Everyone is trying to create the most comfortable living conditions in their housing. After the walls are erected, interior decoration is required. There are enough materials on the market. Underfloor heating is not only comfort, but also complete heating for the home. In this matter, it is important to decide what type is suitable and for what final finish.
Working principle
What is the best coating for water floor heating? Before making a decision, it is worth understanding the work of such a design in general.
In order for the floor to be heated by means of water, it is poured into a circuit that is fixed in a concrete screed. Although today not in every house cement is used, since the construction may not meet the level of permissible severity. At this point, a decision is made which coating is best for underfloor heating. You will have to create several layers from the bottom up:
- To create a rough floor, sometimes leave what is, or align.
- Waterproofing. It is impossible without it, because if groundwater does not fit the floor, then condensate strongly affects the structure.
- Insulation. There is a large assortment in the market, and everyone chooses his own.
- Reinforcing mesh. Without it, it will not be possible to lay pipes with water in a quality manner. She makes the screed reliable.
- Pipes, warm water will move along them, creating heating. A contour is made of them, which is fixed with clamps. The speed of heat supply and its preservation will depend on the correct installation. Then the system is connected.
- A screed, concrete or bulk, is already placed on the finished structure.
- Substrate. All finishes require such an addition.
- It is then decided which coating is best for underfloor heating.
It is impossible to make a choice thoughtlessly, because not everything is suitable for such a design, experts say. Every moment is thought through in this direction. Often the question arises as to why insulation is being laid. This allows you to fully prevent natural heat loss. If there is no additional heating of the ceilings, then there will be a cost savings.
When choosing which coating is best for a water floor heating, it is worth considering its impact. But this is not a full heating, but an addition and comfort for residents. Water cannot raise the temperature by more than 50 degrees, provided that the coating has it. When there is heating to the desired rate, the water will cool slowly. Sudden changes are not suitable for every finish. It loses its external original qualities.
On a note
Before choosing a coating for warm water floors, it is worth knowing their thermal conductivity. How is this determined? The simplest answer is the ability of materials to transfer heat. A high rate allows you to heat the entire surface in a short period of time, but cooling also occurs immediately.
When a material with a low rate is selected, the liquid will retain heat for a long time. They include, according to experts, cork. The tile heats up quickly and cools down. The information about ceramics is the most optimal - more energy is consumed, but the exposure period exceeds any finish. In such a situation, when installing the pipe, it is worthwhile to arrange it as often as possible.
Choosing ceramics
The optimal coating for warm water floors is ceramic tile. It has many advantages. Some substances used in the creation, when heated, give off chemical vapors. For this finish, such an outcome is ruled out. The floor is just cleaned. Another plus is moisture resistance. With repeated heating and cooling, the material does not lose its original properties.
Ceramics are not suitable for every room. It should not be mounted in the nursery, but for the following rooms it fits perfectly:
- Kitchen.
- Corridor.
- Bathroom.
To benefit from the warm floor, it is done in those rooms where the contact of bare feet and the ground is long. According to the masters, this topcoat is suitable for any room - the choice is the owners. When going for a floor covering for a warm water floor, you need to know some of the features of the materials on the market. When the room does not have a large load on the surface, it is not necessary to acquire too thick material. And the heat transfer will be maximum.
What to consider?
What kind of coating to use on a water floor heating? When choosing ceramics, consider the following:
- Hardness. It is enough for a house of 5th grade.
- Water absorption. This indicator will depend on the location. If the humidity is high, then this indicator is not more than 3 percent.
- Period of operation. Here, the separation conditionally occurs by class, therefore, cross-country ability is taken into account. If this is a corridor, then let it be level 4.
- Chemical treatment. In the process of care, various means are used, especially in the bathroom or in the kitchen.
Low density material will not last long. The laying process takes place on a concrete screed. To do this, use special glue, choosing a design first, so that it is consistent with the walls and the general perception. To extend the life of ceramics, you need to correctly lay it out. The base is measured by level. You have to wait until the screed is completely dry. Once the entire surface has dried, it is allowed to turn on the heating.
Payment
To calculate the financial side, you need to take into account every little thing. It:
- A cement-based screed - sand, cement and additional components (if necessary).
- Heat and waterproofing.
- The tile itself (its price is different).
- Glue base.
- Pipes for the floor.
Some may expand this list of materials. If you do everything yourself, then you can save on work. In the kitchen, a rhombic tile looks beautiful, and for the bathroom - something with a water theme.
Tree use
Wooden flooring on underfloor heating from water heating is often installed. It is suitable for many rooms. Plus in environmental friendliness, durability. The material is pleasant to the touch, so it is in demand. The heating of such a coating should not exceed 25 degrees Celsius, as it may lead (even the material may dry out). Floors cannot be turned on to the maximum. The same conditions shall not be created for a parquet board. There is an engineering board. She appeared not so long ago, but began to be in demand. This is a good finish in two layers, the top - high-quality, natural wood. Because of this, it normally reacts to moisture and sudden changes in temperature.
The tree has its cons, it often acts as a barrier to the flow of warm streams into the room. Especially in the autumn and spring, due to high humidity, deformation occurs, cracks appear. How to deal with this problem? Experts believe that exotic wood performs better.
Exotic wood
She has such qualities:
- Resistant to moisture.
- It does not shrink.
- It has good thermal conductivity.
It may be a tick, but you have to pay a lot. It is important that the boards are not thick - this is a barrier to warm currents. Such a topcoat for a warm water floor is suitable for a children's room. Manufacturers create different directions, which allows you to create a unique design. Before buying, you should calculate the budget. If it’s for children, then environmental friendliness should come first.
Simple choice
Another common option is laminate flooring. There are many positive aspects - high thermal conductivity, does not respond to detergents, but is afraid of moisture and cannot be used in the bathroom. On sale there is a material marked for underfloor heating. If you purchase a simple one, then it will deteriorate when exposed to heat. Thickness is a maximum of 10 millimeters.
In addition, a substrate is used in conjunction with this topcoat. Although this material is distinguished by quality and environmental friendliness, it is not worth heating it over 25 degrees. There is one feature - thin lamellas do not fit under a warm water floor. Too high a temperature promotes the release of formaldehyde from such a material, which is unsafe for human and domestic animals.
When buying this finish, you need to pay attention to the marking. A person without experience will not be able to cope, so it is worth arming yourself with theoretical information. What kind of floor heating is suitable for a kitchen? This is a laminate with wide lamellas. The main advantage is affordable cost. Today there is a large assortment, so everyone will create their own design without any problems.
Cheap option
Linoleum is increasingly being used as a topcoat because its price and range suit everyone. But not every species is suitable for warming up, the two most common are natural and PVC. The second option will be the cheapest. The range of colors and patterns on such a coating is large, which means that it is not so difficult to make a decision and match the existing interior design.
It is worth carefully calculating how much it will take for the entire finish. If linoleum has an insulating layer, then thermal conductivity is reduced. Surface leveling is necessarily carried out, a concrete screed is also made. Thickness is not worth the risk - the smaller it is, the greater the effect.
Performing a rough screed of the floor in the living room, you will have to wait at least one month for it to completely dry out. If this rule is not followed, then the finish will be absorbed into the moisture.
What to focus on?
When the question arises of what to choose a cover for a warm water floor, then you need to rely on different indicators:
- Financial opportunities.
- The interior of the room.
- The quality of the material.
By performing preliminary calculations and thinking through each step, you can not only save, but also create an impeccable coating for many years.
Advice
If you choose a coating for a warm water floor, then do not apply:
- Material made from bamboo.
- Thick linoleum with low quality insulation.
- Simple flooring.
To do this, carpet and laminate are used, but with special marking. Manufacturers take into account that a heating process will occur and harmful components are not used. The heat is kept excellent, but at the same time it is worth maintaining certain temperature indicators. For the bedroom and the hall, the best thing is a quality carpet. It gives off heat well and heats up quickly, the assortment on the market is huge.
Other options
PVC materials are in demand at a low cost. But to create an interior beautiful and unique with it will not work. Pottery is definitely not suitable for the bedroom. But for the bathroom and kitchen, this is the best coating. The material will last a long time. The corridor is the most passable place in the house, so you should choose a reliable coating (the same ceramics are quite suitable). As a result, you have to make a choice, paying attention also to such factors:
- Appointment of the premises.
- Operation process.
- How does the general heating system work?
- The quality of the selected coating.
Finishing process
It is not so difficult to create a warm water floor, and many people do this with their own hands. There is a useful step-by-step instruction:
- A rough base is made or cleaned.
- If there is no waterproofing under the screed, then it is laid. The joints are well connected with construction tape. Then the insulation is fixed.
- To strengthen, you need to use fasteners of the appropriate purpose.
- Then the reinforcing mesh is overlapped. We have to make sure that everything is filled.
- Mount the collector. You can not do without it, since the pipe is fixed, which will be filled with water.
- The screed can expand during heating, for this a compensation tape is laid.
- Then the pipe itself is laid and fixed with clamps.
- Connection. Before creating a screed, pour water and check the reliability and integrity of the structure.
- Further lighthouses are exposed, and everything is poured with a cement composition. Drying occurs within one month.
- After a while, the final selected coating is done.
Recommendations
In order for the screed to dry faster, it is sometimes allowed to turn on the heater. Some rules are spelled out in SNiP - it is better to study them so as not to make mistakes. Not every house has the opportunity to install underfloor heating due to the load of the screed or the old heating system.
In new buildings, they try to think through all this, making the floors reliable. A special hose is displayed for this finish. But in order not to disrupt the sequence of the process, initiative should be completely excluded.