The speed of assembly and the low cost of construction made frame houses very popular in Russia. For comfortable year-round living in such buildings, it is necessary to install a competently designed heating system.
In order not to spoil the appearance of the walls, you can arrange underfloor heating. At the same time, it is not necessary to turn to specialists and spend a lot of money on their services. You can do the upcoming work with your own hands. And how to install a warm floor in a frame house and what options can be used in such buildings, read our article.
Varieties of floor heating systems
Today, three types of floor heating systems are presented in construction stores . Their differences are in the form of the coolant used. It could be:
- water circuit;
- electrical cable;
- infrared film.
It is easiest to lay a film underfloor heating in a frame house. Such a system does not exert a load on wooden floors and is very quickly mounted.
Water varieties are installed much more complicated, in addition, the cost of equipment for the functioning of heating can not be called low. Cable systems are more affordable, but they are completely dependent on electricity, which they consume in large volumes.
To install all the systems you do not need complex tools. In most cases, an ordinary construction knife, pliers, a pipe cutter and insulation tape are used in the work.
Features of the arrangement of heating in buildings of frame type
The organization of underfloor heating in frame-type buildings has some features. If in brick buildings you can safely use any type of heating, then in this case, the choice of system should be approached very carefully.
Difficulties are associated with the fact that the walls and floor are quite light, not designed for serious loads. For this reason, you can not always fill in a heavy screed. This creates difficulties in installing cable and water coolant.
If you want to use just such heating in order to install a warm floor in a frame house, you will have to equip the second floor level from chipboards. In this case, the pipes and cable will be located between two layers of the floor, and porcelain stoneware, ceramics, laminate or linoleum can be used as cladding.
Similarly, a heated floor is mounted in a frame house on stilts. Such designs also do not imply the presence of a heavy screed, which is why it is impossible to install the system using the standard method.
How to choose the right heating option?
When choosing the best floor heating method, consider the climate in your area and the availability of resources. So, systems with a water circuit, although they are considered the most expensive, but in operation they are more economical.
If the region of your residence is dominated by humidity and low temperatures, this option will be optimal. It does not depend on electricity, with the supply of which there may be interruptions. And gas is much cheaper than electricity.
Experts say that residents of the southern regions, where winters are very warm, will have enough film heating. It consumes less energy and is able to maintain optimal indoor temperature.
It is better to install cable underfloor heating in a frame house as additional heating. This is due to high energy consumption. If you heat a vast area in this way, you can’t avoid high costs.
Arrangement of water heating in the screed
When installing the water floor in the screed, make sure that the base is able to withstand heavy loads. The average weight of 1 m 2 of concrete is 500 kg, provided that the solution is poured with a 5-centimeter layer. If the house is on the foundation, such work can be carried out without fear.
Installation of a water heated floor in a frame house begins with the creation of a project. If the work will take place in large rooms, the area of which exceeds 40 m 2 , then the space should be divided into 2 parts and 2 circuits should be installed.
Next, the base is prepared. This process includes the following activities:
- Laying waterproofing. The film is laid on the rough base so that its edges 15 cm extend onto the walls. The material is fixed at the edges with a masking tape.
- Installation of insulation. Polystyrene foam with foil coating is laid on top of the waterproofing.
- Arrangement of the expansion joint. A damper tape is laid around the perimeter of the room.
Marking is performed on the surface of the insulation, on the basis of which the layout of the water circuit will occur.
System installation
To install a heated water floor in a frame house, lay a reinforcing mesh on top of the insulation. Place the pipes on the surface and attach them to the base with nylon clamps. According to the advice of specialists, this is necessary in order to prevent the movement of the pipe in the process of pouring screed.
In frame buildings, the distance between adjacent contours should be 10-15 cm. When the pipe is laid, check it. Supply water to the system and see if there are leaks or other defects. If all is well, proceed with the installation of floor screed. In a frame house, the thickness of the solution should be minimal. After pouring, the concrete should completely dry and gain strength. To do this, pause work for 20-30 days. Only then can the flooring be continued.
Installing the contour on wooden boards
If the house is on stilts, the heat carrier is laid on the boards. Previously, the base is covered with waterproofing material, insulation mats are laid.
Boards are installed on top of the insulation or chipboard boards are laid. Grooves are cut in them to equip the thermal circuit. So that the wood does not deteriorate from constant heating, metal plates are installed in the slots made. They subsequently fit the pipe of the heating system.
When the water circuit is mounted, the system is checked for operability. After that, the floor is covered with OSB plates. On top of the resulting flooring, a finishing decorative coating is laid.
If you believe the recommendations of specialists, this installation method allows you to install a system with the smallest weighting of the frame and allows you to start heating immediately after completion of work.
Installation of electrical cable systems
Cable electric underfloor heating in a frame house is installed in two ways: using a coupler and on the logs. In both cases, waterproofing and insulation should be laid on the rough floor.
If the design of the house allows you to mount a screed, then a special grid is installed on top of the insulation for the installation of such systems. On it, the cable is fixed using wire. The distance between the turns of the heating element is 15-20 cm. You should also retreat about 15 cm from the walls of the room. This will allow you to mount the floor skirting without fear of damaging the cable.
Expert advice: if you use a single-core cable, then plan its location so that the second end of the heating element is in the same place as the first. Twin wires do not require compliance with this rule.
At the end of the installation, check the cable for operability, then fill it with a thin layer of concrete mortar.
Wooden logging
The principle of mounting a cable and water floor using a screed is one. But how to make a warm floor in a frame house in which it is impossible to fill in the screed? In this case, laying on the logs is carried out. The work is carried out in the following sequence:
- Waterproofing and insulation materials are laid on the logs.
- In places where the cable will pass through the board, cuts of the appropriate size are made.
- A heating cable is laid between the lags. In this case, the location is Snake. When the floor in one section is covered with a cable, the heating element is carried to the next section and is positioned in a similar manner.
Next, plywood or chipboard is laid on top of the lag. On the basis obtained, a face finish is mounted in the form of tiles, laminate, linoleum, etc.
Setting the thermostat
The work of cable floor heating systems is regulated using a special device - a thermostat. It can be presented in the form of a simple switch or a complex device with a touch screen.
The temperature controller supplies electricity to the heating element and controls the temperature of its heating. The device is mounted on a wall near a source of electricity. Installation of the controller is carried out so that it is at a height of 30-50 cm from the floor.
If you install the heating system in a damp room, move the installation location of the thermostat beyond. This will avoid malfunctioning of the device.
Installation of film-type systems
Infrared (film) heating is the easiest to install. It can be laid directly under the laminate or carpet. If necessary, the mats can be rewound and moved to another place. However, for the main heating of the room, the film systems are rather weak, especially when it comes to the northern regions of the country.
Nevertheless, the warm floor in the frame house has earned positive reviews. Most often, such systems impress with their availability and simplicity. They do not burden the structure and can be laid at any stage of repair.
Installation of infrared heating is as follows:
- A plastic film is laid on the surface, its edges are fixed to the wall with masking tape.
- A foil reflector is mounted on top of the waterproofing.
- The film is laid on the floor (with the copper element down) and cut to the desired length. The distance from the film to the wall is 1-2 cm. The section is made only between the heating sections: in those places where dashed lines are drawn.
- Next to the first lane is the second. So cover the entire surface of the floor. At the same time, adjacent lanes should not overlap each other.
- Using a bitumen film, the bare edges of a copper heater are insulated.
- A cable clamp is put on the free end of the copper wire. Using pliers, it is securely fixed to a copper conductor. The cable is connected to the thermostat, the system is checked for operability.
Laminated panels, carpet, laminate, and ceramic tiles are laid on top of the warm floor. In the latter case, the lining is laid on a large layer of glue.
To summarize
Any underfloor heating system can be used in frame buildings, it is only important to responsibly approach its installation and take into account all the features of the structure. The duration of operation of each variety is different. The longest will be the warm water floor (in the frame house). Customer reviews indicate the high reliability of such systems.
Film and cable varieties are a little demanding in operation. Do not place heavy furniture on top of the heating elements that will overheat the system. Otherwise, everything depends on the reliability of the manufacturer.