Infrared warm floors under the laminate: reviews. How to choose and how to put the infrared warm floor under the laminate?

Laminate flooring, which has become extremely popular these days due to its inherent advantages. Its main advantage is accessibility from a financial point of view. It is also practical, has a good enough service life, is easy to install. And for lovers of warm floors, who value comfort and comfort in their home, the use of laminated panels as a final cover is the ideal solution! But far from all the systems of warm floors can be mounted under the laminate.

Underfloor heating under laminate

There are three main types: electric, water and infrared warm floor under the laminate. Which is better, of course, you decide, but the latter type is considered the most modern and modernized. It is this warm field that will be discussed in our article.

IR-floor for laminate - the destiny of modernity

Electric and water options are gradually disappearing into the past. Infrared warm floor under the laminate, or, as it is also called, film, has gained immense popularity among the population. The relatively small thickness and homogeneity of the laminate panels ensure the efficient distribution of infrared rays over the entire surface. And the structural features of the film cloth (underfloor heating systems) do not allow radiation to penetrate deep into the base, thus ensuring a high level of economy of the heating system.

The principle of infrared warm floors

The work of film warm floors is based on the use of a special technology, consisting in the features of compounds from bimetals. When the unit is connected to the mains, a current flows through these bimetallic connections, causing infrared rays that emanate from them.

All pro and contra

Infrared film warm floor under the laminate has several advantages over its competitors:

• Simplicity in installation;
• The possibility of self-installation;
• availability;
• Quality replacement of stationary heating (in areas with warm climatic conditions);
• Absence of temperature fluctuations;
• Economical power consumption.

Can I install the infrared floor myself?

Warm IR-floor under the laminate will not only make the coating modern, but also give it the property of functionality, which consists in the instant creation of a comfortable microclimate in the room / room at any time of the day, both in winter and in summer. Install the infrared warm floor under the laminate yourself more than real. In this case, there is no need to resort to the use of expensive technologies and make a screed of concrete.

Required tools

For the works you will need:

• Substrate for laminate with heat-reflecting properties;
• infrared film;
• Temperature sensors;
• Temperature regulator;
• Electrical wiring;
• A set of fasteners in the form of clips for the installation of canvases;
• A set of insulation for installation;
• A film of polyethylene, the main purpose of which - protection from moisture;
• Adhesive tape of sanitary purpose;
• A knife for wallpaper;
• scissors;
• Metal ruler;
• yardstick;
• Simple pencil.

Types of infrared film

Infrared film is classified according to the type of heating element, and it can be of two types:

• bimetallic;
• Carbon.

It is worth noting that the carbon film is considered more elastic and durable.

How to put an infrared warm floor under a laminate: general installation rules

• Distance. The system of the warm floor should be arranged at a certain distance from the sources of heating, such as fireplaces, batteries, stoves and others. As a rule, the minimum indicator of such a distance is 50 centimeters.
• Free space. It is allowed to mount infrared heated floors under the laminate exclusively on a space free from furniture. Feedback indicates that when installing the system for furniture or equipment, the heating system or the entire floor as a whole can overheat.

• Availability. The floor covering should support the ability to control the functioning of the structure and provide access to the system at any time.
• Ventilation. As is known, the laminate coating is characterized by a minimum thermal conductivity. That is why it should have a good ventilation, which depends in part on the correct laying of the laminate.

We make the infrared warm floor under the laminate with our own hands: the installation instructions

The main requirement for laying a warm floor is a flat base, which does not have any bumps or cracks. Also in the room there should be an outlet that allows you to connect to an electrical system of 220 V. Once you have ascertained in accordance with these two requirements, you should proceed to the following steps.

Preparatory and isolation work

Step 1. Cleaning the base. Carrying out of purification works with the purpose of liquidation of pollution and garbage. It is recommended to use vacuum equipment.

Step 2. Measurements. It is necessary to measure the dimensions of the room and make a calculation of the material. Do not overlap the IR film. Therefore, if due to the size of the room a certain number of solid bands can not be laid, then it is possible to create small gaps between them.

Step 3. Installation of the heat-reflecting substrate. Infrared warm floor under the laminate for laying implies the use of a special substrate with heat-reflecting properties. Covered with such material throughout the area of the room. In case of a mismatch of dimensions, it can be shortened.

Step 4. Processing of substrate joints. Joints of heat-reflecting material must be glued using an adhesive tape on the outside.

Step 5. Preparing the heating film. Cut the infrared film in accordance with the dimensions of the room. Do not cut only on sections that are painted in white.

Step 6. Laying the film. The heating film is placed on the floor throughout the room, if it is freed from bulky furniture. If any, laying should be done in free places.

Step 7. Insulation of tires. Tires of copper in the places of the cuts of the film should be insulated with an electrical adhesive tape, twisting it through the place of the cut. It is very important that the air does not get under the tape.

Step 8. Grounding the bus. The tire, which, as a rule, is located in the central part of the heating strip, must be bent from two sides. In this case, the sections should not be touched, in fact, just like the remaining white patches.

Step 9. Insulation of the film in the area that is released from the copper busbar. Electro-technical adhesive tape is used. To stick it it is necessary so that there was a bend on the wrong side.

Step 10. Insulate the sections of the infrared film with adhesive tape, which is glued to ½ of the width and bends through the slice.

Soldering wires and connecting the thermostat

Step 11. Align the film at the place of installation and fix it to the substrate on the side that is opposite to the side of the placement of the temperature regulator.

Step 12. Solder wires that connect individual sections of the film. Remove the film from the side where the temperature regulator is installed, so that its underside is facing up. In order to increase the level of comfort during work, it is allowed to fix the film for a while with an adhesive tape. Then begins the preparation of materials: the installation wire, the cross section of which is 2.5 m ² , a soldering tool with a capacity of not more than 60 W, solder. From the protective purpose tires, which are located at the edges of the film, by using a heated soldering iron or clerical knife, the insulating layer is removed. Soldering edges are marked, the insulation melts. After that, it remains only to clean the knife.

Step 13. Join the film sections in parallel with the soldering process. Stripping the installation wire from the insulation coating should be done carefully on the area, which will be enough for soldering. At the same time, the core of the wire is not cut. Connecting the film sections, you should follow the rule "phase-zero". Proceeding from this, it is more rational to use a wire with a multi-colored insulating coating. During soldering, it is impossible for the wires to cross, and also to be too tight. Otherwise, they can not be damaged or broken.

Step 14. Isolation of soldering points. Places where the wires are welded are insulated with an electrical adhesive tape.

Step 15. Installation of the temperature sensor of the floor. Install such a device under the film, into a recess that was made in advance in a substrate with heat-reflective properties. The thermo sensor is placed under the film in the central part of its working area, in the warmest place of the room. Fulfilling the last requirement, the risk of overheating of the film master wipes out. The wire, which is supplied with the thermal sensor, is laid over the substrate and leads to the thermoregulator. The latter is fixed to the substrate by means of a mounting tape.

Step 16. Wire stripping, tinning of their ends and connection to certain terminals of the temperature regulator. Similarly, you need to connect the installation wire that goes to the heating film bars, and the power cable.

Step 17. Following the previous action algorithm, you need to connect the film's ground buses. They are cleaned, cut and joined using a strip of copper or cable. The wires at the outlet are placed in a corrugated pipe.

Step 18. Fixing the film. To fix a film it is necessary on a substrate, using an installation scotch. In this case, it is not possible that individual sections of the film overlap each other.

Testing and laying of laminate panels

Step 19. Fastening the ground wire, derived from the corrugated pipe, to the ground terminal of the temperature regulator, and if there is not one, to the ground loop.

Step 20. Check before laying the infrared film warm floor. Installation under the laminate is carried out only after a preliminary test of the heat capacity. To do this, it should be connected to the 220 V mains, set the temperature regulator to the middle position and start the heating process by pressing the toggle switch. In this condition, hold no more than 1 minute, after which the quality and degree of heating of all parts of the film is checked by hand.

Step 21. Cleaning. Elimination of the remnants of the installation cable and other debris. It is considered permissible to use a vacuum cleaner.

Step 22. Laying polyethylene film to improve its waterproofing properties. IR film is covered with polyethylene so that it overlaps the walls somewhere 15-20 cm. The thickness should be more than 160 microns.

Step 23. Laying the laminate.

Let's say there are no carpets

Remember! It is not recommended to use carpets and other floor coverings as decor and interior decoration in the room if infrared warm floors are installed under the laminate. Customer reviews confirm this. After all, such things create a delay effect of warm air, which can cause overheating of the flooring. For example, if the bed is laid where the thermostat is installed, the power relay will be systematically switched off, which means there is no room for heating the room or room.

Tips and Tricks

Before laying the infrared warm floor under the laminate, it is necessary to draw up an appropriate scheme, taking into account the following nuances:

1. The temperature regulator should be located at a height of 15 cm from the floor in the most accessible and convenient zone.
2. The surface temperature of the laminate floor as a whole is directly dependent on where the thermal sensor will be placed. Optimal is the location of the device near windows or doors - where the coolest.
3. Laying of the infra-red warm floor under the laminate Is prohibited under the installed furniture and equipment. If, in the absence of sufficient space in the room, this requirement is violated, then it is necessary to create so-called air pockets, the minimum height of which is 10 cm.
4. The outer webs of the film must not be firmly pressed against the wall surface. They should be at a distance from the wall of about 15-40 cm along the entire perimeter. In this case, the length of the web should not be more than 8 cm.
5. Cut film heaters only in special places.
6. The location of the infra-red floor system under the laminate is not overlapping.

What do users say?

Most people who have laminate flooring, choose infrared warm floors under the laminate. The feedback, however, is both positive and negative.

Some note the effectiveness of such floors as a heating system in general for the room. Others complain of a non-aesthetic appearance due to the loss of the evenness of the laminate floor, as well as the instability of the structure. Disadvantages, which the users say, can be a consequence of neglecting this or that rule of installation or operation, since it is very important to install infrared warm floors under the laminate. Reviews when choosing the type of heating for the floor, of course, it is worth reading, but it is not necessary to take them to heart. It is better to study the technical characteristics of the IR film and the most laminated coating when choosing, and entrust the installation work to a specialist if you doubt your own abilities.