Film underfloor heating under the laminate

Underfloor heating is the best option for arranging any room in a house or apartment. There are several options for arranging this system. The simplest is to conduct a warm floor from a water supply system and a double-circuit boiler. But if the house does not have an autonomous heating system, then you need to look for alternative options. In this case, a film underfloor heating will be a good choice.

What is a film warm floor

The above-mentioned underfloor heating system, which is connected to an autonomous boiler, like many other heating systems, is based on direct heat exchange. Water heats the pipes under the floor, then screed, then the laminate is heated and then the air in the room. The film floor is based on infrared radiation, which is its direct advantage.

There are strips made of carbon paste in the film floor. They are located between the polyester layers. The strips, in turn, are connected to the copper bus to which voltage is applied. Electricity passing through a copper bus does not heat it, but directly transfers heat to the surface. In view of this, the surface heats up quickly.

Important! The floor works on the principle of infrared rays: it heats everything it hits, while it does not expend energy on heat transfer to a distance.

What you need to install a warm floor under the laminate

First you need to purchase a set of underfloor heating. It includes:

• Heating elements. They look in the form of a film from 500 mm to a meter. Length may vary. Usually the film comes in the form of a roll that can be cut into pieces.

Important! You can cut the film only in those parts where the scissors are drawn.

• Clem.
• Bitumen tape. Be sure to check for the presence of this element, as it is an insulating material.
• Thermal sensor, thanks to which the level of surface heating is monitored, and a cable for it.
• Thermostat. It is a control unit. It can have a different type of control and design.

It is important to pay attention to maximum power. For installation under the laminate, the best option is 150 watts.

Also needed is a substrate that is laid on concrete under the film.

Important! The substrate should not be susceptible to current flow.

Phased installation of a film underfloor heating under the laminate

Before proceeding with installation, consider the basic installation rules.

1. Make a styling scheme. The film is not located on the entire surface of the floor. It needs to be spread out in places not covered by furniture.
2. Keep a safe distance from walls and radiators. The spacing should be 300 mm.
3. It is better to lay the film along the length of the room. That is, along a larger wall.
4. Make sure that the distance between each film is about 50 mm.
5. Provide a place to install the thermostat.
6. Take a separate outlet. It is better to install a power line that is not related to the main power supply.

On a note! The film is laid on 60-70% of the surface.

Now we proceed to the installation.

Preparatory stage

The base must be aligned. This is the key to successful installation of both the underfloor heating system and the laminate boards.

After leveling the surface, you need to prepare it for the flooring of the tape.

1. Thoroughly clean the entire surface of small debris or were. It is better to do this with a construction vacuum cleaner, but a household one will do. If you ignore this step, debris can damage the substrate, which will lead to malfunctioning of the system.
2. Cover the surface with a backing. Please note that the substrate is placed around the entire perimeter of the floor, and not just at the locations of the film. When choosing a foil substrate, it lays up the shiny side.
3. Using the compiled diagram, cut holes in the substrate for laying the cable, temperature sensor and terminals.

Now you can mount the main element - the film.

Installation of underfloor heating

All elements must be handled carefully to prevent damage.

Important! Damaged items must be replaced.

In the work, follow the following sequence.

1. Lay the film according to the existing pattern. To fix it to the substrate should be the usual wide tape. Tire with shiny side down.
2. Isolate live busbars where they are cut. But only those that will not be used in the connection. This is done using bitumen tape. Cut a small piece, and firmly fix it on both sides of the tire.
3. Next, the sensor is laid. It is located in the center of the carbon black bands across them.
4. Installation of the terminals is carried out in the places where the floor is connected to the mains in such a way that one petal is on top of the special contact section, and the other is on the bottom.
5. Next, the cable is laid in accordance with the scheme.
6. The final stage of installation is the isolation of the contacts.

Upon completion, it should come out so that all the wires converge in one place. Then all the wires are connected to the temperature control unit. This happens according to the scheme indicated in the instructions.

And the end of the whole action is the laying of the laminate. Choose any method you like and proceed. If all the actions are performed correctly, you should not have any damage or swollen places, and the underfloor heating system should work properly.