If you decide to do a major overhaul of your home, then you are probably also thinking about warming the loggia. This area can be used as additional, which is great for a winter garden, office with a computer or a recreation area. The main thing is that the inside should be warm and comfortable, and not only in the summer. At the same time, the quite reasonable question arises: how to make space warmer? One of the probable solutions is the warm floor.
Choice of insulation
If you decide to arrange a warm floor on the loggia, then you need to think about the insulation of the system. These manipulations are required to reduce natural heat loss. In addition, the radiated energy will be rationally and evenly distributed around the perimeter of the floor. Energy for additional heating will be saved, which will reduce the cost of energy resources. A layer of thermal insulation will also create an additional noise barrier.
Polypropylene can act as an option for thermal insulation. It has a cellular structure, does not differ in hygroscopicity and lends itself perfectly to processing. The material will be able to withstand temperatures up to 130 ° C. On sale you can find polystyrene foam with a lining in the form of a polypropylene film.
Expanded polystyrene
Expanded polystyrene is one of the best solutions for thermal insulation of a warm floor on a loggia. It is great for water systems. This material is characterized by high hardness, lightness and strength. It is resistant to high temperatures and their extremes. In this case, the layer will retain its properties even after prolonged use. In an aggressive environment, expanded polystyrene does not break down and does not absorb moisture. The layer is resistant to fungal lesions, in addition, it is easy to mount.
Film
Before laying the warm floor on the loggia with your own hands, you need to choose the right materials. Another solution for creating an insulating layer is a metallized mylar film. It will be able to create protection against destruction when exposed to an alkaline environment, which is characteristic of a cement-sand screed.
Substrate Selection
When installing the described system, you will definitely need a substrate for a warm floor. If you decide to prefer electric heating, then you can choose a pressed cork. Foamed polymers will do. When choosing this layer, it is important to pay attention to quality and thickness.
Good material usually costs 70 rubles. per square meter. This cost for some consumers is quite high, but it is justified by the fact that the material will fulfill all the functions assigned to it. One of the most common is cork substrate, which is harmless and environmentally friendly. The material absorbs noise well, is not covered by cracks and does not decay.
Alternative solution
You may prefer foamed foamed polyethylene. This option is cheaper than the rest and has excellent sound and heat insulation properties. The layer does not crease, easy to lay and is characterized by resistance to moisture. Another solution is extruded polypropylene. Such a substrate for a warm floor has a foil coating. The material is characterized by high mechanical characteristics, it is notable for its low cost and resistance to high temperatures.
Finishing Choice
As a topcoat for a warm floor, you should choose materials that will not have significant weight. Quite often, consumers prefer laminate flooring. In this case, it is important to approach the issue correctly. If such a topcoat has a porous structure, then it cannot be laid on the film floor. In lamellas, binder and water-repellent impregnations will not be resistant to heating and cooling cycles. If you still decide to use such a laminate for a warm floor, then after a while it will go apart at the seams and crack.
It is possible to lay the described finishing layer on a water heated floor. However, it is important to purchase a special substrate. In addition, the laminate should belong to the 32nd wear resistance class. It is important to adjust the heating of the system within 30 ° C. As soon as the laminate for the warm floor is laid, you can turn on the system, while it is recommended to proceed with the installation of the adapter plates only after 2 weeks.
Quite often, home craftsmen lay the laminate on a film heating system. The infrared floor is located on the substrate. Another finish solution is wood. It can only be heated to 27 ° C. If you withstand higher temperatures, the material will dry out. Therefore, when using wooden floors, the system must be adjusted in advance. It should work at 2/3 of its capacity.
It is possible to use for a warm floor a modern engineering or parquet board. It should have a thickness within 16 mm. As for the width, this parameter should not exceed 150 mm. This will provide better warming. The most suitable solution is ceramic tile. It is almost always completely environmentally friendly and easily copes with numerous heating and cooling cycles. Such a coating still has a minus, which is expressed in the fact that too much heat is not so useful for the legs.
Choosing a floor for ceramic tiles
Under the tile, you can use an electric heated floor. A single-core cable will be cheaper, but it should be returned to the thermostat, unlike a two-core one. After laying the tiles, the floor will become about 6 cm higher. You can connect the system only after the mortar completely solidifies.
The ultra-thin cable, which should be laid on a polymer mesh base, is characterized by high strength and insulation resistance. If you want to choose the best underfloor heating for tiles, you should pay special attention to the most modern solution - an infrared system. It is one of the varieties of electric underfloor heating.
According to the manufacturers, the operation of such a system is based on the principle of sunlight, which cannot harm a person. This design does not heat air, but objects in the environment. It will be possible to save with the help of such a floor also for the reason that heating begins immediately after switching on.
Such floors consist of flat plates, which are in a plastic film. Heat losses are negligible, and the infrared floor works silently. Before you make a warm floor on the loggia, you should also pay attention to water systems. They may be most beneficial if you can power them from a central heating system. Space heating will be uniform, installation costs are one-time. Maintenance floor does not require. However, this technology is most labor intensive. To carry out the installation process, the master needs to have certain skills.
If you lay a water floor heating on the loggia, then there is a possibility that over time the decorative surface will move away from the base. Therefore, at the installation stage, you must follow all the rules.
Features of the infrared floor device
Film floors are offered for sale with different heating parameters. Canvases can have different sizes. Heat regulator to be purchased separately. Its power must be calculated individually. A clean substrate is laid on the prepared surface, and the cut points are fastened with tape. Then the film is placed, its edges are trimmed. They must be isolated. A temperature sensor should be located near the thermostat. The cable should be located under the tile.
In order for such a warm floor on the loggia not to move when laying the tiles, it should be fixed with adhesive tape to the substrate. At the next stage, you can proceed with the installation of the thermostat. It is installed next to the wiring. Installation of the thermostat is carried out stationary. The next step will be laying the wires and connecting them to the network. When installing an infrared heated floor on a loggia, it is better to use mounting cables in two colors. Wires are sometimes stacked under the baseboard. You can make a strob in the wall, in this case the connecting cable will be hidden. In order to connect the wires to the heating material, it is necessary to put the terminals and secure with pliers. The clamp should fit against the copper conductor. The cable is fixed and insulators are installed.
Conclusion
If you decide to install a warm floor on the loggia, then first you need to choose the materials. It is important to select them based on weight, because the whole system should not have a significant load on the ceiling.