Building technologies do not stand still. One of the best options for heating today is underfloor heating. It is combined with different types of coverage. One of the possible options may be a self-leveling floor. This coating has a lot of positive qualities. How to mount a warm floor under the self-leveling floor will be discussed later.
Varieties of heating systems
Heated floor under the self-leveling floor with their own hands can be mounted by almost everyone. This procedure is carried out according to a certain methodology. There are several types of underfloor heating. They differ in the principle of heating, cost and installation features.
All systems that are used today in the arrangement of such heating can be divided into two large groups. These are water and electric heating systems. In the first case, pipes are laid out on the floor surface. The coolant heated by the boiler circulates in them.
Electricunderfloor heating is a cable that connects to the network. This system is easier and faster to install than pipes. In this case, the consumption of heat carriers in this case will be less. However, if there is a boiler in their own house, it is sometimes more profitable for owners to install water systems. The electrical wire is ideal for installation in an apartment or a private house.
Advantages of bulk floor
Heated floor under the self-leveling floor is mounted quite often today. This cover is very popular today. This is due to a number of advantages of self-leveling floors. They allow you to create a perfectly flat surface. All irregularities in the subfloor will be filled with liquid composition.
This produces a coating that is resistant to various adverse effects. It is not afraid of blows, it is not covered with scratches. The self-leveling floor is not deformed under the weight of overall furniture. No chips, cracks or gouges appear on the surface.
This coating does not release harmful components into the environment. Therefore, it is used everywhere.
One of the main advantages of this type of flooring is its spectacular appearance. If desired, you can make the floors 3D or order a film with a regular pattern.
Features of electrical systems
It is worth considering that there are many varieties in the category of electric heating elements. It can be wire, mat or infrared film. The wire is relatively thick. He fits into the screed. Mats are nets ofpolymer material, on which a thin wire is laid out.
Mats are mounted directly under the tiles without screed. Tile glue is applied to such systems. Next, install the flooring as usual. Self-leveling floor for underfloor heating under the tiles is also a good option. When installing it, the floor level in the room rises less than when installing water-heated floors or a cable under a screed.
The third type is film infrared floors. They are designed exclusively for dry installation. In other words, there should be no solution on the surface of the film. If you do not follow this recommendation, the warm floor will quickly fail.
Preparing the base
The warm floor under the self-leveling floor is laid on the prepared base. First you need to draw a plan of the room and determine where the heating elements will pass. Regardless of whether it is a water or electric underfloor heating, it is not laid under furniture.
This allows you to save money both during the installation of the system and during its operation. To make autonomous heating using a water heated floor, you need to cover about 70% of the floor area with a heating system. The rest of the area remains free. It will be possible to purchase less pipes or electrical cable. This will reduce system power consumption.
Need to determine if the floor is level in the room. If there are significant differences, they need to be leveled with cementsolution.
Laying the water system
Warm water floors under the self-leveling floor are mounted on a layer of thermal insulation. When the layout project of the system and the base of the room are prepared, it is necessary to lay a layer of insulation. It can be polystyrene foam or rolled foil insulation. The thickness of the latter should not be less than 7 mm along the perimeter of the room, a damper tape is installed. It will compensate for the thermal expansion of the self-leveling floor during heating and cooling.
Roll insulation is fastened with adhesive tape. Next, a reinforcing mesh is laid out on it. Pipes are laid out on it. Special communications are suitable for heating. They are usually colored red. Fixation is carried out using special guides or staples, which are fixed with dowel-nails.
Pipes are laid out according to the "snail" or "snake" pattern. The choice depends on the configuration of the room. The distance between the pipes should not be less than 10 cm and more than 20 cm. After that, a layer of screed is poured onto the system. It should be at least 8 cm. The screed dries out in 3-4 weeks. It will be possible to walk on it in 5-7 days.
Electric cable installation
Electric underfloor heating under self-leveling floors is laid according to a similar principle. First, the insulation and damper tape are mounted. In the wall, you need to make a strobe for the temperature sensor, which will move away from the thermostat. Next, a heating wire is laid out on the reinforcing mesh.
The pitch between the turns of the heating element may be different. The narrower it is, the smaller the screed layer can be poured on top of the system. The step can be from 8 to 15 cm. The screed layer in this case varies from 3 to 5 cm.
Installation of electric mat
Somewhat different from previous systems is the electric mat. It does not need to be poured into the screed. If the self-leveling floor is made in the apartment of the second and subsequent floors, no insulation is required. It is necessary to level the base and prime it. Mat is placed on top.
The wall also makes a recess for installing the thermostat sensor. The strobe should also run across the floor. Moreover, the sensor from the thermostat is necessarily located in the corrugated pipe. It must be located between any two turns of wire.
The mat is fixed with construction tape. After that, you can proceed to the direct filling. The thickness of the self-leveling floor under the warm electric floor should not exceed 1.5 cm. Otherwise, the system will not be able to warm up the thick layer.
Filling the self-leveling floor
Depending on the type of floor, the pouring method is also selected. Usually make several layers. If a warm floor is used, the thickness of the coating should be minimal. To prepare the composition, you need to purchase two components. They are dry mixed. Then water is added to a bucket (preferably plastic).
Before starting the preparation of the composition, you need to read the manufacturer's instructions. It indicates the proportions by which the compositions are mixed, and other important nuances of the fill.
When the composition is ready, they begin to pour it from the farcorner of the room. The bulk floor is leveled with a spatula. Next, you need to walk along the surface with a spiked roller. So from the structure of the liquid mixture it will be possible to remove air bubbles. They reduce the strength of the coating. The layer must dry within the time specified by the manufacturer.
Having considered how to install a warm floor under the self-leveling floor, you can perform all the steps yourself.
