Warm floor under linoleum. Warm electric floor under linoleum. Cable electric heating

Additionally, a warm floor will help you heat your house, which can easily be installed under linoleum. The “warm floor” system, which until recently was available only to a few, is now gaining more and more popularity. By equipping your apartment with such a device, you will be able to walk barefoot on the floor even on the coldest winter days. Many people think that not all finishing materials can be combined with a heated floor; linoleum is considered an especially unsuitable coating for such a tandem. However, if you take into account all the nuances of choosing and installing such a structure, you will be able to install a warm floor under the linoleum with your own hands.

Choosing linoleum for film heated floors

Linoleum is a very cheap and therefore popular material. However, his low cost suggests that it lags far behind new materials in terms of its technological characteristics.

To decide whether this type of linoleum can be used in combination with heated floors, you can consult with a sales consultant, or look at the pictograms on the packaging.

Very often, unscrupulous manufacturers add harmful substances to linoleum. Because of this, when heated, such materials begin to release compounds hazardous to health. To avoid becoming a victim of deception, always ask the seller for a quality certificate before purchasing linoleum, and also make sure that this type of material is suitable for use in combination with heated floors.

When choosing linoleum for a heated film floor, you need to take into account its quality and main characteristics

Types of linoleum and their interaction with heated floors:

1. Rubber linoleum is perhaps one of the cheapest types. They are not very aesthetically pleasing appearance and low quality indicators, which is why it is rarely used for finishing houses and apartments. However, laying such material on a warm floor is quite possible.
2. PVC linoleum is also inexpensive and looks good in the interior of an apartment. When heated above 28 degrees Celsius, it begins to release harmful compounds, so it is absolutely unsuitable for installation together with a heated floor.
3. Single-layer linoleum is a thin and short-lived material. It, of course, can be laid on a warm floor, but it requires frequent replacement.
4. Insulated linoleum is a high-quality thick material with low thermal conductivity. However, it can only be placed in a room where there is no underfloor heating system.
5. Glyphthalic linoleum is covered with a thick layer of varnish. It meets all modern technological requirements. This is an ideal option for laying heated floors.

In addition to the above qualities of linoleum, you need to pay attention to what it is made of back side material. If its back layer consists of fabric, then such linoleum is not suitable for a warm floor.

Infrared heated floor under linoleum

More recently, a heated floor system required a lengthy and labor-intensive installation, during which it was necessary to deal with concrete work. However, now that the construction industry is rapidly developing, there are simpler and more convenient options.

Infrared film heated floor is modern material, which in appearance resembles a black thick plate, it bends perfectly and has light weight. In some respects, such a film is inferior to more traditional types warm floor, but it also has enough advantages.

Quite popular today is infrared heated flooring under linoleum.

Advantages of infrared heated floors:

1. The cost of all elements of such a design is lower than, for example, a water-heated floor.
2. Installation of film heated floors is so simple that you can handle it yourself.
3. Such a system is not afraid of frost and cannot crack and flood the rooms underneath.
4. When you turn on such a device, the floor heats up instantly. In this case, only objects in contact with the floor are heated, and the air does not lose moisture.
5. Heated floor film can be laid only in those places where heating is needed. This way you save material.

The list of advantages of infrared flooring is quite long. However, unfortunately, such tape heating can hardly be called ideal. It has quite significant disadvantages.

Disadvantages of film-based heated floors:

1. Possibility of electric shock to people walking on it. And although such a probability is very small, because the device is well grounded, such cases have still happened.
2. High energy consumption. Maintenance of such a system is several times more expensive than floor heating with a water device.
3. Dependence on the availability of electricity. When there is a power outage, floor heating stops immediately.

As you can see, infrared heated floors also have disadvantages. If they seem too significant to you. Then you can choose another system, but each type has its own disadvantages.

Electric heated floor under linoleum

The electric cable floor can be cable-based. In the first case, the structure is simply a wire, and in the second, a heated mesh in the form of a wire.

You can quickly and easily make a room warm using an electric floor

An electric floor on a base is easier to install, but the pros and cons of both options are the same. This type of heated floor has characteristics similar to the infrared system, but there are some differences.

You can make such a floor yourself, even without special equipment. You don't even need to implant it into the screed if you finishing material tiles will be used, but under linoleum and laminate concrete base you will have to install everything.

By choosing such a system for your home, you can easily move furniture, which is a definite advantage. However, the amount of energy consumed by such a system is still very large, so it should not be used as the main source of heating.

Water floor heating under linoleum

Water-based heated floors are more suitable for heating private houses, as such a system requires an additional riser. However, new multi-story houses already have everything necessary equipment to install such a system.

If you install such a floor in an apartment without the consent of your neighbors and public utilities, then you may have problems with the law.

To heat private homes, many experts recommend using water-based heated floors.

The disadvantages of such a system compared to electric heated floors are the following factors: mandatory filling with screed, labor-intensive installation, high cost of materials, and the possibility of installation not in all rooms. Another disadvantage of all heated floors is that you cannot constantly walk on them, otherwise you may develop diseases associated with blood vessels.

The advantages of underfloor heating include the fact that it saves energy, does not emit harmful electrical and electromagnetic waves, and is also able to cope with heating the room without additional devices.

Laying heated floors under linoleum

Once you have decided on the type of underfloor heating, you can proceed directly to its installation. We will look at how to properly install an infrared floor on a film base. This is the easiest system to make, and you can definitely handle it.

It is quite possible to lay a heated floor under linoleum yourself, the main thing is to familiarize yourself with all the nuances of this process in advance

Instructions on how to lay film heated floors:

1. The preparatory stage includes leveling the floor using a screed or cement plaster(this depends on how uneven the base is).
2. Waterproofing protection is glued on top of the leveled floor. This can be a film or bitumen glue (mastic).
3. The waterproofing film is covered with sheets of plywood or chipboard.
4. Now you can draw up a diagram according to which the thermal film will be placed. It does not need to be laid in a continuous line. It is better to leave the places where sofas and wardrobes will be without heating.
5. Placed on top of the plywood base thermal insulation material having a layer of reflective aluminum foil. To fasten the sheets of thermal insulation together, use tape and a construction stapler.
6. Now, according to the previously drawn up diagram, the infrared film is laid. In this case, it should lie with its underside on the thermal film. The heated floor panels are fastened together with tape.
7. Next, the cut site of the wide copper busbar is covered with bitumen insulation. Copper clamps are installed where the film will be connected to the wires. And the entire structure is connected according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Before assembling the heated floor, be sure to read the instructions on the package. You will also need to consult with an electrician to see if your wiring can handle the loads of such a system.

Installation of infrared heated floors under linoleum (video)

Warm floors are an excellent way to additionally heat a room. It can even be used in tandem with linoleum. Use such a system in your home, and may you always be warm!

For creating comfortable temperature Various types of heating are used in the room, among which heated floors powered by electricity have gained particular popularity. This system is compatible with various floor coverings, including laminate, linoleum, ceramic tiles and even carpet.

If your plans include making an electric heated floor under linoleum, then this is a completely feasible idea. And we will tell you how to implement it in practice.

In the cold season, the issue of heating a room becomes more relevant. The electric floor system is able to heat the room evenly and create maximum favorable conditions for life.

The temperature near the floor and under the ceiling with such heating has a slight difference, and the ability to adjust the temperature further expands the possibilities of using electric heating.

One of the advantages of electric heated floors is the fact that such a system does not dry out the air in the room. Moderate is important especially for people with respiratory diseases. During activity in the room and also during sleep Airways will not dry out.

To regulate the temperature in the room, just set the timer for the period of time when you need to warm up the room

From an aesthetic point of view, electric floor heating is the optimal solution. It is completely invisible and does not have to be disguised to create harmonious interior. The system is installed under the floor covering, so it does not take up usable space in the room.

Electric floor heating can act as the main heat source in winter months, or maybe auxiliary.

Often such a system is combined with the main central heating, which helps warm up those rooms where a more stable air temperature is needed: in the bathroom or children's room

The advantages also include the fact that electric heating allows you to save about 25-30% of standard costs on the main heating source. And complete safety for humans makes such a system universal.

What do you need for optimal performance?

First of all, for your floor heating to work flawlessly, you will need uninterrupted electricity. If in your locality There are often power outages, then additional equipment will be needed for electric heating.

Installation and purchase reserve system energy supply will entail additional costs. It is also necessary to update the wiring so that it can withstand constant loads

Need to pay attention Special attention installation process.

You can use one of the options:

• hire specialists who will install an electric floor heating system quickly and efficiently;
• understand the topic and tackle this matter yourself.

In the second case, it is necessary to delve into the specifics of working with each type of floor covering, which determines how the installation of the floor heating system will proceed. In particular, work with the installation of electric heated floors under linoleum must follow certain rules.

Features of installing electric flooring under linoleum

Infrared electric heated floor is the best option for linoleum among all types of floor heating. It will not require filling cement screed, which is mandatory for laying electrical or water cables under the floor covering.

Ideal for linoleum, as it is thin enough and will not be felt under the main coating. In addition, linoleum requires special thermoregulation to maintain its structure, which infrared heated floors successfully provide.

One m3 of infrared floor produces power up to 150 W. Such conditions will not affect linoleum in any way, since it is able to withstand heating within such limits. A large load can result in damage to the appearance and functional properties of the coating.

If linoleum is subjected to high temperatures, he can:

• change color;
• become more elastic, which will lead to tears;
• publish bad smell and harmful fumes;
• deform.

It is better to leave work with electricity to specialists, since it will require correct calculation of materials, and the work itself may be beyond your capabilities. The rest of the work requires less preparation, so you can handle it without any problems.

Necessary Precautions

Before you start installing the STP under linoleum, you need to remember the basic safety rules when working with electricity:

• installation begins only after the power supply is turned off;
• you cannot test the system unless you have checked the quality of insulation of all channels;
• infrared film cannot be stacked on top of each other;
• the temperature value should not exceed 30 degrees, so as not to overheat the coating.

By observing the listed standards, you can avoid accidents, as well as damage to the system and linoleum.

It is important to remember that for installation you will need a heat-reflecting coating, which is laid under the linoleum. If the material is made using aluminum foil, its use is strictly prohibited!

Selection of the necessary materials

For installation you will need required amount infrared thermal film, insulation, temperature sensors, thermostats, wiring, heat-reflecting material, linoleum and others Construction Materials.

Linoleum, which will be laid on top of an electric heated floor, must have special technical characteristics. The main indicator is the thickness of the material.

Linoleum that is too thin can change its structure due to constant exposure high temperature, also such material can be deformed due to unevenness of the base and take on an unsightly appearance. A denser coating will demonstrate worse thermal conductivity, but its structure will not change.

It is necessary to select linoleum of optimal thickness that can withstand high temperature loads, while correcting floor unevenness

Before fixing the linoleum, you just need to spread it on the floor for a while and turn on the system electric heating floor. Then the material will warm up, take on a more natural shape, straighten out, after which it can be fixed.

Infrared floor installation instructions

The infrared heating system is the best option for floor coverings such as linoleum.

The first stage of installation is to establish the boundaries where the floor heating will be installed. Places under furniture and household appliances must be excluded immediately. That was fewer points where the wires will be connected, the film is laid out along the entire length of the room.

Electrical cables may run under the floor and should be kept less than 5 cm from the infrared film. If these are pipes or a fireplace, then at least 20 cm.

The next stage is cutting the film along the heating strips. They are designed to ensure that the internal structure of the infrared system is not damaged. When the film is cut into pieces, contact clamps are attached to it (they should be located in the place of the two-layer film and the copper strips through which the current passes). Using a hammer or other available means, a grommet is inserted into the hole.

Next, the sections of the infrared contact strips are insulated. To the tip are carried out copper wires, clamped and insulated using a waterproofing strip. The film elements are attached parallel to each other so that they do not overlap in any way.

There are situations where the total system power exceeds the 3500 W limit. In this case, you will need to install a separate wiring harness with a separate circuit breaker to remove more load from the main wiring. It is important to use a magnetic starter here.

After working with the film, insulating material with a heat-reflecting layer is laid. This material is attached with tape. Heating elements are laid on top. They should be positioned with the copper strips facing down.

You should avoid touching the two strips, as this will lead to overheating of the system at the point of contact. To attach heating elements, a stapler or tape is most often used, less often furniture nails. Such fastening methods will ensure that in the future the strips will not move or fall on top of one another.

Rules for laying heating elements:

• attached only to a transparent border;
• the heating element must be located at a distance of at least 0.5 cm from the area through which the copper wiring passes;
• the main wires must be routed under the baseboard;
• In order for the insulation to lie flush with the floor, it is necessary to make cutouts for the thicker areas.

After completing the work steps, the system needs to be checked in detail. First of all, you should pay attention to the quality of the wire insulation and their fastening. Next, you need to eliminate the possibility of short circuits in the system, and, if necessary, correct the problems.

The system must be tested until possible failures or malfunctions of the floor heating elements are completely eliminated.

Next, you need to attach the temperature sensor to the thermostat. This procedure is carried out using tape, and the fastening is done in a place where there is no heat. Then the thermostat turns on and waits a short amount of time to see if it is functioning correctly. If everything is done correctly, then you can feel the warmth emerging with your hand.

If the entire system is working properly, then it is covered with a special material that regulates the release of steam. The material is attached with tape. Sheet plywood or fiberboard is laid on top. They are attached to the base with screws and perform the function of leveling the floor.

The plywood should be positioned in such a way that its fasteners fall on the transparent part of the infrared film and do not touch copper gasket. The fasteners should be located no closer than 0.5 cm from the insulated parts of the film through which electricity passes.

Depending on the base on which the heated floor is laid, the technology for its installation may differ slightly:

1. After spreading the linoleum over the heating system, you should wait a few days for it to take its natural shape. There is no need to secure it initially

   Linoleum must have good thermal conductivity, while being very durable and resistant to fading. As good example there is multilayer linoleum made of polyvinyl chloride, which is not afraid of heat.

   Conclusions and useful video on the topic

   Even more useful information about heated floors various types– in the videos below.

   Useful materials optionally:

   The nuances of film-type installation:

   It is possible to make an electric STP under linoleum with my own hands, the main thing is to take precautions and perform the work in the right sequence. It is better to entrust electrical work to specialists, but installation upper layers systems can be implemented without outside help. Be patient necessary materials and, and you will spend the cold season in comfort, without depending on the general heating system and other factors.

   If you have had to do it yourself under linoleum, please share your own experience with visitors to our site. Perhaps you know the subtleties of installation that we did not mention in this material? Leave your comments in the communication block located below the article.

In this article we will describe in detail the features of installing heated floors under linoleum. Advantages and disadvantages of different heating elements, their compatibility with floor coverings.

Information about the underfloor heating system

Floor heating systems are divided into two large groups:

• Water;
• Electrical.

In a water heating system, the coolant is hot water, which circulates through an autonomous circuit. Water system has high inertia, installation complexity and high cost of equipment. It is extremely rare in apartments. To assemble the system, it is necessary to carry out a whole range of work, comparable in volume to a major renovation of a building.

Electric heating systems are divided according to heating elements into:

• Cable;
• Film (infrared).

Such gradations as “rod” or “on mats” are only the degree of manifestation of certain operational characteristics that affect the installation technology. The main difference between them is the dominant method of heat transfer. For film materials, this is infrared radiation. And for cable systems, is thermal conductivity during direct contact.

In addition to the infrared system, all others require filling the heating elements with screed. In some cases, the use of “dry” installation is allowed. With it, the thermal circuit is placed in complex system timber boxes.

But infrared film also needs protection from constant exposure from above. This is especially true for soft floor coverings: linoleum and carpet.

Separately, it should be said about different types films. It can be striped or solid. This definition describes the type of heating composition applied to a polyester base. When choosing, this factor is decisive.

For linoleum, the most profitable heating element There will be a film with a continuous coating. It has a number of significant advantages:

1. Virtually no “dead zones” on the material itself;
2. Heating occurs over the entire area simultaneously;

Both of the above arguments ensure the absence of the “zebra effect”, in which the legs feel the temperature difference between warm and cold areas of the coating.

1. Service life up to 50 years.

In principle, these factors can serve as a convincing argument for using infrared film with a continuous heating layer under any floor covering.

For a comfortable stay in a room with heated floors, the temperature of the latter should not exceed 27˚C. This setting is fairly easy to support on systems with electric heating, and almost impossible on water warm floors. This is where their inertia manifests itself.

But even with electric heating elements, the set temperature can be more accurately controlled when using film technology, since it is not covered with a screed.

If the specified temperature parameters are exceeded, the floor covering will deform, burn out, and quite possibly a persistent chemical odor will appear. In addition, even standing on a hotter surface is uncomfortable.

Choice of linoleum

To install heated floors, special series of linoleum are produced, designed specifically for these purposes. They are indicated by a special pictogram.

IMPORTANT: all floor coverings for heated floors have their own designation.

In this material, the production technology reduces sensitivity to heat, which significantly reduces the degree of temperature deformation. Additionally, heat-resistant pigments are used to apply the pattern and highly volatile fractions are excluded from the binding components. They are the ones who provide specific smell in the first months of operation of the floor covering with heated floors.

If there is no such icon, then you can only select from natural linoleum or PVC based material.

The technology for their production already provides for the use of materials that ensure normal operation at elevated temperatures.

Independent installation of heated floors

The entire complex of work must be divided into:

1. Preparation of the base;
2. Installation of heating elements;
3. Floor covering.

We have prepared instructions specifically for film heated floors. Because they can be installed independently, without large-scale “dirty” work.

Preparing the base

This is a general point and the quality requirements will be similar regardless of the floor covering. There are only two requirements - thermal insulation and smoothness.

For high-quality thermal insulation, a material is needed that, with low thermal conductivity, has high elasticity.

Of the entire range of materials offered, the ones best suited for our purpose are:

• Cork backing;
• Cross-linked polyethylene foam;
• Extruded polystyrene foam.

The difference between them is that cork backing lay on plastic film to avoid exposure to residual moisture from the screed. In terms of thickness, it is best to use 4 mm material.

But the substrate must be laid only on a perfectly flat and smooth surface. The concrete base should be leveled with a quick-drying self-leveling screed. It gains strength throughout its entire thickness within 1-2 days. And what’s especially nice is that you can do without beacons. The mixture prepared according to the instructions will level itself to the horizon level. After the screed has matured, it is coated with a primer.

Wood floors require a different approach. Moisture-resistant plywood, 18-20 mm thick, is best suited for leveling them. Before work, the sheets should be sanded from the bottom side. The sheets are laid end to end and screwed with self-tapping screws. There is an allowance of 1 cm between the wall and the covering. The frequency of fastening along the edge is 15-20 cm, and in the center 30-40 cm. The heads of the screws should be slightly recessed. After fixing the plywood, they go along the seams with a sander. This will allow you to even out minor elevation differences. The best test of reliability is your own feelings. Walk on the floor, jump in different places. If there is no creaking or vibration, then the base is ready for thermal insulation.

Lay a substrate on the prepared base. You can fix it double-sided tape. In this case, the adhesive tape must be pasted in such a way that the edges of adjacent sections of the substrate fall on one strip.

IMPORTANT: the direction of laying the substrate must be perpendicular to the strips of the heating film.

Pay special attention to the joints between adjacent strips of insulation. OVERLAPPING IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!

On top, sections of heat insulation are taped along the seam.

Installation of heating film

Depending on the release form, the infrared film may already be equipped with all the necessary materials for installation. This happens when you purchase a “boxed” version of heated floors. When purchasing all materials separately, you must provide:

• Crimp terminals;
• Bitumen insulation;
• Thermal sensor;
• Thermostat;
• Connecting wires;
• Power cable.

Before starting work, you need to draw on the floor with a marker a diagram of the location of the film sections. In this case, it is necessary to control the connection location of the power cable and the temperature sensor leads. Try to plan in such a way that the cable and wires are used to a minimum length.

At the same time, laying heating film under furniture and large household appliances should be avoided. In addition to the fact that this will limit the heat output, such miscalculations lead to local overheating of the film, with the destruction of the carbon layer.

The film is laid end to end. You can cut it along the marked lines. Double-sided tape is used for fixation to the base.

After laying the entire film, a thermal sensor is inserted under it. It must be positioned in such a way that its recording element falls into the “dead” zone (under the edge). But the distance from the nearest wall to the temperature sensor must be at least 20 cm.

Then all the cuts are combined into a single electrical circuit. For this purpose, crimp terminals are used. They are inserted in such a way that one contact is between the layers of film, and the other is adjacent to the copper busbar. After this, the terminal is crimped with pliers.

The power cable is fixed in the same way.

IMPORTANT: all contacts are carefully covered with bitumen insulation.

To ensure that the surface remains flat, grooves are cut into the substrate for the temperature sensor, all cables and wires. This is extremely important point, non-compliance with which is guaranteed to lead to damage to the floor covering.

All grooves in the substrate, after laying the cables and the temperature sensor, must be sealed with tape.

The ends of the power cable and temperature sensor are led out to the wall. A groove is cut into it and the wiring is laid. The thermostat is fixed at a height of 1-1.2 m from the floor. After connecting the power, install operating temperature, and turn on the heating for testing.

If all work is carried out correctly, the heat release can be felt within 2-3 minutes.

At the last stage, the infrared film is covered with overlapping polyethylene waterproofing. The joints are taped with tape.

Flooring installation

Here the requirements vary, depending on the type of floor covering. In particular, laminate can be laid directly on polyethylene film. The only condition is accuracy in work. You can only walk on the base in soft slippers. Cutting slats to size, or to go around corners, is done in another room.

With linoleum the process becomes somewhat more complicated. The reason lies in the need to organize a hard coating between the linoleum and the infrared film. This is necessary to eliminate the mutual influence of soft materials on each other. For this, the optimal solution is plywood and hardboard, 8-10 mm thick.

Plywood in in this case preferable because it has better thermal conductivity.

Sheets of plywood are laid end-to-end, with the manually sawed edges being oriented towards the wall. All elements are fastened together with metallized tape.

There is a way to screw the sheets to the base, through a heating film. But this option is extremely difficult to implement, because you need to “blindly” use a self-tapping screw to reach a place on the film where there is no carbon fiber and a current-carrying busbar.

After this, linoleum can be laid on the plywood. The operation is simple, but it requires care and leisure.

When carrying out repairs, it often becomes necessary to install a “warm floor”, as well as lay linoleum on such a floor. Many people think about how safe and practical it is.

What it is?

A heated floor system is a special floor structure that allows you to provide room heating, and sometimes even serves as a full replacement for conventional heating devices (batteries, radiators, window heating systems). Heated floors can also be used for local heating (for example, kitchen working area or bathroom). In these cases, the main heating role will be played by batteries.

If the choice is made in favor of installing a “warm floor” and covering it with linoleum, we can say with confidence that the decision is correct, because this system heating has a number of undeniable advantages:

• uniform temperature in all parts of the room (heat is distributed from bottom to top without creating a greenhouse effect: the system prevents it from being retained in certain areas);
• Compared to conventional batteries and radiators, it does not have convection;
• saving free space in the room (especially important for small apartments);
• ensures safety during operation ( useful property for those who have small children, since there is no risk of getting burned);

• comfort during use (creates a feeling of comfort and warmth all year round);
• environmental friendliness (electricity does not harm environment);
• due to the absence of convection currents, it prevents additional distribution of dust in space, as happens with conventional heating systems (important for asthmatics and people with allergies);
• relatively inexpensive and uncomplicated installation of the system (you can do it yourself).

As for the disadvantages or, rather, nuances that need to be taken into account when installing and subsequent operation of a heating system of this type, Please note the following:

• high cost of electricity (especially in winter period when heating is required around the clock), but based on calculations of costs for different types of heating systems, experts came to the conclusion that heated floors practically do not increase the price of heating in an ordinary residential building;
• use of thermostats (during installation, you should install the sensors on the wall and install a temperature controller);
• the difficulty of accessing the system if it fails (often you have to dismantle the entire floor to determine the cause of the breakdown, and this is not only difficult, but also expensive, because you will need to completely change the heating system and coating);
• economic infeasibility for premises with large area(to fill large room heat, a lot of electricity will be required, especially if this room has panoramic windows).

Is it possible to lay it?

So, the decision was made to lay heated floors. Pay attention to what the floor is made of and consider whether it is possible to install a heating system on it. For example, in houses or old apartments, as a rule, the flooring is made of boards, and you need to replace the old covering with linoleum, while adding heating. Of course, a natural question will arise about the possibility of installing heating system on wooden flooring, and on top - linoleum. It turns out it's possible the main thing is to choose and install the system correctly so that it does not affect the subfloor.

Usually, when installing a heated floor on a wooden or concrete floor, plywood is used. The floor is first covered with such sheets, fastened together with metal staples, while the plywood is not attached to the base.

Thus, by laying heated floors on plywood, you can control the changes that occur with wood under the influence of heat. Plywood with a thickness of 12-15 mm is mounted on the concrete screed. Slabs more than 15 mm thick are laid on a wooden floor, sometimes thin sheets in two layers.

It is not worth laying a heated floor on old-style linoleum without first covering it with plywood. The material can become deformed and, even worse, emit an unpleasant toxic odor. If we're talking about about modern brands of linoleum, you need to check its compatibility with heating elements, is it suitable this material under heated floors (as a rule, there is a permit marking on the packaging for linoleum). The same types of linoleum are used when it is planned to be used as a finishing coating for a heated floor or when a heating structure is installed under a carpet.

If you decide to insulate a tiled floor in the kitchen or bathroom, during installation you must follow all recommendations, carefully sand the subfloor, putty the seams so that finishing coat it was smooth and beautiful.

Types of heated floors

Everyone knows what comfort and coziness warm floors provide, especially in winter and off-season. But not everyone knows that these systems also provide energy savings. This floor can also be used as independent system heating (for the southern regions of the country), and as an additional source of heat in the off-season or in regions with harsh winters. The action of electric heating systems is based on heat flows generated by electricity. An electric heated floor can be cable (heating is carried out using a special electric cable) or film (has a heating film).

Electrical cables come in both self-regulating and resistive types. By choosing one type of cable or another, you can regulate the power consumption and heating temperature. The cable floor structure is similar to a “sandwich”. Pull the floor covering onto the leveled and sanded (if necessary) plastic film, a material that retains heat (thermal insulation) and a reflective sheet is spread on top, then an electric heating system is installed, which is covered with a metallized mesh, and the floor is screeded. To regulate the temperature, At the time of installation, the wires are brought out to the wall and the adjustment unit is made at a convenient height.

When screeding on an electrically heated floor, you must follow next requirement: its thickness should allow heat rays to reach the floor surface. Usually it is 5-7 cm. If you break this rule, the floor will run idle.

If the electric heating is film, then a thin coating of the floor will be enough, since this type of system is less powerful than cable. When all the work on pouring and screeding has been completed, you need to wait until the surface dries (often this happens for quite a long time), and only then lay the finishing coating - linoleum.

When considering infrared electric floor heating, you need to keep one positive point in mind: the material that is the basis of this type of system (carbon fiber in the form of a carbon fiber rod) has a self-regulating function, so the floor is protected from overheating. It is convenient to lay any covering on the infrared version, and linoleum is no exception. Infrared systems not very powerful, and they are usually placed on an already poured floor, using glue.

Such structures are so simple that you can even install them yourself, especially when all the “dirty” work of pouring and screeding the floor has already been completed. Another advantage is that during the next repair or if the system breaks down, it can be easily dismantled or replaced with one that works independently, without the help of a specialist.

Sometimes people choose local heating to reduce costs. The infrared tape profile is cut into fragments and laid in those areas that should be warmer. Such an economical and reasonable arrangement of heated floors allows you to create comfort in the work areas of the kitchen or bathroom for minimal money.

It turns out that warm systems flooring is not a luxury at all. What makes them even more affordable is an inexpensive topcoat, such as everyone’s favorite linoleum.

Manufacturer overview and reviews

Before the purchase electric cable For heated floors, you need to measure the room and draw a laying diagram to determine how much is required. When choosing a manufacturer, you should carefully read the reviews and recommendations of professionals so that in the end the heated floor will serve for a long time and without interruption. Since the choice is construction market colossal, it is easy to make a mistake when purchasing, so Pay attention to the following well-known and already proven manufacturers:

• Devi is a Danish manufacturer of electrical cables that has been on the market for more than 20 years and stands out among its competitors for its high quality products and reasonable prices. Users note the durability of warm flooring made from Danish electrical cable. There are no reviews that these products have malfunctioned for anyone and the floor has failed. At the same time, the manufacturer provides a guarantee for its products, and service centers Devi can be found in almost any city. Also, these cables are economical and do not dry out the air.

• If you consider IR cables, you should pay attention to the Korean company Caleo. The products of this manufacturer are not cheap, but they are made of high quality materials.
• The IR cable of the Russian brand is widely known "Teplolux". This manufacturer is known not only in the domestic market, but also in the foreign market, which indicates high quality and the safety of its goods.
• Among the most economical IR tapes are products from an English manufacturer Energy. Although its products have high cost, in the future the energy savings will be noticeable, so buying for the future is a very smart move. This fact has made the company’s cables perhaps the most popular among all.

How to choose?

Everyone knows that it is forbidden to install water-heated floors in apartments, so electrical systems are often chosen (their area of ​​use is much wider). There are two types of electrical systems for underfloor heating:

• heating cable;
• heating mat

A heating cable produces heat per unit length. When calculating it, you can roughly estimate what the amount of heating will be. This type of system requires the presence of a screed or thin fill; accordingly, the floor level will rise slightly. However, the power consumed by the cable is small compared to the second type.

As for the mat, it is a thin cable attached to a special mesh. There is no need to make a screed for this system. The mat is quite suitable for dense floor coverings: tiles, linoleum. Installation of the system is simpler compared to the first option, and this is an advantage for those who intend to install such a floor themselves.

It is also important to choose how the air temperature in the room will be regulated. There are automatic sensors that measure indoor temperature. Along with automatic self-regulating sensors, those that measure temperature near the floor are also in demand. Because air currents rise up, it’s easy to estimate that by setting the floor temperature to 30 degrees, the room will eventually warm up to about 25 degrees. This way you can choose a system that suits your space.

It is also important to take into account the fact that there is no need for heating in places where furniture will be installed; under the bathtub and sinks, warm floors are also not installed. When planning installation, you need to take into account that you need to make an indentation from the wall before laying the cable.

If a warm floor is chosen as the main source of heating, then the arrangement of furniture should be planned so that it ends up occupying approximately 3/4 of the entire room, otherwise the system will not perform its heating function properly.

How to put it with your own hands?

The heated floor system has long become familiar to a wide range of people with different incomes. It has been present in modern living spaces in the house, in the attic or on the balcony for quite some time, which made it possible to evaluate the device with different sides, understand its principles and independently master the installation method. And about how to do everything quickly and avoid mistakes You should follow the step-by-step instructions that have already been proven in practice.

Preparation

To begin with, you need to remove all the furniture from the room in which you plan to install a heated floor, and then dismantle the old floor: remove the covering, clean the subfloor from dust, sand rough irregularities. If necessary, you can make a screed. You need to determine the wall where the temperature controller will be installed.

It is advisable to provide the heated floor with separate wiring in order to avoid short circuit throughout the apartment. When preparatory work completed, you can start practical side issue of installing heated floors.

What will you need?

To perform installation work on a heated floor, you will need to use the following equipment and auxiliary materials:

• selected type of electrical system (cable or IR tape mat);
• reflective material;
• substrate (if necessary);
• waterproofing film;
• protective mesh;
• temperature sensor and control unit;

• floor screed materials;
• sheets of plywood (if necessary);
• selected type of linoleum;
• cord for hot welding;
• mounting stapler with paper clips;
• building level and a pencil.

Installation

As stated earlier, an electric floor heating system consists of several layers, each of which performs an important function. First, the heat insulator is laid. Depending on what floor the room is on, you can choose a heat insulator of the appropriate thickness.

If the material does not have a reflective layer (for example, preference is given to natural cork insulation), then A metallized substrate should be placed on top of it. It will ensure that heat is retained in the space under the floor and will prevent its leakage. The substrate is chosen from either lavsan fiber or aluminum (the second option is somewhat more expensive and is not always necessary).

Next comes the installation of the heating system itself. Electrical cables or infrared tapes are placed along the floor surface at the same distance from each other, having previously determined the pitch. Depending on what type of system is selected, secure it in an accessible way: cables are used with clamps, and heating tapes are glued to the substrate. After installation of the system is completed, the wire for the thermostat is routed to the selected wall.

Further fixed to the floor electrical system covered with a special protective mesh. This material reflects heat and ensures the reliability of the installation, preventing the negative impact of heavy loads (heavy furniture or equipment) on it, which can damage the heated floor. You can use this mesh as a grounding conductor, having previously routed the connecting wires to the designated place in the floor.

Please note that before screeding and pouring, you need to check the functionality and serviceability several times on different areas of the floor, identify shortcomings in the design and eliminate them while you still have access to the system. Otherwise, you will have to dismantle and break the finished screed.

How to make a screed?

The heated floor is secured with a cement screed. The wet version consists of cement, water, sand, and concrete components. Special plasticizers are additionally added to the composition of the dry screed, which allow you to achieve the desired characteristics of the composition:

• uniform density and absence of pores. This allows you to increase the efficiency of the heated floor (heat will not be retained in the formed internal voids, but will be completely transferred to the outside of the floor);
• surface strength. Since large objects (furniture, appliances) will subsequently be placed on the floor, cracks may appear on the coating, which will lead to breakdown of the heating system. Special components added to the cement screed make it possible to avoid this from occurring in the future.
• uniform hardening. If the composition of the screed is initially prepared incorrectly (not mixed thoroughly enough, unevenly distributed over the surface), then in the future it will not be possible to avoid delamination of the floor and the appearance of cracks (they can form when the screed sets while it is drying).

Since the screed layer for a heated floor should not be thick, you need to correctly select the components for it. When choosing cement, you should focus on those brands that will provide guaranteed strength. They indicate on the packs, so it will be difficult to make a mistake. It is better not to experiment with plasticizers, and take ready-made ones hardware store. When choosing sand, you should pay attention to coarse-grained sand. Such material will increase the strength of the solution.

Of course, you can buy a ready-made screed composition and dilute it with water the right proportions, but if the goal is to save money, it’s not difficult to make the mixture yourself, the main thing is to choose the right starting components.

Apply the solution to the floor surface thin layer(although more is allowed for piping in a water heating system thick layer, up to 5 cm) using a special spatula. To ensure that the thickness is uniform in all areas, use a building level to check the uniformity of the screed and, if necessary, before it has yet begun to set, level out defects and eliminate shortcomings. When the screed layer is applied, the floor is left to dry, and the heating is never turned on to avoid uneven hardening. This may cause cracks to form. On average, the hardening time of the screed varies from two weeks to a month.

How to lay linoleum?

Once the screed has dried, the heated floor is ready for use. finishing work. The most difficult work is already behind us, and after it is completed, laying linoleum will not cause any problems. Before covering it with linoleum, the floor is once again cleaned of dust and all defects are eliminated. If cracks have formed, they are carefully puttied, and when the putty dries, a couple of layers of waterproofing are laid. The waterproofing material is a dense polyethylene film. If the floor base is wooden, then moisture insulation is not needed, the tree copes with this task on its own.

When the concrete floor is isolated from moisture, you can begin to lay linoleum. Measure the length and width of the floor, then measure these values ​​on the linoleum sheet (with a margin of approximately 5 cm for the baseboard on each side). If the room is large and the linoleum is narrow, lay two sheets and join the joints cold welding. Next, cut off all excess and install baseboards and corners.

If suddenly a tile was originally glued to the warm floor, which does not look presentable enough, and there is no money to update it, you can use thin linoleum, simply laying it on top of the tile. In this case, you need to lay a layer of jute backing between the tiles and linoleum to prevent the surfaces from slipping.

How to avoid mistakes?

Most errors when installing heated floors and laying linoleum occur when the energy carrier is installed on the floor, so it would be useful to take into account A couple of tips to avoid an unpleasant situation:

• before installing the electrical cable, draw a diagram of its installation;
• do not turn on the cable until you lay it on the floor;
• Clean the floor thoroughly to avoid dust ignition and unpleasant odors;
• do not step on the cable;
• leave the temperature sensor above the level of the screed.

If installation work with the flooring is to be done for the first time, then it will be very difficult to cope with the task on your own the first time. It is better to hire specialists and delegate the work to them.

To learn how to install a heated floor under linoleum with your own hands, see the following video.

Examples and options

Warm flooring is extremely popular and is used almost everywhere. With their help it is possible to improve living conditions, create comfort, and sometimes even expand the space of the apartment, because by providing the balcony area with such a heating system, you can make it part of the living space. Even if you do not combine the balcony with the room, warm floors will still be useful. Going out onto the balcony in the cold season is not a problem, because A warm floor will protect you from inconvenience and help maintain your health.

You can also place animals on such a balcony at night and not worry about them. A heated loggia can instantly turn into a cozy corner for relaxation or a study, even in the harsh winter.

Undeniable advantages of this living space heating system are as follows:

• safe and comfortable conditions for children and pets (both of them often spend time playing on the floor);
• creating a microclimate that meets individual wishes using a temperature controller;
• help avoid mold (prevent the occurrence of moisture, which is especially important for houses in swampy areas);
• easy to maintain (just wash the floors, no need to waste time cleaning radiators);
• safety (there is no risk of getting burned);
• an increase in usable space in the room (the room becomes more suitable for placing furniture in it according to the preferences of the residents, although previously everything was limited to batteries);
• in areas with harsh winters, heated floors additionally insulate the home;
• durability of work.

Warm floors covered with linoleum are useful for use in areas that are known to be dirty: in the kitchen, hallway and corridor. This coating will ensure easy floor care using simple detergents. Unlike laminate, which is often used to cover heated floors, there will be no dirty areas on the linoleum(dirt easily gets clogged into the space between the boards). In addition, linoleum can be used as a budget option coverings of this type of floor and in the bathroom. It will protect the heating system from moisture no worse than tiles.

The use of heated floors with linoleum covering in attics will also be useful. If the attic is open, then in order not to freeze in the off-season, you can turn on the heated floor only when you are in it, because 24/7 work is inappropriate here. Heating will not fully perform its function, but will only increase the monthly electricity bill. If you have a dog or cat who sleeps on the floor, then the benefits of electric heating are undeniable.

For people who would not like to spend money on equipping the entire surface with heating, but want to create comfort for their pet, there is a great idea - to equip only the section of the floor that serves as a bed for the animal with an electric or water heating system. Local location is appropriate in the bathroom and kitchen near the workspace.

Many owners of apartments and private households in personal experience We were convinced that heating a home using an underfloor heating system is much more comfortable than traditionally heating rooms with radiators. Very often, linoleum is laid on the floor in houses and apartments. Let's see how to lay heated floors under linoleum, depending on its type.

Laying heated floors under linoleum

Regardless of the heating source - water or electric, there are general rules for laying heated floors under linoleum. Heating elements are placed in an area free of plumbing fixtures and bulky items. The heating system is installed with thermostats to prevent the floor heating temperature from exceeding 28 degrees. Warm electric floors under linoleum can be done in two ways: with a screed under the linoleum and laying hard slabs under the linoleum, that is, without a “wet” process. A thermal insulation material must be laid under the electric heater, which reflects the heat and directs it upward. It is advisable to use the material in rolls, coated with metallized Mylar or polypropylene film. Attention! You cannot use material that has a reflective coating of aluminum foil. Under linoleum, experts recommend using a lining with a soft layer, for example, isolon with a thickness of 3-5 mm.

Stages of installing heated floors under linoleum

• Surface preparation - remove all excess and level out unevenness.
• Thermal insulation - so that the floor directs heat only upward, you should spread it under the heating element roll thermal insulation with reflective coating
• Laying electric heating film - mark the film, cut it along the lines where there is no graphite layer, lay it out at a distance of 10 cm from the wall, do not allow stripes to overlap
• Connecting heating elements - the heated floor is connected through a thermostat, the maximum area of ​​connection to the thermostat is 15 m2
• Installation of protective material - according to its characteristics, linoleum is a type of soft material and under external influences it bends and can damage the infrared film, therefore hard sheets of glass magnesite or gypsum fiber sheets are laid on top of the heating and vapor barrier film
• Laying linoleum - cut and laid out PVC room the canvases should be left in a free position for a day, then the canvases are fastened with double-sided tape, and if cracks form between the canvases, they should be filled with special glue

Laying electric heated floors under linoleum

An electric heated floor with an infrared heating element is able to consistently provide adequate temperature regime, which is optimal for linoleum flooring. According to special markings on the film, it is cut into strips of the required length. To minimize the number of connection points, it is recommended to cut the film into strips of such length that they can be laid along the long side of the room.

Laying water-heated floors under linoleum

After organizing the main layers under the water floor - subfloor, hydrobarrier insulation and vapor barrier, they begin laying the heat reflector. Then piping is carried out from a single pipe in increments of 20 - 50 cm. The pipe system is filled with screed, the layer of which above the pipes should be min. 45 mm. The screed is aligned along the beacons. After drying, I lay linoleum on a completely smooth surface.

The difference in the installation of heated floors

Electric heating for heated floors under linoleum is possible in two heating formats - cable and infrared film. The installation diagram of the heating cable is identical to the installation of pipework. The film format is the installation of a roll film heater. Installation electric heaters It is easier and faster than for water coolant.

Linoleum for warm water floor

Polyvinyl chloride multilayer linoleum is used to cover heated floors. The power indicator of a heated floor under linoleum should be no more than 150 W/m2. This power ensures heating of the floor covering to the recommended temperature of 26 - 28 degrees Celsius. The floor surface on which the rolled material will be placed must be perfectly clean, since random grains of sand will appear on the surface of the coating over time. High-quality synthetic multilayer linoleum is great option coverings. And yet the ideal coating is linoleum made from natural ingredients.

Advantages of film heated floors under linoleum

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A universal solution for heating a room with linoleum flooring is infrared heated flooring. It provides a gentle floor heating mode and does not negative impact on the invoice and performance characteristics multilayer linoleum. Installation of heating strips is so simple that even a beginner in construction can handle it following the instructions.

Infrared radiation is perfectly perceived by the human body. According to doctors, it not only helps people feel good, but also helps cure many diseases. This fact becomes a strong argument in favor of installing infrared heated floors under linoleum.

film heated floor under linoleum

Warm floor under linoleum video