Put infrared floor heating under the tiles. We make a warm infrared floor under the tiles

Advantages and disadvantages:

• Film underfloor heating under the tiles is easy to install and does not require the use of special tools;
• Affordable price (such a floor costs 240–260 rubles / m²).

Weaknesses:

List of required materials

Installation of a warm floor under the tiles is impossible without such devices and materials:

• Complete set of infrared floor: the thermal film itself, special clamps, heat-insulating materials, electric wires and other elements included in the kit;
• We buy: thermostat and heat-sensitive sensors;
• Foil or other heat-reflecting materials;
• Electrical conductive tape;
• Additional materials for the floor: fiberboard sheets, polyethylene film (placed under porcelain stoneware).

Design features and general rules for laying

Infrared underfloor heating under tiles is a heating system that does not transmit IR rays through a cement-sand screed, porcelain stoneware or tile adhesive. By the way, there are only a few transparent materials in nature through which infrared rays can pass.

Therefore, the room is heated through a heated surface of porcelain stoneware or ceramic tiles. The infrared floor has a high threshold (efficiency of about 95%) for converting electrical energy into heat. Therefore, analogs of an infrared floor - thin and rod self-regulating mats or its modifications will also heat the room well.

Try to avoid direct damage to the thermal film (installation is carried out only in soft shoes). Infrared flooring does not work well with metal mesh and other materials that conduct electricity well. Experts advise using aluminum foil as a heat-reflecting element.

Infrared warm floor under the tiles

Styling options

KNAUF "Superpol" is a kind of warm floor, which is a moisture-resistant gypsum fiber sheets with dimensions of 1500x500x10 mm. Laying of sheets of the KNAUF type is carried out only on a concrete screed. Installation of floor coverings (ceramic tiles, porcelain stoneware, linoleum, parquet, etc.) is possible immediately after the adhesive has dried on KNAUF Superpol sheets.

Advice: try not to use other adhesives for installing Superfloor sheets. Buy only original KNAUF glue.

Installation of sheets of infrared floor is best done on foil or other reflective materials. This will increase the efficiency of the heating system by 30-40%. At the second stage of the KNAUF Superpol installation, it can be overlapped with sheets of DSP (cement-bonded particle boards), LSU (glass magnesite sheet) and GVL (gypsum-fiber sheets). These materials are purchased from manufacturers of warm floors or from the building materials market.

Installation of a dry screed subfloor Knauf-superpol

Attention! The film is attached to the above sheets only with glue. Do not try to attach it to LSU, CSP or GVL sheets with screws, as you can violate not only the integrity of the heating system, but also the waterproofing of the room as a whole.

Wet and dry installation

Pouring concrete into an infrared floor is called wet installation. The plane must be prepared before pouring: lay a heat-reflecting element with low shrinkage on the floor (isolon, foil-insol or rolled technical plug). The heat reflector is cut into uniform strips and placed along the width of the substrate. The reflective element is laid in 15–20 cm increments.

Professionals advise using a paint or plastic mesh as a reinforcing element, since conductive elements can cause a fire or cause serious harm to a person in the event of a short circuit. The mesh with 5x5 or 10x10 cells is fixed to the primary screed with dowels.

It is better to choose the drilling places in the places where the film is cut or on the sides, so as not to touch or damage the carbon fiber bands of the infrared floor. Note that the number of mounting holes depends on the geometry of the floor. There is always more mounting space in square rooms than in houses with irregular or non-standard floor shapes.

For better contact with the primary screed, a perforated heating film is installed. If you cannot afford to buy perforated thermal film, then feel free to use the usual one. "Striped" film is sold without technological holes, so you have to make them yourself.

First, the heat-reflecting element is installed, and then the underfloor heating system is laid on it. After that, you can proceed to the penultimate stage - filling the screed with liquid tile glue, the layer of which should not exceed 5 mm.

The screed is leveled with a rule and left in this form until completely dry. With the correct temperature and good ventilation, the drying period lasts from 5 to 10 days. Please note: porcelain stoneware is placed only on the hardened and dried screed.

Laying an infrared floor on a "Dry screed" is fundamentally different from the above-described installation technology on a "Wet base".

Step-by-step instruction:

• Level the sub-floor;
• Lay the elements of the heating system according to the instructions;
• Further, sheets of gypsum fiber board are laid on the assembled structure. Features of installing gypsum fiber: first of all, a special tape is glued along the walls. Note, before gluing the tape, the floor must be leveled with self-leveling mixtures and treated with a primer. GVL boards are glued to the rough coating with glue and self-tapping screws;
• The tiles can be laid exactly one day after installing the GVL boards.

Video: Infrared floor heating

Today, more and more people, when organizing heating, give preference to the underfloor heating system. It differs in two types: electric and water. In this article we will tell you about the features of electric heating, and, in particular, a film warm floor under the tiles. This type of heating floor will create comfort and coziness inside your premises.

Features of laying the film floor

The process of laying a film underfloor heating under a tile differs in its specificity from installation under a laminate and linoleum. First of all, it is necessary to decide on which base the film warm floor will creep. Will a new screed be poured or an old rough base will be used.

Important! Installation of a film underfloor heating under the tiles should be carried out on a perfectly flat surface. So it can work correctly.

There is also another technology for laying film warm floors. First, a floor heating system is placed. On top, gently creep a plastic film, and on top of glass magnesite or gypsum fiber. Tiles are installed on top. The surface of the sheets is preliminarily primed with concrete contact.

The technology of laying floor heating with a wet method is considered more reliable and durable. If gypsum-fiber sheets are used as a basis, then in case of moisture ingress, they can absorb it and collapse. As a result, the tile may begin to fall off the base. The worst part is that the tiles will simply crack and cannot be laid back.

Of course, the dry method is much easier and faster to implement. But if you are interested in durability, then you should opt for the wet method, where the new screed will be poured. It will perform several tasks at once: level the floor, transfer heat from the heating circuit of the film heating and serve as a good basis for installing tiles.

To carry out the work, you must have the following material:

• Polyethylene.
• Thermal insulation material for the heating circuit.
• Electric wire.
• Thermostat for temperature control.
• Bituminous tape.
• Connecting clips.
• Heating film.

As for the tool, the following set is needed here:

• Perforator.
• Screwdriwer set.
• Pliers.
• Construction knife.
• A hammer.
• Electric tester and more.

This is the basic toolbox. However, during all the work, another tool may be required. But it's worth noting right away that you definitely won't need any special tools.

Feature of operation

The system of film underfloor heating under tiles is successfully used both in residential buildings and apartments, and in public premises. If in the classic version the heating element is located on the wall, then here the heating circuit is placed in the screed body under the tiles. Sometimes a film warm floor is hidden by tile glue. Thanks to this, the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe room warms up evenly, and a rather comfortable temperature is created inside the room. Another feature of this system is that it is economical heating. But there is one important nuance here. An infrared heating circuit can never be the main heating system.

Film infrared underfloor heating is very popular and has a number of positive aspects. For example, unlike cable infrared underfloor heating, the film system has a greater efficiency. If we compare this system with a warm water floor, then this system requires minimal costs for arrangement. No coolant is needed, and as a result, the likelihood of leakage is excluded. The infrared system does not dry the air and does not emit electromagnetic waves.

The process of transferring heat energy is carried out by infrared radiation. Thanks to this, the surface heating process is carried out. When the surface has gained heat, it transfers heat energy to the room. Also, infrared radiation heats up all surrounding objects, which also then transfer heat.

The average infrared wavelength is about 20 microns. Due to this, the system is very close to the action of sunlight. These waves travel perfectly through the air. If the rays meet certain objects on their way, then the objects take on heat, and then transfer it into the air. This whole system of work is called the secondary convection effect.

Installation instructions for film underfloor heating

Now let's take a closer look at the principle of laying a warm floor under tiles. The whole procedure consists of simple steps:

1. Training.
2. Heating circuit installation.
3. Underfloor heating connection.

Preparatory work

The key to a successful final job will largely depend on careful preparation. First of all, it is recommended to develop a project for the future warm floor. You need to know in advance where the furniture, refrigerator and other massive objects that will not move will be installed. This is important because the heating circuit must not be covered.

A reflective film must be placed under the heating circuit. It is necessary for the purpose of increasing the efficiency of the entire heating system. So, thanks to the installed reflective film, all the heat will be directed upward into the room. This means that the level of heat losses will be minimized.

As for the preparatory work, it is also necessary to determine in advance the place where the thermostat will be installed on the wall. Wires are led there. Also, the zones in which the film warm floor is laid are determined.

Special attention is paid to the preparation of the foundation. As already mentioned, it should be perfectly flat. Plus, there should be no flaws, chips, etc. on the floor surface. All debris should be removed completely. Also, the surface can be vacuumed with a construction vacuum cleaner. If you ignore all these actions, then this or that sharp object can break through the film warm floor. At the end of the preparatory work, a reflective film is laid on the floor. All seams are connected to each other with special tape.

Installation work

Installation of a warm floor is quite simple. The heating circuit is usually sold in rolls. You need to roll out the underfloor heating roll. To cut the film to the size of the room, special cut-off strips are provided.

There are special copper contacts on the film field. In the process of laying the warm floor, they should look down at the floor. In order for you to have to connect the film to each other as little as possible, calculate the segments so that you get the largest possible segments. To reduce the consumption of electrical wires, you need to direct the contacts on the film field towards the thermostat.

A clip is fixed to a special copper strip. One side will be located inside the film, and the other outside. Use pliers to secure the clip. The incision must be covered with bitumen tape to prevent current leakage.

Important! If you cut the film floor heating not along the cut line, then the entire cut must be covered with bitumen tape.

At the end of all installation work, it remains to fix the laid film to the floor with adhesive tape. This will eliminate the likelihood that during the laying of tiles, it will move from its place.

Connection to thermostat

The final stage of installing a film underfloor heating under the tiles is its connection. There is also a set of works, which boils down to the following actions:

• Installation of the thermostat. Its installation should be carried out in a place where it will be convenient for you to control the warm floor.
• Next, the wire is connected according to the indicated diagram on the thermostat. The wires should be routed to the electrical panel. The wire itself is placed in a special corrugation and laid in a groove. Some people mount the wire in the baseboard, but this is not entirely reliable.
• When the wires are laid in the floor, a small cut can be made in the heat reflector. A wire is immersed in them. Due to this, there will be no bulges. This is especially important if the future layer of tile adhesive will be minimal.

In the future, all wires are connected according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer. A temperature sensor must be installed between the heating circuit. The presence of a temperature sensor will ensure the correct operation of the underfloor heating.

Conclusion

So, here we have considered all the features of installing a film underfloor heating under tiles. The technology itself is simple. But it requires attention to detail. So that you do not miss anything, we suggest that you additionally watch the prepared video material, which tells about other intricacies of the installation work of the film warm floor under the tiles.

High-quality home heating will play an important role for a comfortable pastime and budget savings. One of the innovative heating methods is. Floor installation is carried out under various types of coverings, including tiles.

In this article, we will consider the usefulness of an infrared floor under the tiles, talk about the properties and types of insulating film and instructions for installing a film underfloor heating:
1. Infrared floor under the tiles: pros and cons
2. Choosing an infrared floor
3. Technical characteristics and calculations of warm floor slabs
4. Infrared floor under the tiles: installation technology
Necessary materials
Phased installation of a warm floor
5. Basic requirements and recommendations for installing infrared underfloor heating under the tiles

Infrared floor under the tiles: pros and cons

Infrared underfloor heating is one of the most functional and energy efficient home heating methods. Its popularity is due to comfortable, high-quality and uniform heating.
The main idea behind heating is to use a special paste, a polymer coating, that emits infrared rays, which range in size from 5-20 microns. The main heat in this case is from carbon carbon paste placed in a protective layer of polyester.

Insulating material itself, such as infrared film, is versatile enough. Unlike hot water heating, it can be used in different conditions (apartment, house) and under different coverings. However, discussions continue among experts about the advisability of placing infrared floors under tiles or granite. Of course, tile is a cold finishing material that requires additional heating, but it is believed that installing such a coating as infrared film is undesirable.

There are several reasons:
1. Low film adhesion. When the infrared film is immediately placed under a tile or liquid screed, you get a “floating” floor that is not resistant to deformation. Some of the “craftsmen” try to make lots of grooves and notches to increase grip. However, if you do not securely seal these micro holes, the floor can leak current.
2. Risk of short circuit. Tile mortars and screed adhesives are alkaline. Over time, the polyester layer of the film may erode, regardless of the amount and thickness of the layer. Lowest risk - short circuit, worst case - arcing of open electrical connections.

Tip: Infrared film floors are ideal for dry installation under linoleum, laminate, tile or carpet. Under granite, tiles, ceramics, it is better to use mats or an electric cable.

Despite these drawbacks, not everyone is ready to give up infrared insulation boards. When installed using special technology, disadvantages and risks are reduced to a minimum. This persistence is due to the significant benefits of infrared flooring:

Efficient and uniform heating of the home;
easy installation;
duration of work;
minimum loss of space in the room - the thickness of the infrared floor is no more than 5 mm;
reasonable cost of infrared flooring under the tiles;

Heating of the premises is improved due to secondary convective hot objects;

The concentration of negative ions increases by 4 times - this has a positive effect on indoor air quality;
minimum electromagnetic radiation;

Working infrared film is not accompanied by noise, vibration and dust emission.

It is interesting! 90% of the heat from infrared radiation freely passes through the screed and tiles, not only heating the air in the building, but also the human body.

Choosing an infrared floor

There are two types of infrared heated floors for tiles: and foil.
Features of the core floor operating on the infrared principle:

Laying directly into the glue solution is permissible;
the use of additional reinforcing mesh is not required;
installation of a core floor is easy to perform and does not require the participation of specialists;
automatic mode of setting the heating system - enabled in the maximum energy saving mode.

During the installation of the heating film, it is important to comply with certain requirements, which increases the cost of repairs. Infrared film, in turn, is available in two versions: with carbon and bimetallic heating elements.

In the first option, carbon fiber acts as a heating element (carbon paste with various additives). The main material is a lavsan film, which has properties such as durability, strength, elasticity and good dielectric characteristics.
under the tile: photo

The heating elements are sealed in two layers, power supply is carried out through copper or silver-copper conductors. The underfloor heating is connected in parallel.

Important! Infrared carbon film can be used to insulate vertical surfaces and ceilings.

Optimal - graphite-coated infrared film. The material has high reliability and long service life. The disadvantage is the high cost.
The structure of heating the film by a bimetallic heating element consists of two layers: aluminum and copper with additives.
In the second option, bimetallic floors - elastic polyurethane film. Installation is necessarily complemented by a ground wire, and the installation procedure is somewhat more complicated. The connection is made through an RCD and a differential machine.

Important! A bimetallic infrared floor must not be installed under tiles.

Technical characteristics and calculations of underfloor heating for tiles
Film floors with underfloor heating have the following characteristics:
maximum power consumption in heating mode - up to 250 W / m2;
temperature setting in power consumption mode - 35-85 W / m2;
radiation wavelength - 5-20 microns;
the maximum percentage of infrared radiation in the spectrum is about 90-95%;
maximum heating temperature - 130 ° C;
operating voltage - 220 W.

High-performance parameters allow using film heating not only as an additional, but also as the main element of the heating system!

When planning the installation of underfloor heating, it is first necessary to calculate the area, infrared heating coverage and power consumption of the covering film. Basically, the thermal power with normal heating in the room is assumed to be 100 W / m. With heating. Considering an IR film efficiency of 90%, this value is equivalent to 111.1 W / sq.
For underfloor heating to be used effectively, the infrared film must cover all areas without furniture. For example, if the free area is 80% and the whole room is 25 square meters, the IR film is 20 square meters.
In thermoregulation mode (35%), the power consumption is: 0.35 * 220 W / m * 20 sq. M * h 1 \u003d 1540 W / h.

Infrared under-tile floor: installation technology

Necessary materials:
To install an infrared floor under a tile with your own hands, you can buy a ready-made set of "warm floor" or buy all the materials yourself separately.
A standard set of materials for installation includes:
roll of film;
terminals;
wiring kit;
bituminous adhesive for insulation;
PVC insulation;
detailed installation instructions.
In addition, you need to prepare:
polyethylene film (heat-resistant);
heat reflecting insulation;
thermostat (selected based on the power and type of installation location / recess);
thermostat box;
wire for installing the thermostat; when choosing a wire cross-section, start with the wire material and the design capacity of the system;

Temperature sensor (if not supplied);
double sided tape;
self-leveling dry mix for thin coatings for tiles;
installation power tools: pliers, wire cutters, etc .;
indicator electric screwdriver, multimeter;
tile glue;
measuring instruments: meter, tape measure;
level;
tools required for tiling.

Step by step instructions for installing underfloor heating

The base under the underfloor heating must necessarily be smooth without grooves, protrusions or other visible defects. The permissible height difference is no more than 3 mm. Before packing, check the surface level and level if necessary to make the concrete screed level. Let the screed "grab" (28 days), clean the surface from dust. After cooking, you can install the infrared floor.
1. Installation of a waterproofing layer. Membrane waterproofing is necessary to protect the heating system from moisture.
2. Laying heat-reflecting material (penofol, isolon, etc.). The thermal insulation is placed upward with a reflective surface. Insulation reduces heat loss, thereby increasing system efficiency and reducing energy consumption. The material expands on the floor and spreads over the adhesive seams.


3. Create a layout and determine the location for the thermostat - ideally 15 cm above floor level. When planning, it is necessary to take into account that underfloor heating is not mounted under appliances and stationary large-sized furniture. If an infrared floor is used as the main heating system, it must occupy at least 70% of the area. If the floor is additional heating, then 40% is sufficient.
4. Layout under the floor, prepared according to the scheme. The laying is performed according to a number of requirements:
o the first row is located at a distance of 10-40 cm from the wall;
o heating decomposes the side of the copper foil down to the wall where the thermostat is;
o leave a gap of 5-10 mm between the film strips; it is important that the strips do not overlap each other;
o floor heating rollers at the edges, glued to an insulating foil tape.
5. Connect floor heating:
o electrical connections in places where, for example, a copper bus, terminal clamps or crimping pliers are installed; the protrusions on the terminals should slightly press against the plastic, ensuring contact with the copper strip;
o the ends of the conductive wire inserted into the terminal and crimped;

o make a parallel connection of the cut parts of the infrared floor; Special thick bitumen or tape seal on both sides, covering the exposed ends of terminals and wires;
o insulate the bare ends of the copper wire;
o connect the wires to the required length to the place of the expected outlet of the thermostat;
o sensor with a wire inserted under the film floor and connected to a thermostat; mount the temperature sensor head under the heating foil made of black silicone foil using bitumen insulation, and at the installation site the thermal insulation is cut to prevent the formation of a hill.

Important! It is better to entrust the electrical installation work for the installation of a warm floor to a professional master.

After connection, it is necessary to check the performance of each heating tape at temperatures up to + 30 ° C. If the system works well, you can move on to the next step - laying the screed and tiling the surface of the tiles.
For additional protection against leaks, apply a layer of plastic wrap over the underfloor heating layer. Then cover the surface with a plastic reinforcing mesh to improve adhesion to the film. Pour in mix or self-leveling floor screed 8-10 mm thick. Leave the floor for 3 weeks to cure and tile.

Basic requirements and recommendations for installing infrared underfloor heating under the stove:
1. To replace the temperature sensor if it breaks down, it must be mounted in a corrugated pipe with a plug.
2. If the infrared floor consumes more than 2 kW in total, it is advisable to connect it through a separate machine.
3. Before pouring the screed, it is necessary to undergo a repeated tensile test, so that later there is no need to dismantle the tiles.
4. Floor heating after pouring can be turned on only after complete drying - namely, not earlier than 28 days.
5. If the IR film is damaged during installation, it is best to insulate with aluminum tape on both sides.
6. When laying tiles, you should not use metal mesh reinforcement.
7. Laying underfloor heating should only be done on a dry surface.
8. Do not place such electrical appliances as stove or fireplace on warm floor heating elements.
9. Do not bend the film more than 90 °.
10. It is undesirable to lay one part of the film over 15 meters.

To order calculation and installation, please contact our managers by phone 8-800-511-65-10.

Installation of infrared film under the tiles: Video

Ceramics, glazed tiles are considered the best floor for sanitary rooms and kitchens. The cold surface will become comfortable if you install an infrared floor under the tiles. Radiation heat does not dry out the air, it is useful. Which way to use, dry or wet, creating a layer cake of a film warm floor under the tiles? Are there any peculiarities in the installation of heating plate cladding? Here we will talk about the advantages of installing a warm film floor under the tiles.

Why are film floors for tiles better than cable ones?

Both types of heating circuits operate on the electrical network. But the cable is laid on a base of mats or poured with a concrete screed. This somewhat raises the floor surface, it is applied using a screed or fill.

The belt structure of the infrared heater consists of graphite rods in a film, 3 mm thick. The infrared warm floor under the tiles is laid on the prepared base, no screed is required. You can do the installation of a warm film floor under the tiles with your own hands.

For both heating systems, a wiring is required to connect the circuit, with the installation of a thermostat. There are features of the use of insulation, adhesive.

Features of infrared underfloor heating

Laying tiles on the prepared surface of the room can be done wet and dry. We suggest carefully considering the composition of the IR tape.

Infrared underfloor heating has its own characteristics. When using self-leveling floors or screed, you need to consider:

• The cement mortar does not adhere to the coating film. If notches are made on the film surface, if they are not insulated properly, the floor will shock.
• An alkaline solution of the screed leads to structural changes in the film surface, the tape will quickly deteriorate.
• A bimetal-based infrared film heater cannot be used for laying under tiles, only carbon fiber.

Based on the characteristics of the infrared underfloor heating film, installation under the tiles is best done in a dry way. Experts consider the Teplolux film to be the most effective infrared heater.

Installation of infrared floor heating under the tiles

The figure shows the sequence of work on laying a film underfloor heating under the tiles.

Before laying, the heating circuit should be marked. It should not be located under furniture. Taking into account losses, efficiency is 90%, it is optimal to choose a material with a power of 200 W / m2. The larger the volume of the room, the greater the heat transfer should be if the IR film is the only source of heat.

The sequence of operations for laying IR tape

An infrared warm floor is laid under the tiles, in compliance with all the recommendations of experts.

It is important to carry out all the operations for laying under the tiles of the infrared warm field in a strict sequence and carefully. If you lack skills in working with electrical appliances, invite a specialist. At each stage, you need to ring the circuit to make sure there are no short-circuit sections. Thoroughly insulate the wires, crimp the terminals, install a thermostat - the most important part of installing a warm floor.

Do you have any doubts about which material to choose for the installation of warm floors? Where is it more profitable to buy a film heater? Call us, our experts will advise.

The comfort of living in an apartment or a private house largely depends on the microclimate in the premises, so you need to take care of a good heating system. The best modern option is a film underfloor heating, which is perfect for laying tiles. It is a roll material consisting of a dense base and heating elements. Depending on the type, the film floor can become an additional or main source of heat in the room.

Features and Benefits

The popularity of the film floor is explained by the presence of a wide list of advantages, which include:

1. High efficiency. Due to its high power, the system is able to quickly heat up, and the maximum temperature can reach 50 o C.

2. Minimum energy costs... The foil floor consumes a small amount of electricity, which allows you to save money in the cold season by eliminating the need for central heating. In addition, the automatic control system switches itself off when the optimum temperature is reached, but the heated surface of the plates continues to exude heat.

3. Uniform heating of the room. Film covers 70% of the floor area, so the air warms up much faster, while the highest temperature remains in the lower part of the room.

4. Availability. The prices for film floors have a wide range, so it is not difficult to find inexpensive materials among the rich assortment. In addition, you can save on the services of a wizard if you install the system yourself.

5. Versatility. Electric underfloor heating is suitable for any floor covering, be it tiles, parquet, laminate or linoleum.

6. Resistant to moisture. Heating cloths can be safely installed in rooms with high humidity - in a toilet, bathroom or kitchen.

7. Security. Warm floors do not pose a danger to others. They do not emit toxic substances and are not flammable.

8. Simple installation. It is not difficult to install and connect the system, you just need to follow the instructions exactly and follow the recommendations.

Film-type warm floor is most often mounted under ceramic tiles, because it has a high degree of thermal conductivity.

Kinds

Roll heating systems, which are installed under the tiles, can be in the form of a thin mat with heating elements, or two brazed films with carbon fiber between them. Both materials are quite effective, but to understand which one is better, you should familiarize yourself with their characteristics.

Model with carbon fiber are made of polyester film, which has high strength, elasticity and wear resistance. In addition, it is a dielectric, which indicates its safety. For the production of a heating element, i.e. carbon fiber use carbon paste and special additives. To increase the strength and durability of heating systems, some manufacturers cover the films with graphite spraying.

The carbon filler is laid in parallel strips and sealed between two films. Then, the products are equipped with conductors made of copper or copper-silver alloy, through which the current will flow to the heating elements, which in turn are equipped with a parallel circuit. The film floor of this type is also called infrared. It can be installed in just 2-3 hours, and just as quickly dismantled to move to another room. The only drawback of the system is its high cost.

Thin heating mats consist of a heat-resistant mesh and a cable attached to it. The products are equipped with a conductor with a small cross-section, which can be single-core unshielded, or two-core with protection. This type of film floor can be installed in various rooms, regardless of their conditions. In addition, mats are a good choice for rooms with non-standard configurations. their mesh base can be cut between the heating cable and the products can be positioned.

Installation of underfloor heating is performed quite quickly and simply, because you just need to untwist a thin mat, connect it to the network, and then you can lay the tiles. When facing the floor, a small amount of cement mortar is used, it will be enough not only for gluing the tiles, but also for reliable fixation of the mats, because the mixture will penetrate both their cells and heating wires to the base.

How to choose?

Film underfloor heating, intended for laying tiles, have many similar characteristics, which complicates the choice for consumers. Therefore, in order to determine which system is best suited, you should pay attention to their differences.

For example, carbon fiber film has the following features:

• the material can be dismantled and installed in another room;
• furniture and other objects can be placed directly above the installed system, and they will not interfere with the radiation of heat rays;
• the electromagnetic field is practically zero;
• in case of damage to the heating elements, the entire system continues to work, with the exception of the failed section;
• can be the main source of heating.

As for thin mats, only simple installation and affordable cost are their positive differences. Thus, infrared film is the best choice. But it should be noted that floor heating mats will be good if there is a main source of heat in the room. In addition, they are much cheaper than films with a carbon heating element, which for most consumers is an important choice factor.

Preparatory work

Before starting the installation of a warm floor, it is necessary to prepare the base.The first step is to take out all the items from the room and perform cleaning. Then, using a level, check for irregularities on the surface. If there is a significant curvature of the floor, then it is better to make a screed using a self-leveling mortar, and otherwise, local application of putty will be sufficient.

If there is a wooden floor in the room without visible damage and decay, then it can be left, but it is still recommended to perform scraping before installing the film floor. In another case, you should remove the old coating and make a concrete screed, or replace it with gypsum fiber board or plywood.

Another important step is drawing up a scheme for laying the heating material. As a rule, it is placed almost on the entire floor area, retreating from the walls by about 20-30 cm. It is important to remember that when laying thin mats, the placement of furniture should be taken into account, because there should be no heating elements under it.

Styling

To lay a warm film floor, you need to prepare additional tools and materials:

• scissors;
• roulette;
• puncher;
• plastic corrugated pipe;
• a hammer;
• dowels;
• bituminous tape;
• polyethylene film;
• reflective film;
• electric wire;
• connecting clips;
• thermal sensor;
• thermostat.

The first step is to determine the location of the thermostat, after which a small trench is prepared with the help of a perforator, into which a corrugated pipe with electric wires will be placed. Further, in accordance with the diagram, a reflective film is laid on the floor, sheets of heating material are placed on it, connected to each other and a thermal sensor is installed, and then connected to a thermostat. Finally, the system is covered with plastic wrap and fixed to the floor with dowels. After that, you can start laying the floor tiles. It should be noted that when installing thin mats, you do not need to use plastic wrap, you can immediately proceed with the surface finishing.