the material contains natural quartz sand.

In the production of polyvinyl chloride, phthalates are very widely used - salts of phthalic acid. They are used to give softness and flexibility to plastic products. Phthalates are popular in any plastics industry because of their low cost. When added to the polymer mass, phthalates do not bind to polymer molecules, and eventually diffuse into the surrounding air.

This process takes place constantly, so manufacturers' assurances that the harmful effect of vinyl disappears two weeks after laying the floor covering, and it is enough just to intensively ventilate the room after the repair is completed, are unfounded. It is precisely because of the evaporation of phthalates that plastic products become brittle over time - phthalic acid salts evaporate from the plastic structure, and the bond of the polymers is broken. The intense smell of the new coating does fade over time, but the process of phthalates release from PVC does not stop. Just the intensity of the smell of a new product indicates that a lot of substance evaporates from the surface of the coating.

Important! Phthalates in the human body are not excreted, but accumulated. Which leads to disorders in the endocrine, reproductive system, especially in boys, pathologies in the liver and kidneys. Constant exposure to phthalates on the human body can lead to cancer, asthma, infertility in men and women, suppression of male sexual characteristics in boys (not lowering the testicles into the scrotum, underdevelopment of the penis, the formation of behavior typical of girls).

In the future, children of both sexes will have distracted attention syndrome, problems with self-control. Scientists believe that one of the causes of obesity in children is the action of just these substances.

Often in the house to create comfortable temperature conditions, the existing heating system is not enough. Film floor heating can effectively correct this situation and a suitable coating for it is a laminate. When laying such a floor, there is no need to redo the screed, which saves time and financial resources.

There are many nuances that need to be taken into account when choosing, installing and using such an additional heating system, which we will tell you about in this article.

The film floor heating system is based on the principle of infrared radiation, which is safe for laminate and other sensitive floor coverings (for example).

Infrared film converts electrical energy into thermal energy, then, like the sun, it warms us and objects in the room with invisible infrared rays, and only then the air.

At the same time, the heating element itself remains practically cold and thus does not waste energy.

The infrared film floor consists of three main elements, the operation of which is impossible without each other:

• Heating polymer film not more than 0.4 mm thick and not more than one meter wide. The conductors are made of an alloy of copper and silver. Through them, the current goes to the graphite strips, which subsequently generate infrared radiation.
• thermostat serves to control and optimize floor performance. Thanks to him, you can program a mode that allows you to efficiently use thermal energy for a given time.
• temperature sensor, which prevents the coating from heating up higher.

Power, depending on the structure and structure of the film, is approximately 120-200 W per 1 square meter. The temperature of the floor surface with the help of a thermostat can be maintained in the region of 26-40 ° C.

Advantages and disadvantages

If we compare film floor heating with other electric or water heating, then it has a number of significant advantages. First of all, they relate to simplicity and the possibility of self-installation in a short time.

pros

• simplicity and speed of installation and dismantling;
• a small film thickness does not affect the height of the room;
• up to 30% energy savings compared to other floor heating systems;
• there is no need to fill the screed during installation;
• does not dry out the air in the room;
• uniform heating of the room without temperature differences at the bottom and at the top;
• when heated, an electromagnetic field is not created that adversely affects a person;
• if one structural element is damaged, the system continues to operate, only the damaged section needs to be replaced;
• you can operate the floor immediately after laying the laminate;
• with proper operation, the service life can reach 50 years.

Minuses

• Since the infrared floor does not imply very high temperature values, the deformation of the laminate is excluded. To some extent, this can be considered a minus of such a system, since it is impossible to increase the heating efficiency.
• The film floor can only serve as an additional means of heating. The remaining electric and water heating can claim the place of a full-fledged heating agent.
• Before buying a laminate, you need to make sure by special marking that this type of flooring can be laid on a heated floor.

Laying principle

Mounting the infrared floor is easy, but before laying it is necessary to make accurate calculations and familiarize yourself with the sequence of the work process. This will make it possible to avoid errors that may not give the expected result. For installation and connection, certain skills in electrical work are required.

Terms of correct use

In order for the floor to serve for many years, certain rules should be followed.

When installing it the thickness of the material must be at least 8 mm so that the lamellas do not deform from elevated temperatures.
After installation keep the same temperature in the room for 3 days.
During operation, it is important that the room has a constant humidity - 50-70%. At high humidity, the laminate can swell, and at low humidity it can dry out.
When does the heating season start? temperature must be carefully controlled. Heat the floor gradually, increase the power by 4–6 ° C per day. Due to sudden changes in temperature, the coating material may deform.

Also, when working with the floor you need:

• do not install thermal film in a room with high humidity;
• do not fasten the film with nails and screws;
• do not install infrared floor near heaters;
• do not mount at sub-zero temperatures;
• do not use the same floor heating system in rooms with different climatic conditions;
• be sure to ground.

Price

Installing an infrared floor in comparison with other insulation technologies is more affordable. On average, 1 m 2 of a high-quality kit (film, terminals, wires) for installation costs 1200–1400 rubles. The larger the area of ​​​​the room, the cheaper it will cost one square meter.

In addition, you should take into account:

• the cost of waterproofing;
• heat reflector (from 100 rubles per meter);
• thermostat (from 2400 rubles).

For comparison, the price of underfloor heating film can be found in Yandex.Market.

Summing up

Film flooring is an effective means of additional heating and is well suited for installation in residential buildings, including city apartments. Unlike conventional radiators, this system does not dry out the air. Ease of installation makes it possible to install it yourself in a short time.