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Warm floor under the laminate

Do you want to make your home more comfortable and inviting? With the installation of a warm floor beneath laminate flooring, you'll be able to do just that! This innovative system will heat your home from below, creating a pleasant environment and emphasizing the unique characteristics of the laminate flooring. With its impressive thermal insulation properties, you can keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer. It is also easy to install and economical to maintain. Furthermore, it is both eco-friendly and safe, and has proven to be a hit with homeowners who want to experience the cosy warmth and aesthetic charm of a raised floor without the hassle of installation.

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The article will tell you about the options for the device of the underfloor heating system, which are optimal for covering from laminated fiberboard and chipboard panels. You will learn how to choose a floor heating system without compromising the space of your apartment. We will tell you which systems are most effective when covering the floor with laminate.

Warm floor under the laminate

Laminated fiberboard and chipboard panels (laminated chipboard, laminated chipboard, laminate) have gained popularity due to their utility and good appearance. The main advantage over the closest competitor – linoleum, is the ability to disassemble and partially replace the coating. At the same time, the laminate has worse thermal conductivity indicators than linoleum, and this must be taken into account when choosing a floor heating system.

Underfloor heating organization

The thickness of the laminate panel varies from 6 to 12 mm (parquet board). This means that in order to heat efficiently and quickly, heat must overcome this barrier. There are two ways to solve this problem:

  1. Screed heating. This method is suitable for screed-laying laminate flooring through a thin prep layer (cork or polyethylene foam). In this case, the underfloor heating system can be water or electric, or a combined liquid-electric system.
  2. Heating the floor covering. In this case, an infrared film (IR-film) is laid under the laminate, and this is the only way of “dry installation”.

In both cases, to correctly calculate the amount of material, a plan of the premises to be heated will be required. To create it, it is necessary to take into account what requirements are imposed on the “warm floor” – it can be both the main and auxiliary heating means.

It is recommended to install underfloor heating under the laminate indoors:

  1. Bathroom.
  2. Living room.
  3. Kitchen.
  4. Loggia or insulated balcony.
  5. Cabinet.
  6. Bedroom.

Warm floor under the laminate

Not recommended:

  1. Pantries.
  2. Corridors.
  3. Hallways / vestibules.
  4. Uninsulated loggias and balconies.

The heating system depends on the room’s capabilities. So, for example, a water heated floor, powered by a boiler, is not always appropriate in small apartments – it requires space for installing a collector. In this case, it is better to focus on a simple and quick installation of an electrical system..

Screed heating

This method is good for large country houses, which allow you to equip a boiler room, taking into account the location of the comb. The method is equally effective for all types of coatings, more precisely, it depends only on the efficiency of heating the screed. This is the minus of this system – in order for the heat to pass through the coating, it is necessary to heat the thickness of the solution.

When choosing the cross-section of pipes and the temperature of the carrier in the system, the thermal conductivity of the flooring should be taken into account:

  1. Linoleum – 0.2 W / mK.
  2. Parquet board – 0.15 W / mK.
  3. Laminate – 0.1 W / mK.

From the data it can be seen that it is the laminate that has the greatest predisposition to heating, which means that it is best used for any underfloor heating system..

The screed is poured over heating elements – pipes, cables or mats. The choice in this case also does not depend on the coating material – each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Water TP – retains heat for a long time, but expensive and difficult to install and maintain (many connections, units, different materials). Subtype of water floor – combined screed heating system. Such a floor is easy to install and does not require a boiler..

Warm floor under the laminate

Cable – it is easier to mount than pipes, but more difficult than mat or film. At the same time, the constant energy consumption is much higher than that of water. The main advantage is that it can be laid in the adhesive layer of the tile.

Warm floor under the laminate

Electric mat – a convenient solution for small apartments and bathrooms. A 20 mm screed is sufficient for its installation..

Warm floor under the laminate

Infrared film

IR-film – a thin sheet (less than 1 mm) of transparent plastic with integrated IR emitters, which are in the form of thin plates. This sheet is flexible – it can be rolled up or laid on a radius or vertical plane. Another advantage of the film is its reusability..

This option is suitable only in the case of “dry installation” of the laminate (all of the above require filling with a screed). A film is laid between the substrate and the laminate, the emitters of which are connected to the controller. Also, temperature sensors are installed on the film, information from which is sent to the controller display or to the relay (when operating in automatic heating mode).

Warm floor under the laminate

Infrared foil is the most suitable solution for underfloor heating under a laminate. Despite the high energy consumption – 200-220 W / m2, and the cost of the material itself is about $ 27. e. for 1 m2, it looks advantageous due to its ease of installation and compactness. Even a beginner master who has a master class from our article at hand can connect the controllers. In this case, the high thermal conductivity of the laminate will become an important factor in saving on heating the thickness of the material. Underfloor heating under an infrared laminate is ideal for intermittent rooms – they warm up quickly.

Whatever your underfloor heating system, laminated fiberboard panels are the best solution for this system. They are designed for heating, so there will be no problems with their premature wear.

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Comments: 2
  1. Ella Campbell

    Can someone clarify how a warm floor system works under laminate flooring? I’m curious about the installation process and effectiveness. Does it evenly distribute heat throughout the room? And is it energy efficient? Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

    Reply
    1. Logan Greene

      A warm floor system works by circulating warm water through pipes or cables installed underneath the laminate flooring. The installation process involves laying down the heating elements on the subfloor, adding insulation, and then placing the laminate flooring on top. The heat generated by the system rises evenly, providing consistent warmth throughout the room. This not only keeps the floor comfortable to walk on but also helps to heat the entire space effectively.

      In terms of energy efficiency, warm floor systems can be very efficient as they operate at lower temperatures compared to traditional heating systems, reducing energy consumption. Additionally, the heat is radiated evenly, which means that the room can be heated more efficiently without creating cold spots. Overall, warm floor systems are a great option for adding comfort and warmth to a room while also being energy-efficient.

      Reply
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