Building technology does not stand still. One of the best options for heating today is a warm floor. It is combined with different types of coating. One possible option is a bulk floor. This coating has a lot of positive qualities. How to mount a heat-insulated floor under a bulk floor, will be considered further.
Varieties of heating systems
Almost everyone can mount a warm floor under the bulk floor with their own hands. This procedure is carried out according to a certain technique. There are several varieties of underfloor heating. They differ in the principle of heating, cost and installation features.
All systems that are used today to equip 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.
Electric heated floors are a cable that connects to the network. This system is easier and faster to install than pipes. In this case, the coolant consumption 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 electric wire is ideal for installation in an apartment or a private house.
Benefits of a bulk floor
The heat-insulated floor under a bulk floor is mounted quite often today. This coating is popular today. This is due to several advantages of bulk floors. They allow you to create a perfectly smooth surface. All roughnesses of the subfloor will be filled with liquid composition.
This results in a coating that is resistant to various adverse effects. It is not afraid of blows, it is not covered with scratches. The bulk floor does not deform under the weight of the overall furniture. Chips, cracks and potholes do not appear on the surface.
This coating does not emit harmful components into the environment. Therefore, it is used everywhere.
One of the main advantages of this kind of flooring is its spectacular appearance. If desired, you can make 3D floors or order a film with the usual pattern.
Features of electrical systems
It is worth considering that in the category of electric heating elements there are many varieties. It can be a wire, mat or infrared film. The wire is relatively thick. He fits into the screed. Mats are nets of polymer material on which a thin wire is laid out.
Mats are mounted directly under the tile without screed. Tiled glue is applied to such systems. Next, install the flooring as usual. A tiled floor for a warm floor under a tile is also a good option. When it is installed, the floor level in the room rises less than when installing water-heated floors or cable under the screed.
The third type is infrared film 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 adhere to this recommendation, the warm floor will quickly fail.
Foundation preparation
The heat-insulated floor under a bulk floor is laid on the prepared basis. First you need to draw a floor plan and determine where the heating elements will go. Regardless of whether it is a water or electric underfloor heating, it is not laid under furniture.
This saves both during the installation of the system and during its operation. To make autonomous heating with the help of a water heated floor, you need to cover about 70% of the floor area with a heating system. The remaining area remains free. It will be possible to purchase fewer pipes or an electric cable. In this case, the power consumption of the system will be less.
It is necessary to determine whether the floor is even in the room. If there are significant differences, you need to level them with a cement mortar.
Water system installation
Warm water floors under the bulk floor are mounted on a thermal insulation layer. When the project of the layout of the system and the base of the room are prepared, you need to line the insulation layer. It can be expanded polystyrene or rolled foil insulation. The thickness of the latter should not be less than 7 mm around the perimeter of the room establish a damper tape. It will compensate for the thermal expansion of the bulk floor during heating and cooling.
Roll insulation is fastened with adhesive tape. Next, a reinforcing mesh is laid 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 brackets, which are fixed with dowels, nails.
The pipes are laid out according to the “snail” or “snake” scheme. 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. Screed dries 3-4 weeks. You can walk on it in 5-7 days.
Electric cable installation
Electric underfloor heating under bulk 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 depart 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. Than it is already, the smaller the layer of screed can be poured on top of the system. The pitch can be from 8 to 15 cm. The screed layer in this case varies from 3 to 5 cm.
Installation of an electric mat
The electric mat is slightly different from previous systems. It does not need to be poured into the screed. If the bulk floor is made in the apartment of the second and subsequent floors, insulation is not required. It is necessary to level the base and primer it. Mat is laid on top.
A recess is also made in the wall for installing the temperature control sensor. The strobe must also pass along the floor. Moreover, the sensor from the thermostat must be in the corrugated pipe. It should be located between any two turns of wire.
The mat is fixed with construction tape. After that, you can proceed to the direct fill. The thickness of the bulk floor under a warm electric floor should not exceed 1.5 cm. Otherwise, the system will not be able to warm up a thick layer.
Filling a bulk floor
Depending on the type of floor, the filling method is also selected. Usually make several layers. If a warm floor is used, the coating thickness should be minimal. To prepare the composition, you need to purchase two components. They are mixed in dry form. Then, water is added to the bucket (preferably plastic).
Before starting the preparation of the composition, you need to familiarize yourself with 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 far corner of the room. The bulk floor is leveled with a spatula. Further along the surface you need to walk with a needle roller. So, air bubbles can be removed from the structure of the liquid mixture. They reduce the strength of the coating. The layer should dry within the time set by the manufacturer.
Having considered how to install a heat-insulated floor under a bulk floor, you can perform all the actions yourself.