Warm floors are a comfortable system that provides the warmth of the floor in any living room. They can be presented in different forms, but in any case are located under the finish floor covering. They heat the floor, so it is important to correctly choose a coating that will cope well with high temperatures. Floor coverings can be represented by a laminate, parquet or tile. In addition, you can choose other coatings, but they must withstand high loads.
The concept of underfloor heating
The warm floor is represented by a special floor heating system. It is laid directly on the concrete screed, after which it is again poured with concrete. Only after this is the finish coating laid.
The flooring on the warm floor can be presented in different forms, but most often a laminate or tile is chosen.
Types of underfloor heating
The warm floor is presented in several forms:
- Water system. It involves the use of small pipes that are laid on the entire surface of the floor. They can be connected to heating or hot water supply. It can be formed exclusively in a private house, since other types of system are selected for the apartment.
- Electric. It consists in laying an electric cable in the room. This option is considered easy to create, but expensive to operate, since you have to spend a lot of money to pay for electricity.
- Infrared. It is considered the most economical, convenient and in demand. To lay the infrared film you do not have to spend much time and effort, and there is also no need to form a cement screed from above, which is considered important for rooms with a low ceiling.
Regardless of which kind of underfloor heating system is chosen by the owner of the room, he must figure out what kind of floor heating can be installed. It should easily cope with high temperature, otherwise the material will quickly deteriorate.
Thermal conductivity of the coating
The flooring for the underfloor heating in the house should have an optimal indicator of thermal conductivity. This is due to the fact that only in this case the heating system will be effective. The material from which the coating is made must conduct heat well.
The tile is considered to be the most heat-conducting, so it is most often laid on top of a warm floor. Additionally, porcelain tiles are often selected.
Many manufacturing companies produce laminate flooring, which has the desired rate of thermal conductivity and resistance to high temperatures. Therefore, it turns out to be a good floor covering for a warm floor.
What materials are not suitable?
Initially, you should decide on materials that are not considered a suitable option for continuous heating. Do not create a floor covering from the following materials:
- PVC or vinyl tile. These materials have a high linear expansion coefficient. Therefore, during an increase in temperature, they begin to swell. Once the floor has cooled, unsightly gaps may remain between the individual tiles.
- Cheap laminate flooring. It is made from low quality materials, and inexpensive glue is also used during its creation. Therefore, such material will not cope with constant heating. It will quickly crack and large gaps will form between the slats. To repair in this case will not work, so you have to create a completely new coating.
- Linoleum. Relatively recently, it was completely banned for use on the underfloor heating system. This is due to the fact that many types of linoleum are created using chemical components, which during heating release harmful substances into the air. Therefore, the use of such material is strictly prohibited over the design for floor heating.
- Parquet or parquet board. These materials have poor thermal conductivity, and wood does not tolerate a constant change in temperature. Therefore, there is a likelihood that it will simply warp and resize.
- Carpet. It is considered the worst flooring for underfloor heating. This is due to the fact that the material is a good heat insulator, so people simply can not feel the positive effect of the presence of a warm floor system.
Some types of materials are completely unsuitable if floor heating is planned. People should be wise in choosing the flooring for a warm floor, in order to create truly comfortable and pleasant living conditions.
Tile
It is considered the best floor covering. That is why it is often found in baths or saunas. The advantages of using tiles include:
- has excellent heat dissipation;
- You can choose different types of tiles, for example, porcelain, ceramic or tile;
- the material gives off heat well, so walking on such a floor in the presence of a warm floor is actually pleasant and comfortable;
- no increased loads are created, so the elements of the heating system will not overheat;
- Direct coating is wear resistant, therefore, has a long service life;
- easily copes with temperature changes;
- withstands moisture, therefore it can be cleaned even with wet cleaning.
But even a tiled coating for a warm floor has some disadvantages. These include the fact that if the underfloor heating is turned off, then it will not be too comfortable to move on a cold and hard tile floor. The cost of the direct material and its high-quality installation is considered quite complex. To cope independently with the installation without the experience and specialized skills is almost impossible. Additionally, such material is not too suitable for creating coverage in the bedroom or children's room.
Laminate
It is almost impossible to say exactly which coating is best for a warm floor, since each option has both pluses and minuses. The most popular flooring material is considered to be a laminate. It has an affordable price, attractive appearance and good thermal conductivity. But you only need to choose a material that is specially created for a warm floor. In this case, he will cope well with temperature changes. Only in this case can scattering and cracking of the planks be avoided.
The positive aspects of the use of the laminate include:
- It turns out a beautiful and durable coating;
- it will be comfortable for walking even with the heated floor system off;
- the material has a high inertia, therefore, heat storage is ensured, which allows you to enjoy a warm coating even after a long time after turning off the warm floor system;
- use only the laminate, on the packaging of which there is the inscription Heating Underfloor, since only such material can easily withstand high temperatures;
- the styling process is so simple, then everyone can do this process even without work experience;
- if necessary, repairs can be made easily by replacing damaged trims.
But the laminate has some negative parameters. It has less heat transfer compared to tiles. Additionally, in any case, it will be necessary to create a reinforced cement screed on top of the warm floor, on top of which a high-quality insulating substrate is laid.
Using a laminate is impractical in many rooms, which include a bathroom or kitchen. Even if you choose special brands of laminate designed for underfloor heating, there are still restrictions on the temperature of the coolant, so the floor can only be heated to a maximum of 28 degrees.
Cork
This material is warm, but it can be used for a warm floor. Therefore, if a person thinks about which coating to choose for a warm floor, then you can stop on a cork floor. It has the following undoubted advantages:
- good heat retention, so if you turn off the underfloor heating system, the coating will begin to cool only after 10 minutes, and the heat will remain for several hours;
- to create a high-quality coating, it is important to choose panels whose thickness does not exceed 15 mm;
- On the packaging of the material there should be a mark that it can be used over heated floors;
- walking on such a surface is always pleasant and comfortable.
Like laminate flooring, cork has some disadvantages. It is not allowed to heat material above 28 degrees. Additionally, the cork has a low heat transfer.
Linoleum
People planning repairs in their apartment should be aware of what kind of cover a warm floor can fit. Linoleum is considered an inexpensive and common material, but it is not selected when there is floor heating. This is due to the fact that with constant heating, harmful components are released that cause significant harm to human health.
It is not allowed to use linoleum in the children's room, as the child spends a lot of time on the floor. Therefore, it is advisable to abandon the use of this material in the presence of a warm floor.
Parquet and parquet board
These materials are created from natural wood, therefore they are incredibly attractive, environmentally friendly and durable. But a unique feature of wood is that it deforms when exposed to moisture or high temperature. Therefore, it is quite difficult to make a warm floor under the parquet. If the material is regularly heated, this will lead to the formation of cracks and cracks. Additionally, the wood will begin to warp and swell.
If, nevertheless, a decision is made to lay this particular flooring, then you should use a thermostat, since the temperature of the coolant should not rise above 28 degrees. Even in this case, there is a possibility that the material will not last too long, so soon you will have to perform a second floor repair.
Polymer coating
It is formed using a special bulk mixture, which is distributed on a carefully prepared base. To create such a coating, you need to clean the base well, and also create optimal conditions in the room, represented by low humidity and temperature. Drafts are not allowed.
The bulk floor may have different colors or patterns. It is well suited for underfloor heating, so any suitable system can be stacked from below. Such a floor is considered attractive, but not too pleasant for walking. It is not suitable for a children's room or bedroom.
Which to choose?
Choosing a cover for underfloor heating is quite difficult. In the process, you need to focus on the following factors:
- financial opportunities of the owner of the premises;
- the number of persons living in the apartment;
- maximum heating medium temperature;
- personal preferences of tenants of real estate.
Most often, the choice falls on the tile or laminate. This solution is considered optimal, since these coatings are durable, easy to care for and inexpensive. If you plan to install a water-heated floor, it is important to additionally use high-quality waterproofing materials.
Conclusion
The underfloor heating system makes it possible to significantly improve the comfort of living in any residential area. It can be presented in different versions, but it is important to choose the flooring that will be laid on top. It should conduct heat well and withstand heat.
You can choose different materials to create coverage, which takes into account the amount of money available, the preferences of future users and the features of the selected underfloor heating system.