What is the best warm floor to choose under laminate?

Warm floors are becoming more and more popular every year. This is not without reason: such a heating system is convenient, eliminates the need for bulky radiators, is modern and safe. Let's briefly consider the advantages of several types of heated floors.

Warm floor under laminate

Previously, technology made it possible to install a heating system only under the tiled flooring. But modern developments in the field of repair provide much more scope. Laminate flooring is easy to maintain, easy to install, and costs much less than parquet.

Important! Remember that laminate, due to its composition, is subject to constant changes in volume: depending on the humidity in the room, it either swells or contracts. If a heating element is located in the immediate vicinity of the lamellas, then these physical properties will be even more pronounced. Parquet floors also have this feature, but it is not so pronounced. Therefore, you need to approach the selection of a method for heating the lamellas very carefully, so as not to suffer later and not start expensive alterations.

One of the basic rules when installing a heated floor is that a rigid substrate with low thermal resistance should be located under the lamellas.If the thermal conductivity of the substrate is good, and if thick carpets are laid on the heated floor in the future or furniture without legs is installed (that is, not allowing warm and cold air to circulate normally), then negative consequences are possible, including swelling and severe curvature of the floor covering. In order to prevent these unpleasant phenomena, they also make a distance from the wall when laying lamellas (about 1 cm). This measure will help further protect the baseboards and wallpaper below on the wall from peeling due to the constant flow of dry hot air.

And now we can consider the main features of several methods of arranging heated floors with laminate.

Water

This is a multi-layer heated floor. Its basis is a high-quality and reliable waterproofing element, necessary for the safety of continuous operation. Simultaneously with laying the waterproofing layer, a damper tape is laid around the perimeter of the room. At the next stage, a heat-insulating layer is laid, and thin tubes are placed on it, which are heating elements: hot water constantly circulates in them. Their small cross-section and frequent arrangement ensure uniform heating of the floor in the future. A concrete screed is placed on top of the tubes, and the laminate is finally laid on it.

What are the advantages of a hydronic floor heating system?

• High reliability.
• The heating system does not operate from the electrical network, but from the water heating system of the house; In case of problems with the wiring, you will not have to freeze.
• Water heating is environmentally friendly and safe for apartment residents.

The disadvantages of water heating include long, complex installation (about a month) with a mandatory concrete layer on top of the heating tubes. This is not only expensive and time-consuming, but also leads to a rise in the floor level - very inconvenient for apartments with low ceilings. And in the event of an accident and water leak, repair work will be expensive and difficult. Therefore, if you choose a water floor, immediately do the work conscientiously and reliably.

Electric

This method is the most popular today. Heating is carried out through the use of an electric cable. It is laid under the laminate, trying to give the shape of a wriggling snake. This is done for uniform heating. This installation is easy to do (except for the concreting stage), it is durable and reliable. But it also has disadvantages. These include dependence on the operation of the general electrical network, the need for grounding, increased energy costs, and the need to install a concrete screed.

Infrared film

This is a fundamentally new way of insulating floors with laminate flooring. First, a thermal insulation substrate is installed, on which the infrared film is laid. Polyethylene is laid on top and, finally, a final decorative layer of laminate. Fast and easy. There is no need, unlike previous methods, to equip a bulky concrete screed and consume a lot of electricity, as in the case of the heating system of the same name. There is no need to worry about hot water leaking. The main disadvantage of the method is the high cost of purchases and the prohibition of installation in a room with a high level of humidity.

Which heated floor for laminate is better?

As mentioned above, a lot depends on the room in which you plan to lay the laminate boards, what the humidity is in the room, and, most importantly, which floor heating option will ultimately be chosen. Consider what is more important to you - quick installation, price, level of the future floor, further costs? Based on this, give preference to any option.