Warm floors are becoming increasingly popular among the population every year. Warm floors have several varieties. Despite all their structural differences, they are united by one task. It consists in ensuring that the floor covering absorbs heat from the heating elements most effectively.

The underlying layer of the heating system is of no small importance in the design of the floor. Underfloor heating is used from different materials depending on the type of floor heating.

The building materials trading network offers three types of heating:

Each type of installation is carried out using its own technology. Under each type of heated floor, a bedding made of a certain material is laid.

Requirements for underlying material

The lining should not allow heat waves to pass down

The heat-reflecting lining is placed between the concrete base and the heating system. The main function of the lining is to ensure that the heat spreads straight upward. As a result, thermal energy is not wasted on heating the ceiling.

Substrate materials must meet the following requirements:

• environmental Safety;
• effective heat-reflecting underlay for heated floors;
• resistance to sudden temperature changes;
• high-quality sound insulation;
• resistance to possible deformations;
• ease of installation.

Underlayment material for water floors

The laid underlay under a warm water floor is designed to perform 2 functions:

1. Reflection of heat from the heater into the room.
2. Preventing emergency leakage from penetrating into the lower structures of the structure.

The basis of the underlying layer is a foil underlay for a warm floor. The metallic lining is an extruded polymer foam covered with aluminum foil.

Types of substrates compatible with different heating systems are in the following table:

Technology for installing a water floor with a foil backing

The foil underlay under the heated floor is laid after a series of works:

1. Insulation boards (expanded polystyrene, foam foil or dense foam) are laid on a clean floor base.
2. Lay a vapor barrier made of dense polyethylene film.
3. The foil lining is laid on the film, with the reflective side facing up.
4. Reinforced mesh is laid.
5. The assembled pipelines are secured to the mesh with plastic clamps.
6. Making a concrete screed.
7. Lay the floor covering.
8. Excess foil and vapor barriers protruding beyond the floor covering are cut off.
9. Install skirting boards.

In addition to foil, a backing for the water-heated floor made of lavsan is used. Lavsan for a warm water floor is a metallized reflective layer on a film base (foamed polyethylene).

One of the best materials for insulation under heated water floors is polystyrene foam. The cellular polymer simultaneously plays the role of a substrate for a water-heated floor. The material, coated with a metallized film, is designed for operation at temperature extremes from -180°C to +180°C and has excellent sound insulation.

The foil underfloor heating is placed on the walls around the perimeter of the room to a height of 100 - 150 mm.

Underlay for electric floor heating

Electric floors can be laid without a backing

It should immediately be noted that heat-reflecting metallized substrates are avoided for electrically heated floors. The fact is that an electric heating cable and a metallized substrate are a pair of electrodes.

The heating wire creates a magnetic field around itself, which induces stray currents on the metallized surface of the substrate.

Stray currents are destructive to surrounding structures and can have a negative impact on human health.

Electric cable heating installation technology

Like the technology for constructing warm water floors, the electrical system requires the following sequence of actions:

1. Slab polymer insulation is laid on a clean base.
2. A vapor barrier is laid over the entire area of ​​the room.
3. Spread a polymer bedding with a laminated coating with aluminum threads.
4. Lay reinforcing plastic mesh.
5. The electrical cable is secured to the grid with polyethylene clamps.
6. The entire area is filled with liquid concrete.
7. The floor covering is laid on the hardened concrete screed.

Rolled materials made of foamed polyethylene and penofol are used as an underlying layer for electric heated floors. The bedding is covered with a laminated film with aluminum threads. For more information about installing a cable floor, watch this video:

The film is indifferent to the effects of electromagnetic fields and directs heat upward without loss, effectively warming the floors.

Lining for infrared floor heating

Foil materials are also suitable for IR floors

The main task performed by the substrate under an infrared heated floor is to direct the infrared radiation of the film heater into the room.

Warm infrared floors and heat-reflecting substrates are offered for sale in one set.

Technology for laying IR film floor heating systems with a substrate

The appearance of infrared film heated floors on the market has made a small revolution in the improvement of heating systems for the bases of premises.

IR floors are attractive due to their ease of installation, the absence of wet processes and labor-intensive work on filling floors with installed heaters.

IR floors are laid in the following sequence:

1. Polymer insulation is laid on a clean floor base.
2. A polyethylene vapor barrier is laid on the surface of the insulation, placing its edges on the walls around the perimeter of the room.
3. Rolls of IR heating film are rolled out.
4. The film is cut according to special marks.
5. The cut parts of the film are connected to each other in parallel.
6. A thermal sensor is placed under the film. The temperature sensor is connected to the thermostat.
7. IR floors are laid at a distance of 100 mm from the walls.
8. Areas of the floor intended for the location of stationary furniture are not covered with film.
9. A polymer-based foil bedding is placed on the film.
10. The entire surface is covered with a soft polymer backing for installation of the floor covering. To learn how to properly lay out infrared film, watch this video:

The underlay for underfloor heating film is compatible with many types of floor coverings, except those laid on adhesive and cement bases.

Proper installation of a heated floor requires the most efficient use of thermal energy. To increase the efficiency of the heating system, various heat-saving techniques are used.

One of the main aspects is the insulating substrate under the water-heated floor, which redirects heat flows from the water circuit to the final coating. Let's look in detail at the features of each type of thermal insulation damper, the intricacies of choosing and installing bedding material.

Insulating material is an intermediate layer between the subfloor and the water pipeline with the coolant. The main purpose of the substrate is to preserve and redirect heat flows upward, that is, to the living area of ​​the room.

In addition to the task of preserving heat, the intermediate layer performs a number of equally significant functions:

1. Waterproofing. In emergency situations, a waterproof substrate will retain water, protect the lower layers of the underground “pie” and prevent water from leaking to the basement floor. In addition, it will prevent the flow of moisture vapor from the screed to the finishing floor covering.
2. Thermal insulation. The layer acts as a kind of barrier between elements with different temperatures. Otherwise, contact with a cold floor will contribute to condensation and a decrease in the characteristic qualities of the insulation.
3. Uniform heat distribution. The substrate minimizes the likelihood of obvious temperature changes - there are no excessively warm or cold zones. This feature reduces the negative thermal impact on the final flooring, appliances and furniture.
4. Sound barrier. Most underlay materials absorb noise from walking on the floor and improve the overall sound insulation of the room.

The substrate softens shock loads on the base, distributing point pressure - this helps maintain the integrity of the screed.

The insulating layer, due to the low thermal conductivity of the material, gives a heat-reflecting effect - the main flow of heat energy rushes upward. In the absence of a substrate, the efficiency of the heating circuit decreases sharply, and energy bills increase (+)

Cork material – environmentally friendly use

Cork lining is made from crushed, compressed pellets of tree bark using various binders. The main argument in favor of such a substrate is naturalness and absolute environmental friendliness. The material is hypoallergenic and harmless to health.

Additional benefits of cork:

• resistance to deformation - after short-term shock loads it returns to its original shape;
• porosity provides high noise-absorbing properties;
• good thermal insulation characteristics;
• ease of cutting and laying.

Cork damper is sold in the form of rolls and individual sheet panels. The products differ in the thickness of the lining: rolled material – 2-4 mm, cork mats – 4-10 mm.

Characteristics of the substrate: compression resistance under pressure of 7 kg/sq.cm, deformation up to 10%, material humidity - about 7%, sound absorption coefficient on a ten-point scale - 8.5

Disadvantages of cork substrate:

• vulnerability to moisture;
• Demanding requirements for waterproofing the subfloor;
• sensitivity to large static loads.

It is better not to use the classic version of cork underlay under a water floor system. For these purposes, a rubber-cork coating is suitable, where rubber acts as a binder. In addition to water resistance, the damper has improved sound and vibration insulation characteristics, but it can no longer be called completely natural.

The bitumen-cork substrate (2), unlike the rubber-cork substrate (1), is unsuitable for residential premises. The material is characterized by excessive toxicity and flammability

Features of the polyethylene foam damper

The simplest and most affordable solution is a polyethylene foam backing. The material is produced by extrusion of polyethylene granules followed by heat treatment and pressing. The output is an elastic fabric filled with many air pores.

Polyethylene foam substrates, depending on the characteristics of the structure, are classified into two groups: non-crosslinked and crosslinked.

Non-crosslinked polyethylene foam consists of gas-filled cells up to 3 mm in size. The thickness of the substrate ranges from 0.8 to 6 mm, the width of the roll is 1-1.5 m.

The main advantages of such a substrate include:

• high moisture resistance – water absorption no more than 1%;
• small thickness;
• low cost.

However, non-crosslinked polyethylene foam has more disadvantages. The material is short-lived, wears out quickly, is pressed under weight and loses flexibility over time. The thermal conductivity coefficient is 0.55 W/(m°C), which indicates insufficient heat retention.

Cross-linked polyethylene foam (2) has a molecular structure that is much denser than that of non-cross-linked fabric (1). During the manufacturing process, cross-links are formed, reducing the size of air pores

Has the following features:

• phenomenal strength;
• increased density – 33 kg/cub.m, the same indicator for non-crosslinked polyethylene – 25 kg/cub.m;
• high level of noise absorption - up to 18 dB;
• low level of thermal conductivity – 0.031 W/(m°C);
• release format in rolls and mats, the thickness of the finished product is 1-20 mm.

The service life of the substrate reaches 15 years.

Disadvantage of “stitched” modifications: high cost. The most popular brands of polyethylene foam backing: Polyfom, Tatfoum, Penolon-R, PPE-Izolon, Izolon-500

Thermal reflective metallized substrates

Foil substrates are widely used. Moreover, various materials can be used as a base: slab extruded polystyrene foam, its non-extruded counterpart foam, cork material or polyethylene foam.

In each case, the metallized film improves the original technical characteristics of the base and complements it with reflex qualities.

The reflective outer covering is made of aluminum and lavsan. The thickness of the foil layer determines the degree of heat reflection of the insulation.

Lavsan or metallized film increases the efficiency of the “water floor” to 94-98% and ensures uniform heat redistribution. The coating is resistant to deformation and can easily withstand high loads

Lavsan is resistant to aggressive environments - the material retains its reflectivity and functions as a water barrier during prolonged contact with a concrete screed.

Worthy representatives of a heat-reflecting substrate based on polyethylene foam: Penofol, Isoflex, Ecofol. Foil insulation based on polystyrene foam – SunPol.

OSB and chipboard - “dry” laying technology

Wood-based materials act as a substrate when installing heated floors using Finnish technology. The method allows you to abandon the need for a monolithic concrete screed.

The essence of the method: the water circuit is laid in prepared channels. The rigidity of the base is provided by solid chipboards or a system of slats attached to wooden logs

A floor on a wooden base has a number of features:

• ease of assembly;
• high strength characteristics;
• environmental Safety;
• versatility - suitable for finishing with various floor coverings.

The weak side of the wood-based substrate is its susceptibility to moisture. To increase the hydro- and thermal insulation properties between the pipes and the wooden base, it is recommended to lay a thin backing, the best option is foil-coated polyethylene.

Selecting a substrate by type of base

The physical characteristics of the decorative floor covering significantly influence the choice of linear parameters and physical qualities of the substrate. The greater the weight of the finish, the stronger and more reliable the damper should be.

Ceramic tile. Water Substrates with high load-bearing capacity, such as extruded polystyrene foam, are suitable. Both smooth mats and ridged mats can be used

Laminate. The main criterion for choosing a substrate for a warm water floor with a laminate coating is the highest possible heat saving rate, since the panels themselves do not transmit heat well.

The light weight of the laminate does not put significant pressure on the “water system”. This makes it possible to use different types of lining, including soft ones

The optimal solution is heat-reflecting insulation with a low degree of thermal conductivity.

Linoleum. Installation of roll coating is carried out on plasterboard, OSB or sheet plywood. The panels have an impressive weight, which means that the requirements for the strength of the substrate are becoming more stringent. It is recommended to give preference to polystyrene foam, cork options or a lining made of cross-linked polyethylene foam.

More information about the installation of a water-heated floor under linoleum is written in.

Laying technology: a set of basic rules

Installing the substrate is not difficult; you can do the work yourself. The main thing is to follow simple and clear rules.

The order of installation depends on the form of the lining: roll insulation, individual modules or puzzle slabs, fixed together with a locking connection

General requirements for installation of the substrate:

1. Exact calculation. It is necessary to determine in advance the amount of material taking into account the standard sizes of the lining. It is optimal if the insulation is placed with a minimum number of joints.
2. Preparing the subfloor. The base must be level. You shouldn’t rely too much on the ability of dense material to mask unevenness - any product will take the shape of the base over time.
3. Waterproofing. Substrates made from natural components (cork, chipboard, OSB) require preliminary installation of a water barrier. It is enough to lay thick polyethylene.
4. Laying. Rolled, sheet material is rolled out without stretching; overlap onto the walls is required. The slabs are placed close to vertical surfaces, protected by 10 cm of damper tape.
5. Docking. Rolled insulation sheets are overlapped and secured together with construction tape. Plates and mats are grouped end to end.

The importance of insulating underfloor heating is difficult to overestimate. The efficiency and profitability of the heating system largely depends on its quality, as well as its compliance with the floor covering and the technology for placing the “water coil”.

Are you looking for a substrate for a water-heated floor? Or do you have experience installing and using a certain type of thermal insulation mat? Please leave comments on the article, ask questions and participate in discussions. The contact form is located below.

Heated floors are no longer a luxury item. This type of heating is very popular both in private houses and in standard apartments. Most often, underfloor heating is installed on the first floors of multi-story buildings with an unheated basement.

The “warm floor” system is demanding for installation. To properly arrange such heating, a foil layer is required. The underfloor heating retains heat from radiators or radiators, directing it indoors.

Purpose of the substrate

Today, three types of heated floors are produced:

• water with a pipe system;
• powered by electricity;
• heated film mats (infrared).

All types of systems have their advantages and disadvantages, which are taken into account during installation. Each design has its own installation nuances, but one thing is the same for all floors - they require a substrate. Such a screen increases the efficiency of the system, protecting it from heat loss.

Note! The minimum thickness of the effective layer must be at least 30 microns. The correct coating has a protective layer.

Substrate for water floor

Before installing and purchasing a lining, you need to understand its exact purpose. This will help you choose the right coating.

The layer for water floors is laid between the subfloor (screed) and the heating structure itself. The main function of the substrate is to retain heat and reflect it from the base. Infrared radiation is reflected from the foil surface and enters the room.

Heat is reflected due to the high thermal insulation properties of the material. It is its presence in the structure that prevents heat from being wasted on heating the floor slab; all infrared radiation is directed into the rooms. This phenomenon is called the thermos effect. In addition to thermal insulation properties, the foil underfloor heating provides protection from moisture.

Material selection

The most important criterion for a heated floor layer is the thickness of the material. In addition, the reflective layer should:

• have high levels of thermal and waterproofing, usually these characteristics are indicated on the packaging;
• have a composition that is safe for humans and animals;
• have a high degree of reflection of infrared radiation;
• be resistant to temperature fluctuations;
• have high sound insulation rates;
• be resistant to mechanical deformation;
• have an easy styling technique accessible to everyone.

Most often, the substrate is made of foil-coated material. Such layers are more effective in heat reflection. In addition to this material, the construction market offers the following types of underlays for heated floors:

Prices for such materials vary depending on the type and company. The cost largely depends on the thickness of the substrate.

Advice! If you are installing a heated floor under tiles, choose penofol for the insulating coating. The material provides good adhesion of the heating system to the screed.

Installation technology

One of the installer's tasks is to reduce the layer of the entire heated floor structure. Such a system can hide up to 25 cm of a room, which affects its area. To reduce the thickness of the structure, experts use thin but effective materials.

The installation of the substrate is carried out on a pre-prepared base. Lay the layer with the reflective surface facing up. The layers of the interlayer are laid end-to-end, gluing the seams with metallized tape. This connection protects the floor as much as possible from heat loss and moisture ingress.

When installing the reflective layer, it is necessary to use penofol, as it protects the foil from destruction when the solution penetrates.

Any type of substrate must be placed on the walls when laying. When installing the material with an overlap, you need to make an approach to the wall of 7 cm or more. This measure will protect the lower floors from flooding in the event of a leak or damage to the floor system.

For substrates with low waterproofing properties, a water “pie” must be laid. Its installation includes the following steps:

Depending on the type of heating system, the process may have its own nuances. In general, the installation of the structure is similar for all types of structure.

Substrate for electrical structure

The same types of substrates are used for electric floors as for water floors. However, electrically powered systems do not require waterproofing.

Installation of an electric floor begins with leveling the base. After drying, a substrate is placed on it, which is secured with a special tape. Heating mats or cables are attached to the film with brackets.

Note! You should not use foil materials as a substrate for an electric heated floor. Such a layer is a good conductor, which can lead to a short circuit if the floor system fails.

• polypropylene and foam materials;
• natural cork;
• metallized penofol.

One of the most popular manufacturers of components for heated floors is the Energoflor Compact company.

Underlay for infrared heated floors

For the high-quality functioning of infrared underfloor heating, two recommendations must be followed:

• strict adherence to installation technology;
• installation of heat-reflecting material with foil facing up.

When laying a reflective layer under a heated floor, it is recommended to follow the following advice from professional craftsmen:

By following these simple rules, you can easily install and select a high-quality substrate yourself. Be sure to consider the composition of the material and its compatibility with your heating system.

There are reflectors that can greatly facilitate the process of installing electrical cables. These are the so-called layers with bosses. The design of such material is a carpet dotted with dense rows of protruding cylinders. These projections are called bosses. It is very convenient to lay the underfloor heating cable between them. This installation does not require additional fasteners or adhesives - the bosses firmly hold the cable on the surface of the interlayer, preventing them from moving to the side.

Not so long ago, warm floors were a new thing for many and were considered a luxury. If earlier, when deciding to install heated floors in your house or apartment, there could be no talk of compromise, but now manufacturers of heating and air conditioning systems give builders and owners of residential spaces a wide range of choices of solutions, which are limited only by imagination and price-quality ratio.

Advantages of heated floors

Perhaps the most important requirements that a person who wants to acquire a heated floor poses are:

Water heated floors meet all these requirements. It does not emit any kind of radiation, except perhaps thermal radiation, it is economically justified and has a long service life.

Warm floors are unpretentious to use, and taking into account the durability of modern materials, they will serve the owners for a long time and effectively, creating a truly cozy, “warm” atmosphere in the house.

If the choice is a water heated floor, then the substrate must be suitable for it and comply with the recommendations of experienced builders, manufacturers of underfloor heating components and specialists in the field of water heating.

Almost all experts in this field agree that thermal insulation between load-bearing foundations (walls and floors) and the water heating system requires special attention. Properly selected thermal insulation (subject to other recommendations) will allow you to use a heated floor as the main, or even the only, source of heat in a heated room, and will also save energy that would be spent on heating the street or neighbors without thermal insulation.

In addition to these quite obvious things, a good substrate promotes uniform heat distribution in the room and has a beneficial effect on the microclimate.

Almost all specialized substrates for warm water floors have thermal insulation properties, so in the article we will consider them.

Mats for warm water floors

There is a whole range of mats for warm water floors, they all have different characteristics and are in different price categories. Let's look at their main types:

From the name it’s easy to guess that their main working element is a reflective surface.

Although this type of mat is cheap, it is far from the best option; it is not suitable for basement floors, but it will be a good solution when it is important to save 3–4 centimeters of living space.

Foil mats for warm water floors are laid on the base with the reflective surface facing up. The installation of pipes takes place directly on top of such a substrate. After installation, you can immediately screed.

Other types of substrates

In addition to specialized substrates, materials such as cork mats and chipboard and OSB boards, however, it is worth noting that although such materials have high thermal insulation and sound insulation characteristics, their use as a substrate for a warm water floor is not economically profitable, since they require additional measures for vapor barrier, which entails additional costs.

In addition, when it comes to heated floors, it is better to work with such materials by specialists who have extensive experience.

Combined underlay for water heated floors

It is permissible to use 2 types of insulation at once, laid in layers, for example, the simultaneous use of foil and flat mats will give a double effect in thermal insulation, where the foil coating will have reflective properties, and polystyrene foam will have thermal insulating properties.

This type of combination is not the only one; combinations of mats with bosses, metal profiles and gypsum fiber sheets are increasingly being used.

Perhaps the only disadvantages of such a “layer cake” system will be the high cost and a significant reduction in the height of the room (not suitable for rooms with low ceilings).

Installation

To prevent roll materials from creasing, it is better to use a long, but not heavy load, such as a block.

• Sizing
  The joints of the substrate should be glued before laying pipes and screeds; aluminum tape, or its cheaper analogue - metallized tape, is best suited for this purpose.

conclusions

It is better to purchase a substrate for a warm water floor in specialized stores, which will protect you from purchasing low-quality products.

Warm floors are one of the most promising heating systems. They are available in several modifications, so you can install different floor coverings on them. The performance of a warm water floor depends on many factors, the central place among which is occupied by the substrate under the heated floor.

Types of bedding

1. Under laminate.

This type of flooring requires special treatment, since non-compliance with temperature conditions leads to free space appearing between the slats. Newly formed cracks reduce the adhesive properties of the laminate, as a result of which the floor begins to creak.

A special overlay will help get rid of the above problems - underfloor heating. A natural barrier between the heating system and the floor covering will prevent deformation and the appearance of a characteristic squeak.

A polyethylene underlay under the water floor is installed between the pipeline and the floor covering. It goes well with concrete, cement, and does not undergo deformation when in contact with acids and alkaline substances, as well as fungi and mold.

1. For water heated floors.

For this type of heating system, polypropylene or polyethylene foam is used, which is also covered with a metallized coating or Mylar film. The metallized layer helps heat to be evenly distributed around the perimeter, and foamed polyethylene provides thermal insulation of the structure.

Foam is a modern thermal insulation material. Its presence prevents heat loss in the lower tiers (concrete screed). It easily tolerates high temperatures (up to 90 and above). This property allows pipelines to be laid directly into thermal insulation materials. In addition, the foam underfloor heating has a high level of sound insulation and heat reflectivity.

Using the materials described above as a lining will allow you to retain up to 85–90% of heat, which, in turn, reduces the cost of heating the room.

Also, extruded polystyrene foam or isoval wool can be placed under the water floor. The lining provides the proper level of thermal insulation and good ventilation, which prevents the accumulation of moisture and the formation of fungus.

Strengths of polystyrene foam bedding:

• High-quality heat and sound insulation;
• Cheapness;
• Fire safety;
• Easy to install;
• Durability (up to 100 years);
• Environmental friendliness.

Note that with the help of self-centering locks you can easily install foam boards. This installation scheme will significantly simplify the installation of pipes under a water floor and increase the level of safety.

1. Under infrared floor

The underlay for the infrared heated floor is laid in a continuous mass over the entire area of ​​the house. The seams are taped with adhesive tape or tape. Using adhesive tape and adhesive tape you will improve the waterproofing properties of the metalized film. For even greater reliability, the film can be glued with ordinary PVA glue.

Is it worth laying - expert opinion

The lining plays an important role in the functioning of the heating system: it enhances the thermal insulation properties of the screed, prevents temperature loss in the house and significantly reduces the cost of resources (electricity, gas, firewood, etc.) for heating. A properly selected and installed underlay will allow you to enjoy all the benefits of heated floors.

Thermal insulation for heated floors

In addition, the underfloor heating can improve not only the performance of the heating system, but also the performance of the laminate. Special linings under the water floor prevent the formation of condensation under the laminate, which significantly extends its service life. Thus, the lining is an integral part of a modern heating system.

Criterias of choice

Attention should be paid to the thickness and quality of the litter. Try to choose bedding with a small thickness - 2.5–5 mm is enough. Insulating material of this thickness costs on average about 70 rubles/m².

What properties does high-quality litter have?

The polystyrene foam lining most closely matches the above parameters. Experts advise choosing it first.

Cork backing (various thicknesses) is an environmentally friendly product with excellent thermal and sound insulation. Cost: from 60 rub/m².

Video: Do ​​you need penofol under a heated floor screed?