Wiring on the floor is not often mounted, usually the wires are installed inside the walls, but in some situations floor installation of the electrical cable is indispensable. This type of work is distinguished by its practicality, ease and economy, so now this gasket is becoming more popular every year.
In some cases, wiring across the floor in an apartment is the only possible solution. Unfortunately, in some panel houses it is not possible to install gates inside the walls. If the repair work has already been carried out and only the floor can be replaced, while the full finishing of the walls has already been completed, it is the floor electrical wiring that will help to lay additional lines.
Basic safety requirements
Most experts agree that it is almost impossible to repair an electrical cable that is embedded in a coupler. That is why it is necessary to carry out all work as carefully, safely and competently as possible, so that in the future withwiring was no problem. For example, waterproofing in a house must be carried out before laying the cable, because then it will not be possible to carry out such work, unless you start a complete dismantling.
Wiring on the floor will not be too difficult if the cable is wide enough, there are not many bends and all junction boxes are in accessible places.
When installing an electric cable under the floor, you need to remember that the wire should not be subjected to pressure or compression, and this is problematic, since the floor is always associated with significant loads. The cable must be protected by an armored pipe to avoid mechanical damage and squeezing.
Cable under wooden floor
Wiring on a wooden floor should be as safe as possible, as wood has a high level of flammability. Even if the coating is properly treated, there is always the possibility of a fire.
If the cable is installed under a wooden floor, it must be inside a special corrugated pipe. Similar protection is used when installing the cable inside the walls and stream, which are erected and finished with wood. According to safety rules, the total volume of the cable from the total space inside the pipe should not exceed 40%.
Be sure to take care of the reliability of the pipe connection, while it is important to maintain tightness. Otherwise, condensation may form inside the metal pipe, which will adversely affect the condition of all wiring. It is believed that the wiring on the floor in the house, which is made of concrete or other non-combustible materials, is safer. This design has fireproof properties.
Important rules
Before you start laying wiring on the floor or ceiling, you need to remember several important features of installing this type of wiring:
- When installing an electrical cable under the floor or inside it, you must definitely take care of having at least a small supply of wire. If there are any breakdowns in the future, repairs can always be carried out.
- Before laying boards or pouring screed, be sure to check all wiring for faults. Then, when the floor is ready, it will be problematic to carry out such work, and in most cases it is simply impossible.
- Even if protective steel pipes are used when laying the cable, the electrics must still be insulated.
- The choice of steel pipes must be approached carefully. The most important thing is that these products withstand the weight of concrete and the load on it. The electrical cable must not break, bend or deform.
- At the time of pouring the screed, you need to be extremely careful not to damage the wire, do not take it to the side, do not bend it.
- When installing the wiring, make sure that the wires do not lie on top of each other, otherwise the thickness of the floor will increase. More mortar will be needed, and some other problems may arise.
Some nuances
Electrical wiring is a very controversial and controversial design. Many people often wonder which is better - wiring on the ceiling or floor? It is difficult to answer this question precisely, because in each case it is required to carry out a specific type of work. For example, if you need to install a lot of fixtures, then you can’t do without wiring on the ceiling. The same situation is observed when installing the "warm floor" system.
If you need to run an electrical cable along or inside the floor, you need to remember a few important points:
- If there are junction boxes, in the event of a breakdown, it is not necessary to dismantle the entire floor covering, which means that their presence is mandatory.
- In the apartment, you need to distribute the cable as accurately and accurately as possible so that you do not have to increase the thickness of the floor. In a private house, you can simply go down and the problem will be solved, but in an apartment building this is impossible. The thicker the floor, the lower the ceiling.
- To distribute the load on the floor, it is recommended to lay a reinforcing mesh between the screed and the cable. However, care must be taken to ensure that the steel structure does not damage the wires.
- If the installation of electrical wiring is carried out in a wooden floor, it is necessary to treat it with special compounds that will protect the coating from fire, moisture and mold.
- Before starting work, you need to draw up at least an approximate layout of electrical cables.
Where is the best place to apply?
Installation of wiring in the floor is carried out in two cases. In the first situation, such an installation will be useful when buying a new house or apartment, in which markings have already been made on the floor. In this case, you just need to lay the cable and bring it to the switches.
Often, electricians resort to floor mounting in wooden houses. Unlike concrete walls, it is not recommended to damage the wood surface when installing the strobe. Sometimes it's just not possible.
In this case, the owner of the house has only two solutions: either install open wiring in the old fashioned way, or fix it on the wall, hiding it in a special box. Both options are not of high quality, which is why it is best to wire the floor.
How is the installation done?
Posting is carried out in several stages. First, they make a drawing, prepare all the necessary tools and materials. If necessary, carry out waterproofing. You can make it with an inexpensive bituminous coating.
All wires must be insulated with a special corrugated steel pipe. You can do without it, but in the event of a breakdown, it will be extremely problematic to carry out repairs. The wires are laid flat on the floor, do not lay on top of each other, try not to bend. Connections must only be inside junction boxes.
At the same time, the cable occupies only 40% of the total contents of the pipe. The maximum length of one track is 20 meters. If this number needs to be increased,it is recommended to use special transit boxes. When all the wires are installed and connected, they are checked for operability. Then, carefully, so as not to damage the wires, they lay a reinforcing mesh and pour concrete or lay boards.
Advantages of floor wiring
If the developer decides to choose this particular type of electrical wiring installation, he is guided by its following positive aspects:
- The chance of cable damage is minimized. In the case of wiring in the wall, the wire can be damaged by a drill or nails.
- It will take a small amount of wire, you can save a lot.
- Installation is simple and quick, it can be carried out even without special knowledge.
- No need to make strobes in the walls, then level them, apply plaster.
Cons of wiring in the floor
Despite the large number of advantages, as with any other work, this method of wiring also has its negative sides. If a breakdown suddenly occurs that leads to a network malfunction, it will be difficult, and sometimes even impossible, to carry out repairs. A person cannot look through the floor and understand where the cable is deformed, where the source of the problem is.
In this case, the floor will have to be dismantled, all cables will have to be removed so that the wire can be replaced. In addition, you need to additionally buy protective steel pipes, but when laying the cable instrobes in the wall it is not necessary to do this.
