Many residents of private houses and some apartments install a water floor as the main or additional heating of their living space. It has many advantages: comfort, even distribution of heat, the absence of the need to additionally spend electricity, the ability to carry out work on the device of the floor independently.
In order to do the work yourself, you should familiarize yourself with what materials for a water floor heating are suitable.
Used pipes
For a warm floor, you can use plastic pipes, pipes made of cross-linked polyethylene and copper products. The first option is optimal, because it has a low cost, is able to stably keep its shape and is characterized by ease of installation.
As for pipes made of cross-linked polyethylene, they are not very convenient to use, since it is difficult for them to give the desired shape. When heated, they straighten, but are not at all afraid of freezing of the liquid. In addition, they are maintainable. But if you are not limited in budget, you can choose copper pipes. They are expensive. And when used in a screed, they must be covered with a protective layer to prevent alkaline exposure.
Main materials
When choosing materials for a water floor heating, you should familiarize yourself with how the pie of this system looks. Laying technology provides for the formation of several layers, which should be arranged with a certain sequence. The final thickness will be a limit of 8 to 14 cm. The load on the floors should reach 300 kg / m 2 . If the base is a concrete slab, then first you need to lay waterproofing, and then along the perimeter there is a damper tape.
The next layer will be insulation, then comes the reinforcing mesh. Water floor pipes are laid on it, and then the entire system is poured with a screed. For waterproofing, you can use ordinary plastic film or special materials. Damper tape is made from cut strips of thermal insulation. The thickness should be a limit of 1 to 2 cm. You can purchase a ready-made version with a self-adhesive base.
When choosing materials for a water floor heating, you should pay special attention to the insulation. The final decision regarding it will depend on several factors, for example, the base material and the region. For example, extruded polystyrene foam, the thickness of which should be 5 cm or more, is used for floors on the ground. The optimal value is 10 cm. If there is a warm base under the floor of the first floor, then thinner options from 3 cm can be used.
The main purpose of thermal insulation is the direction of heat from heating up. The material must not allow large heat losses. If the soil acts as the base, then the cake will look like this: first there is bulk soil, which is laid out with a thickness of 15 cm. Next, 10 cm of crushed stone and 5 cm of sand are poured, after which a rough screed is poured.
The next layer will be waterproofing. A damper tape is laid around the perimeter of the room. The next layer will be extruded polystyrene foam of 5 cm. At the final stage, it will be necessary to fill in the reinforced screed with coolants. The screed preparation layers must be tamped. When densely laying and using extruded polystyrene foam, it is not necessary to make a rough screed.
The choice of waterproofing
When purchasing materials for water floor heating, you should pay special attention to waterproofing. It must be waterproof, heat-resistant, resistant to temperature extremes, and also able to withstand the effects of toxic substances. Waterproofing must be flexible.
The best material for a water floor heating should not be made on a bitumen basis. This applies to cast bitumen waterproofing. Successful solutions are:
- waterproofing membrane;
- stekloizol;
- liquid silicone membrane;
- cement-polymer coating waterproofing;
- polyethylene film;
- PVC film.
A more durable and strong material is a waterproofing membrane. However, it is quite expensive compared to conventional film. But it is also convenient to use such a membrane for the reason that it may have a self-adhesive base. Glass waterproofing is excellent for waterproofing on the ground.
But if you decide to apply cement-polymer waterproofing, which is applied by coating, it must contain plasticizers in order to maintain elasticity. Liquid silicone membrane is not toxic, therefore, can be used for internal work. It can be combined with underfloor heating systems, because such a membrane can withstand up to + 80 ° C.
When searching for materials for a warm water floor, you should pay special attention to polystyrene plates, which are designed for installing the floor in a dry way. This technology does not include screed laying. The material plays the role of thermal insulation, in addition, it is suitable for laying pipes, because there are grooves in the plates. The top layer is usually made of hard polystyrene or lavsan.
Choice of insulation
A huge number of options are presented for the floor water system of insulation options by the modern construction market. The choice of thickness of the substrate is limited by the material capabilities of the buyer and the technical parameters of the room. All heat-insulating materials are designed to impede the movement of sound waves through its thickness. They are characterized by high rates of sound absorption.
You can use heat insulating boards. If the height of the ceilings in the room is above 260 cm, then you can give preference to them. They can be made on a rigid polymer basis. This should include expanded polystyrene or polystyrene. The vapor permeability of the material is almost zero, but it has high strength and the ability to undergo high mechanical loads.
The heat capacity of expanded polystyrene is higher than that of foam. In the first case, this value is 1.34 kJ / (kg ° C), while in the second it is 1.26 kJ / (kg ° C). If we compare these materials, then the foam is less profitable, because it is inferior in density. This indicates a lower resistance to deformation under the influence of mechanical loads. This reduces the thermal insulation properties. Polyfoam is better to lay in structures between the lags.
Is it worth using a cork as a heater
One of the materials under a warm water floor can be cork. It has a special structure, which is a small prism of a regular shape. The material is quite expensive, so more often it is chosen for residential premises. Otherwise, it is better to purchase a technical film whose thickness is 30 mm or more, which can hit the wallet.
The only disadvantage of mats is that they are hygroscopic. In addition, they are available as single-component heat insulators. This suggests that during installation additional layers should be used that will provide vapor and water protection.
Mineral wool
If you still have not decided what material for a water floor heating to use as a heater, then you can pay attention to mineral wool. It is an affordable option. Well, you must consider that when laying in a screed, cotton can crumple under weight, which negatively affects the heat-shielding properties.
It is recommended to combine the material with wall structures made of wooden logs. The disadvantage of mineral wool is the presence of penofol in the composition, which can be dangerous to humans. In addition, this option has low moisture resistance, but well-made waterproofing will eliminate these disadvantages.
Coating selection: laminate
Having visited the store before the repair, you may wonder what material for the water floor heating to choose at the stage of finishing. It can be a laminate. But he must have a special purpose and have a substrate. It is better to choose material of the 32nd class and higher, while the heating should be regulated to 30 ° C. After laying the material, the system should be turned on, and the transition bars should be installed only after two weeks. A cheap and simple laminate is best not to stack. This may result in the release of harmful substances into the air. For example, formaldehyde from MDF boards.
Wood, engineering and parquet board
Wood is a natural material that can only heat up to 27 ° C. Any tree will dry out from higher temperatures. The heating system should be adjusted in advance so that the level does not exceed 2/3 of the power. Immediately after installation, heating cannot be switched on at full power. When choosing fiberboard as a substrate, you should be careful. In Russia, for example, soft fiberboard is manufactured, which has environmental friendliness, high specific capacity and low thermal conductivity. This substrate is a great solution for a cold concrete floor, but is unsuitable for a system that will be heated.
Each home master, before starting the corresponding work, asks what is needed for a warm water floor. If you, too, are among such consumers, then you should pay attention to the engineering board. However, it is impossible to heat it too. It is necessary to take lamellas no thicker than 16 mm, while their width should not be more than 150 mm. You can use engineering flooring, its price can reach 3000 rubles. A suitable option is a parquet board, it must be laid floating method. In choosing a parquet board, it is better to give preference to the one that is coated with oil and has no varnish. An adhesive plug is also suitable, its thickness should be 4 mm.
Should I use ceramic tiles
Before you begin installing the topcoat on a warm floor system, you may have a question about what is needed for a warm water floor. For example, ceramic tiles can be used as a topcoat. It is almost 100% environmentally friendly and easily copes with numerous heating and cooling cycles. But the tile has one drawback, which is expressed in the fact that such a tangible heat is not so good for the legs.
Which concrete to choose
The most common option for filling a warm floor is a concrete screed. This option is classic, but the base material should have increased strength. It largely depends on the filler, so sand is best replaced by screening. High-quality mortar should contain a screening fraction up to 5 mm, a plasticizer and cement grade M-300 or higher.
If you decide what concrete is needed for a warm water floor, you should know that screening is necessary for more reliable and high-quality adhesion. If you save on cement and use low-grade material, this will not allow the concrete to obtain the desired strength, and the surface will become cracked when heated.
A plasticizer is necessary so that the screed does not crumble under the influence of temperature. The use of a plasticizer makes it possible to reduce the thickness of the screed to 30 mm. If you want to fill in a warm water floor, which material is better to use, you must decide. So, when mixing the solution, you will use a screening in a volume of 6 parts, one part of cement, a plasticizer in the amount of 0.35 liters per bag of cement and water. The liquid is added in such a volume that a pasty homogeneous mixture is obtained. Concrete can also be semi-dry. Its main difference is less fluid. The composition should include polymer additives and fiber.
For cement grade M-400 in the volume of one part, you must use sifted coarse sand in the volume of three parts, as well as fiber. It is taken in an amount of 0.5 kg per cubic meter of mixture. Water should be added in a small amount. All components mix well. Finding out if you have added enough water is easy. To do this, type a little mixture in your hand and crush well. If water has flowed, this indicates that there is an excess of it in the solution. The solution after compression should keep its shape well and not crumble.
Concrete calculation
Before starting work, it is necessary to calculate the material for a warm water floor. If the area of the room is 20 m 2 , and the thickness of the screed will be 5 cm, then the first value must be multiplied by the second, which will allow you to get one cubic meter of solution.
As for insulation or waterproofing, these materials are usually made in slabs. In order to find out how much material is needed, you need to determine the floor area, and then the area of one plate. The first value is divided into the second, which allows you to get the number of plates that you have to purchase.
Do I need a pump
Quite often, novice home masters ask themselves whether they need a pump on a warm water floor. The decision here will depend on several factors. Before starting work, it is necessary to calculate the volume of coolant, only after that it will be possible to make a decision, including where to connect the pumping equipment - to the battery or lay a separate pipeline from the boiler. Of particular importance is also which boiler is used in the system. Boilers with integrated pumps are on sale today, while other equipment runs on liquid, solid or gaseous fuels. Units can be connected without a pump.
Floor device
When you have already decided what kind of insulation is needed for a warm water floor, you can start work. An even foundation has already been prepared, which means that the differences do not exceed 7 mm by 2 m. If there are bumps, they are covered with sand. Some put waterproofing under the insulation, someone does the opposite.
Extruded polystyrene foam, for example, almost does not need waterproofing, so the position of the waterproofing is not critical. The next step is to lay the damper tape. It can be finished or made independently. If you decide to use sheet insulation, then it is stacked with a displacement of the joints so that the material is tightly bonded.
It is important to reinforce the floor. A mesh that connects with a wire is perfect for this. Nylon clamps are attached to the mesh, which will strengthen the pipes. Now you know what pipes are needed for a warm water floor, this was discussed above. At the next stage, you can do their styling. To do this, you need to retreat from the wall about 20 cm.
Next, the contours are connected and crimped. The final step will be the filling of the screed and the laying of the finish coating. When materials and pipes for warm water floors have been laid, do not immediately turn on the system at full capacity. She needs to be allowed to work for a while with medium intensity.