How to choose a substrate for a warm water floor. Substrate for water heated floors: types, features of choice, installation rules Substrate for heated floors made from water heating

Warm floors are of two types, depending on the heating method.

Mermen

Heating is carried out by a pipeline system, the coolant is hot water.

Used in most cases in private homes, during connection hot water In multi-apartment buildings, big problems arise due to the disagreement of management companies to give permission to connect to common building heating networks for two reasons. Firstly, in this case it is difficult for them to control the specific consumption of thermal energy by each consumer individually. Secondly, boilers may not be able to withstand a significant increase in energy consumption.

It is not always possible to install a separate heating boiler in city apartments, and such installation, together with the price of the equipment, is quite expensive.

Electrical

The temperature rises due to the resistance of the current conductors. We know the formula from school Q (energy released) = I (current) × R (conductor resistance).

Depending on the physical characteristics Conductors for heated floors can be film (infrared) or cable (conducting elements are ordinary flexible cables and improved insulation). Electric floors have their own difficulties; during their installation, it is necessary to take into account the parameters of the existing wiring and special protective fittings.

For efficient floor heating, the power is at square meter must be at least 250 kW; larger values are calculated in total terms.

Currently, manufacturers produce a wide range of substrates, differing in linear characteristics, materials of manufacture and the ability to perform additional functions.

Very important point, we consider it necessary to consider this issue before moving on to a direct description various types underlays for heated floors. It should be borne in mind that absolutely all manufacturers are trying to increase sales of their products; to do this, they often advertise them in every possible way, including using not entirely benign methods.

What should you really pay attention to during selection? optimal option substrates?

Thermal conductivity indicators. The lower they are, the more efficiently the substrate works. These parameters depend on the thickness and materials of manufacture of the products. To enhance the effect, modern substrates have a foil top layer - due to the reflection of infrared rays, heat saving indicators increase by approximately 20–30%. As for heat conservation, all materials used meet today's stringent requirements of housing construction standards.

Physical characteristics of strength, resistance to dynamic and static loads. There are materials (foamed and extruded polystyrene foam) that “stick together” under the influence of prolonged static loads. Thickness decreases, thermal conductivity increases. This phenomenon must be avoided by correctly calculating the load; the forces must be distributed as evenly as possible over the entire surface.

Manufacturability. The easier the materials to work with, the cheaper the installation costs. According to this indicator various materials have a wide range of characteristics. Foamed polystyrene foam is considered the most technologically advanced; its substrates are thin, the thickness rarely exceeds 5 mm, and it can be easily cut with ordinary scissors.

Foamed polystyrene substrates are flexible, there is no need for a long time to arrange the joints between the base of the heated floor and the walls, measure, cut and adjust, the material in these places is simply bent. It is somewhat more difficult to work with sheet plywood and OSB or chipboard boards.

Additional properties. To facilitate installation work, some substrates have a drawn mesh or special protruding bosses on the front surface.

Such devices simplify the process of laying pipeline systems and allow them to be fixed simultaneously with installation. As a result, not only does installation speed up, but also the efficiency and durability of the heating system increases. The coolants can be located at the same distance, eliminating the possibility of overheating of individual areas, the floor is heated evenly over the entire surface.

Price. An important factor is that if you have special technical knowledge, you can achieve an excellent heat saving effect at significantly lower financial costs.

Environmental Safety. Keep in mind that all plastics and resins release chemicals into the air; safety is determined by the quantity. Since substrates are operated at elevated temperatures, the requirements for material safety must be more stringent.

Now it’s worth saying what you don’t need to pay attention to when reading manufacturers’ advertising brochures.

High noise absorption rates. Absolutely all materials used for thermal insulation do not transmit sound waves well, this is known from school physics lessons. Thermal insulation materials prevent the movement of air, which is what conducts sound waves.

Waterproofing characteristics. Indeed, aluminum foil does not allow steam or water to pass through. Why do underfloor heating need these properties? In the case of water leaks, the sooner leaks are detected, the less losses the owner will suffer, the fewer building structures will be exposed to prolonged exposure to moisture. With electrically heated floors, things are even more complicated. The presence of water, among other things, causes short circuits - increasing the risk of electric shock.

Resistance to the negative effects of ultraviolet rays. This property is very useful only in two cases: under heated floors there is a small sun emitting such rays or an X-ray machine. If your apartment does not have these factors, then you can safely buy substrates without “ effective protection material from harmful UV radiation."

Price. You need to know that in many cases, consumers pay a high price not so much for the actual quality, but for the brand recognition of the manufacturer. There are quite a few little-known companies that produce very high quality substrates, but at a much lower price. In this way they are trying to attract real and potential buyers, increase the number of sales, and withstand competition with more well-known manufacturers.

We hope this information will help developers choose the right types of substrates. Warm floors will serve for a long time and efficiently, and installation of structures will cost much less.

Substrates for underfloor heating with electric heating

Under these types of heated floors, thin substrates made of technical pressed cork, Folgoplast, Polifom, Thermod, TMpro and other foamed polymers are used.

Cross-linked polyethylene foam "Polifom"

"Polifom", characteristics

The latter, by the way, are much superior to their competitors in their ability to withstand loads; due to this feature, the scope of their use is expanding. Substrates with increased thickness parameters are made from extruded polystyrene foam. The material has high physical strength characteristics and can be used as a base for a concrete screed. The underlay is used under all types of electrically heated floors, including ordinary ones with flexible conductors.

If the base is not very level and requires leveling, then you can use substrates made of plywood, OSB and chipboard.

Important. For electric floors, it is not recommended to use substrates with an aluminum reflective layer. In the event of an insulation failure, an unexpected current leak occurs with possible negative consequences. The reflective layer should be on vacuum-coated polyethylene film.

When choosing a specific brand, you need to take into account two initial factors.

Finish flooring. The lighter it is, the less durable the substrate can be. Under the laminate, it is allowed to use ordinary substrates made of foamed polymers, and under ceramic tiles or artificial stone, a substrate made of extruded materials of increased strength is used.
Warm floors are installed in new rooms or during renovation of old ones. Depending on the selected technology for underfloor heating with electric heating and the characteristics of the load-bearing floor, the total thickness of the cake can range from 10–15 to 3–4 centimeters.
These parameters should be taken into account when designing the height of door and window openings. During repairs, it is necessary to take all construction measures to reduce the thickness of the heated floor - you will not have to solve problems with reducing the height of doors, etc. The ideal option is that the installed heated floor does not interfere with the opening/closing of doors, acceptable - the door leaf and vertical trims are needed for several trim centimeters from the bottom. The most unpleasant option is that it becomes necessary to raise the lintel of the doorway; the heating system requires alteration.

Under linoleum, only hard substrates are used and either a thin screed is made. The technology for laying substrates depends on the materials of manufacture; during work, you must follow the manufacturers' instructions.

Substrates for underfloor heating with water heating

Due to the fact that water floors in most cases have a top cement-sand screed, the substrates are subject to more stringent requirements than for electrically heated floors.

High levels of mechanical strength. It is recommended to use substrates made of extruded polystyrene foam, sheet plywood, chipboards and OSB. These materials are able to withstand large loads and do not have the effect of residual deformation.
Resistance to increased humidity. After eliminating emergency leaks, materials must be suitable for reuse. All lumber for substrates must be moisture resistant. Of course, leaks during the operation of a water floor are an extremely undesirable phenomenon; during installation of the system, all measures should be taken to prevent them for the entire period of operation of the floor.
Ensuring reliable fixation of the pipeline system in a given position. Currently, manufacturers offer special underlays with bosses for water floors, which not only simplifies and speeds up the installation process, but also ensures the same distance between pipelines over the entire surface of the floor and guarantees long-term operation of the equipment.

When choosing the thickness of the substrate, you need to take into account the effectiveness of the thermal insulation of the base. If the house is wooden and the floors are thermally insulated with mineral wool, then the thickness of the substrate may be insignificant. And vice versa, if the substrate serves as the main thermal insulation material, then its thermal conductivity should be minimal. The aluminum heat-reflecting film on the front part has a great positive effect; its presence is welcomed by all professionals.

Correct selection of all elements of a heated floor, taking into account the widest possible list individual characteristics increases the efficiency of its operation, reduces the estimated cost of construction and installation work and increases the duration of operation. Optimal choice can only be done if it is done consciously on the basis of knowledge about the varieties and technical indicators of various types of substrates.

Video - Installation of pipes on a substrate with bosses

Heated floors are no longer a luxury item. This type of heating is very popular both in private houses and in standard apartments. Most often, underfloor heating is installed on the first floors of multi-story buildings with an unheated basement.

The “warm floor” system is demanding for installation. To properly arrange such heating, a foil layer is required. The underfloor heating retains heat from radiators or radiators, directing it indoors.

Purpose of the substrate

Today, three types of heated floors are produced:

water with a pipe system;
powered by electricity;
heated film mats (infrared).

All types of systems have their advantages and disadvantages, which are taken into account during installation. Each design has its own installation nuances, but one thing is the same for all floors - they require a substrate. Such a screen increases the efficiency of the system, protecting it from heat loss.

Note! The minimum thickness of the effective layer must be at least 30 microns. The correct coating has a protective layer.

Substrate for water floor

Before installing and purchasing a lining, you need to understand its exact purpose. This will help you choose the right coating.

The layer for water floors is laid between the subfloor (screed) and the heating structure itself. The main function of the substrate is to retain heat and reflect it from the base. Infrared radiation is reflected from the foil surface and enters the room.

Heat is reflected due to the high thermal insulation properties of the material. It is its presence in the structure that prevents heat from being wasted on heating the floor slab; all infrared radiation is directed into the rooms. This phenomenon is called the thermos effect. In addition to thermal insulation properties, the foil underfloor heating provides protection from moisture.

Material selection

The most important criterion for a heated floor layer is the thickness of the material. In addition, the reflective layer should:

have high levels of thermal and waterproofing, usually these characteristics are indicated on the packaging;
have a composition that is safe for humans and animals;
have a high degree of reflection of infrared radiation;
be resistant to temperature fluctuations;
have high sound insulation rates;
be resistant to mechanical deformation;
have an easy styling technique accessible to everyone.

Most often, the substrate is made of foil-coated material. Such layers are more effective in heat reflection. In addition to this material, the construction market offers the following types of underlays for heated floors:

Prices for such materials vary depending on the type and company. The cost largely depends on the thickness of the substrate.

Advice! If you are installing a heated floor under tiles, choose penofol for the insulating coating. The material provides good adhesion of the heating system to the screed.

Installation technology

One of the installer's tasks is to reduce the layer of the entire heated floor structure. Such a system can hide up to 25 cm of a room, which affects its area. To reduce the thickness of the structure, experts use thin but effective materials.

The installation of the substrate is carried out on a pre-prepared base. Lay the layer with the reflective surface facing up. The layers of the interlayer are laid end-to-end, gluing the seams with metallized tape. This connection protects the floor as much as possible from heat loss and moisture ingress.

When installing the reflective layer, it is necessary to use penofol, as it protects the foil from destruction when the solution penetrates.

Any type of substrate must be placed on the walls when laying. When installing the material with an overlap, you need to make an approach to the wall of 7 cm or more. This measure will protect the lower floors from flooding in the event of a leak or damage to the floor system.

For substrates with low waterproofing properties, a water “pie” must be laid. Its installation includes the following steps:

Depending on the type of heating system, the process may have its own nuances. In general, the installation of the structure is similar for all types of structure.

Substrate for electrical structure

The same types of substrates are used for electric floors as for water floors. However, electrically powered systems do not require waterproofing.

Installation of an electric floor begins with leveling the base. After drying, a substrate is placed on it, which is secured with a special tape. Heating mats or cables are attached to the film with brackets.

Note! You should not use foil materials as a substrate for an electric heated floor. Such a layer is a good conductor, which can lead to a short circuit if the floor system fails.

polypropylene and foam materials;
natural cork;
metallized penofol.

One of the most popular manufacturers of components for heated floors is the Energoflor Compact company.

Underlay for infrared heated floors

For the high-quality functioning of infrared underfloor heating, two recommendations must be followed:

strict adherence to installation technology;
installation of heat-reflecting material with foil facing up.

When laying a reflective layer under a heated floor, it is recommended to follow the following advice from professional craftsmen:

By following these simple rules, you can easily install and select a high-quality substrate yourself. Be sure to consider the composition of the material and its compatibility with your heating system.

There are reflectors that can greatly facilitate the process of installing electrical cables. These are the so-called layers with bosses. The design of such material is a carpet dotted with dense rows of protruding cylinders. These projections are called bosses. It is very convenient to lay the underfloor heating cable between them. This installation does not require additional fasteners or adhesives - the bosses firmly hold the cable on the surface of the interlayer, preventing them from moving to the side.

IN Lately Warm floors are installed in most apartments. To install it, you need special pipes, a substrate for a heated water floor, a water supply system (boiler for a heated floor, thermostat, thermostat, taps, etc.), which includes a compressor or pump.

The installation of a water heated floor is quite complex and requires special attention, but the selection of materials for installation, in particular the substrate, also requires no less attention. It must provide many functions (such as thermal insulation, sound insulation, etc.). The materials from which the underfloor heating under the warm water floor is made are also important. Like other components for a warm water floor, the substrate is necessary material for installation of water heated floors. How to choose the right insulation for a warm water floor will be discussed in this material.

A water heated floor (floor heating system) consists of pipes laid in a “snake” pattern on the floor, on top of which a covering (laminate, parquet, etc.) is mounted. The main element of the system are boilers for heated floors. They heat the coolant (water) and ensure its circulation. The most common installation is a gas boiler, but recently an electric boiler for underfloor heating has become widely used. An electric boiler is more economical, safer and more reliable, but it has a big drawback: it is powered from the mains, and if there is no electricity, there will also be no heating. Optional equipment, which is included with the system, includes a thermostat for a water heated floor, a set of valves, if necessary, you can install a room temperature control sensor, a set of special pipes, etc.

The substrate under the pipes serves as insulation and also as a heat insulator. It allows you not to waste extra thermal energy on heating the concrete floor or floor.

Water heated floor

Such insulation significantly improves the heating of the room, since the cold concrete floor draws a lot of heat from the system; in the absence of it, much more energy resources will be required to heat the rooms, especially if an electric boiler is installed in the room. Insulation for a warm water floor is necessary, since the efficiency of the entire heating system depends on it. In order to decide on the type of substrate, you need to know what properties the material should have:

As mentioned above, the substrate (insulation) must have good thermal insulation properties.
Waterproofing is considered the next property of the material. The higher the waterproofing properties, the better. After all, condensation often forms on pipes filled with water. In the event of a leak, waterproofing will prevent the ceiling from getting wet.
An equally important property is the ability of the substrate to reflect heat. This will significantly reduce energy consumption.
Another necessary property of insulation material for heated floors is resistance to temperature changes.
The substrate should not have micropores to prevent the passage of steam to the ceiling.
An additional property of insulation can be sound insulation.

Floor insulation

In this case, the substrate should be easy to lay, easy to cut (not deformed) when cutting.

On this moment There are several types of material that meet these requirements. These include: polyurethane foam, expanded polystyrene and expanded polyethylene. Often one side of a roll of such a substrate is equipped with a blister (a thin and high-strength metal foil that reflects heat rays and significantly increases the thermal insulation properties of the material). Some manufacturers make a special substrate that has devices for attaching heating elements, but such material will cost much more than usual. For it, you need to purchase additional components (cutting tools, installation tools, etc.), which will significantly increase the cost of the material.

Separately, it is worth mentioning that a number of floor coverings (laminate, parquet boards) can be deformed under the influence of high temperatures in the heating system. Therefore, a warm water floor must be insulated from the floor covering with a material that will allow heat to pass through, but will not allow the coating to deform. To solve these issues, a cork substrate is often used, which is the cheapest and quite effective.

The question of whether to use a substrate or not depends on the owner’s decision. If the ceiling is made of wood, it is recommended not to use it. No one can force a person to purchase and install material. Therefore, to analyze the situation, you should indicate all the advantages and disadvantages of using insulation on a heated floor. Positive effects include:

Good floor insulation. This saves resources on heating the room and keeps the room cool during the warm season.
Ceilings (or floors) are not destroyed by sudden temperature changes.
Condensation does not form, resulting in no destruction of the ceilings and no increased humidity in the room.
The coating and heating system are resistant to mechanical stress.
Quick and easy installation.
There is no accumulation of static charges on the surface of pipes and floors.
Extraneous noise is partially (or completely) absorbed.

Good thermal insulation of the floor

However, such a substrate also has negative effects:

All materials for insulation are fire hazardous. Although they cannot catch fire on their own, in a situation where a fire accidentally hits them, they flare up almost instantly.
To ensure normal insulation, the thickness of the insulation should be about 5 mm, which “eats up” the room space.
If installed incorrectly, efficiency may be reduced. The most common mistakes are made in the form of bends in the material, at joints (when a large gap is left between pieces of material), etc.
During the process of transporting and laying the material, you must be careful and avoid pressing heavy objects into the insulation (for example, tools).

The installation process begins with the acquisition of material. Typically, insulation is sold in rolls, which may vary in width. Therefore, you need to measure the area of the room in advance and calculate the required amount of material. It is recommended to draw up a laying plan so that there are as few joints as possible. To do this, remember that insulation is manufactured in rolls of various lengths and widths. For example, for a 2x6 meter room you can take 2 rolls of 1x10 or 2 rolls of 2x4. In this case, the second option will be preferable, because the length of the joint in the first case will be 6 meters, and in the second - only 2 meters.

Substrate laying process

Next, you need to clean the floor surface from debris, and also level out any protruding irregularities (for example, drops of cement mortar). If this is not done, the debris will push through the insulation material and reduce its properties.

Next, they begin laying materials. The rolls are rolled out so that the blister is at the top (if there is one, in otherwise direction doesn't matter). In this case, the material should lie freely, without tension. To prevent the material from rolling back, its edges must be pressed down with light objects (wooden blocks, light tools, etc. are suitable).

After the material is laid out over the entire area, the joints are overlapped and connected with construction tape. Then the edges are trimmed in place. If trimming is done earlier, it is necessary to ensure that the material adheres tightly to the walls.

When creating a warm water floor, you should first know the floor materials and flooring material. Since the configuration of such a heating system can vary significantly. And although for some types of coatings it is permissible not to use a substrate, most builders recommend installing it. And they are right, since insulation will significantly increase the efficiency of the entire system and will keep the floors and laminate intact longer.

Heated floors are " layered cake", in which the underfloor heating system is placed between other components. An important component is the underfloor heating. It must be distinguished from underlayment, which is laid over a heating system, since they perform different functions.

The underlay for a heated floor performs several functions:

provides additional thermal insulation and prevents heat leakage downwards
protects the heating system from moisture penetrating from below
smooths out minor unevenness of the base
improves sound insulation to some extent
promotes a more uniform distribution of heat, because the heating elements are located at a certain distance from each other, and thanks to the substrate, the coating warms up not only directly above them
Almost doubles the surface heating time
removes heat from heating elements, preventing them from overheating
reflects heat

The main difference between underfloor heating and other types of underfloor heating is the presence of a heat-reflecting function. The substrate has a foil or metallized coating on top, thanks to which the heat generated by the heating system is reflected and almost completely directed upwards to the floor covering. A special substrate allows you to save from 30 to 97% of thermal energy, so its use with any underfloor heating systems is mandatory.

Requirements for underfloor heating

resistance to impact high temperatures and to mechanical deformations, as well as chemical inertness (for heated floors that are mounted in a screed or on top of which tiles are laid with glue)
elasticity, ease of installation
strength combined with low weight (so as not to increase the load on the floor)
good thermal insulation characteristics (this is the fundamental difference between the underfloor heating underlay and the underlay under the laminate, which is laid on top. The latter must have good thermal conductivity so that underfloor heating can perform its function)
for rooms with increased level humidity - good waterproofing properties (infrared film heated floors cannot be laid in such conditions regardless of the substrate);
vapor tightness
the presence of a heat-reflecting layer (you can independently combine the substrate with a thin layer of foil or metalized material, but in most cases it is more convenient to purchase the 2 in 1 option)
If a soft floor covering (linoleum) will be laid on top, the underfloor heating should be as hard and rigid as possible. If laminate or tiles are used as a finishing coating, a softer underlay for a warm floor is needed

Substrates for different floor heating systems

For ease of installation and ensuring safe operation with water, cable and infrared film floor systems, different types substrates.

For water heated floors

For a heated floor consisting of pipes, the most popular solution is a special substrate made of a dense, fairly rigid material with a relief surface, produced in the form of slabs. Typically, it uses molded high-density foam, on the surface of which protrusions (so-called bosses) are located in a checkerboard pattern to conveniently fix the pipes and ensure their bends.

If heated floors are made in a private house, and below there is an unheated cellar or an uninsulated foundation, the foam layer should be as thick as possible.

The waterproofing characteristics of this material are not very high, so it is necessary to lay a film under it; it is good if there is also a moisture-proof coating on top - leaks or pipe breaks are possible.

If the foam substrate does not have a heat-reflecting coating, a layer of foil or foil-clad polystyrene foam is placed on top of it, and if the bosses do not allow this, under it, with the foil facing up.

For electric floor

For cable or infrared rod floors, elastic roll substrates made of foamed polymers (polyethylene, polypropylene) or cork, with a foil or metallized coating, are suitable.

If film infrared heated floors are installed, due to the high risk of short circuits, the use of a foil backing is prohibited, but a metallized coating is suitable. In addition to rolled substrates, wood-fiber or magnesite boards and a layer of metallized lavsan on top of them can be used. Construction aluminum foil can be laid under the slabs.

The only type of heated floors that are laid without a substrate are mats, consisting of a heating cable attached to a flexible base. But only on condition that a substrate with a heat-reflecting layer is integrated into the base.

Some brands of substrates

DH-Hilon ( South Korea) - foam propylene backing coated with metallized lavsan, suitable for any type of electric heated floors
Ecofol (Russia) - foamed polyethylene with a metallized film, combined with electric and water heated floors, can be used on balconies, loggias
SEDACOR (Portugal) - cork backing, provides excellent heat and sound insulation, suitable for rooms with normal humidity levels, for use with heated floors an additional heat-reflecting layer is required
Poliform or Izolon (Russia) - substrates made of cross-linked polyethylene with closed cells, characterized by high thermal insulation characteristics
Thermodome (Russia) is an affordable, universal underfloor heating substrate of any type made of foamed polyethylene with a metallized coating, chemically inert

Features of installing underfloor heating

The substrate is laid on top of a leveled, cleaned, dry base, preferably with waterproofing
The heat-reflecting layer should face upward; if it is not integrated into the substrate and there is no possibility of laying it on top of it, it is laid underneath
Foam plastic slabs are mounted closely, without gaps, strips of rolled backing are installed end-to-end, it is best to connect them together with metallized tape
Mounting tape is attached on top of the substrate under the cable floor with self-tapping screws. If the substrate under the water floor has a smooth surface without bosses, a mounting mesh must be laid on top

Bottom line

The underlay is an essential component of a heated floor system; some manufacturers even supply it complete with other components. The most important element of the underfloor heating substrate is a heat-reflecting layer, which increases the energy efficiency of the system. If it is not integrated into the substrate, it must be purchased additionally. There are universal underlays for heated floors, and there are those suitable for specific systems. Thus, slab substrates are preferable for water floors, roll substrates are preferable for electric floors, and infrared film floors are not combined with foil materials.

Warm floors are an important element in the heating system of a room in winter. Its efficiency and durability depend on what kind of substrate is laid under the heated floor system. This article will describe the types of heated floors, as well as the characteristics of the underlay that you should pay attention to when purchasing it.

Depending on the type of heating, there are two types of underfloor heating - water and electric.

Mermen

The heating system is a hot water pipeline. This type of heating is most popular in private houses, because in apartments management companies do not want to give permission to connect to central house networks.

There are at least two reasons for this. The first is that it is almost impossible to control the consumption of thermal energy by to a specific person. The second is an increase in the load on heating boilers, which is why they simply cannot cope with their task.

Installing an individual boiler in an apartment is possible, but it is very expensive, and sometimes it is very difficult to obtain permission for this.

Electrical

Heating occurs due to the energy released by conductors under the influence of electric current.

By design, heated floors of this type are film, that is, infrared, and cable, which have a heating element in the form of simple flexible cables with conductive elements inside. During the installation of electric floors, complications may arise, so you should take into account all the parameters of the existing wiring in advance, as well as correctly calculate the protective fittings.

For heating to be effective, the design power per 1 m2 must be at least 0.25 kW. It is very important when installing a heated floor that the correct underlay for the heated floor is selected. There are a large variety of substrates, and each of them is designed to perform specific functions.

How to choose the right substrate

Before you begin installing the heating system, you should decide which underfloor heating substrate will best perform certain functions. Do not forget that each manufacturer tries to sell as many of its products as possible, and often the advertised product does not meet the qualities that were declared.

There are a number of factors that determine a high-quality substrate, and this is what you should proceed from when choosing it:

Thermal conductivity of the material. The best substrate is considered to be the one with the lowest values, and they are determined by the thickness of the product and the material used. At the moment, there are substrates with improved energy conservation properties; they have a foil coating.

Energy saving occurs due to the reflection of infrared radiation - as a rule, this figure is 20-30%. All materials used in the manufacture of substrates meet the required building standards for residential premises.

Strength characteristics – resistance to constant and dynamic loads. There are materials that are compressed due to prolonged constant loads. Because of this, thermal conductivity increases. This effect should be avoided by selecting the correct load so that the mechanical impact over the entire surface is as uniform as possible.

Manufacturability. Laying the material will be cheaper the easier it is to work with. This characteristic varies quite widely among many materials. It is best to give preference to polystyrene foam. It is very technologically advanced, the lining under a warm floor made from it is often thin, no more than 5 mm, and it is easy to cut with simple scissors.

The underfloor heating pad made of polystyrene foam is flexible, its edges are easy to connect to the walls. This material is easy to measure, cut off parts, make adjustments, and you can simply bend it near the walls. IN in this case it is much easier than installing chipboard or OSB.

Additional qualities. To simplify installation work Even better, some manufacturers draw a grid on the front side or leave special bosses that protrude.

This modification greatly simplifies the installation of pipes, making it possible to secure them during the installation of the lining. The result is acceleration repair work, improving efficiency and extending the service life of the heating system. The coolant can be installed at an equal distance, so that overheating in individual zones is excluded, that is, the entire floor is heated evenly.

Price. This parameter is quite significant. If you have special technical knowledge, you can install heating in such a way as to obtain high heat saving rates, and also significantly save the finances necessary for the purchase of materials.

Environmental friendliness of the material. Although any of the materials tends to emit toxic fumes, their quantity and intensity are not always the same. Due to the fact that the substrate for underfloor heating pipes will be used in conditions of elevated temperatures, it is worth paying attention Special attention indicators of environmental safety and harm to human health.

Noise-absorbing effect. Any person who remembers at least something from physics lessons knows that sound is transmitted through air. Since absolutely any insulating material does not allow air to pass through, therefore, the same thing happens with sounds.

Resistant to ultraviolet radiation . Since the substrate under a heated electric floor, as well as under a water-heated one, is not exposed to direct ultraviolet radiation, this characteristic the material does not in any way affect its performance. Perhaps it is necessary to isolate the source of X-rays, but this is unlikely to be found in a residential area.

Waterproofing properties. Let us say right away that the presence of moisture under heated floors, both water and electric, must be eliminated during the heating installation process. If a leak suddenly occurs in heating water pipes, the faster it is repaired, the less expenses the owner will have, and the materials will not be exposed to prolonged exposure to moisture. But in the case of an electric heated floor, the presence of moisture is in principle excluded, otherwise short circuits chains. Therefore, how well the substrate resists moisture does not matter.

Price factor. In most cases, the cost of the material includes the costs of advertising and product promotion. That is, when buying a product from a well-known company, you significantly overpay for trademark. However, there are many types of quality products on the market at more affordable prices, just not as advertised. A competitive price allows new firms to promote their products on the market, attract the interest of buyers and earn a business reputation.

Thus, all of the listed indicators will help you not make a mistake when choosing a substrate for a heated floor, no matter what design, so that it lasts as long as possible, and you can save on assembly.

Which substrates to choose for electric heated floors

Suitable for electric heated floors thin types substrates, for example, pressed cork, Folgoplast, TMpro, Polyfom, Thermod and other foamed polymer materials.

By the way, foamed polymers are able to withstand significant loads, which is why they are increasingly in demand in construction work. To produce a thicker substrate, foamed polystyrene foam is used.

Such a substrate can even withstand a concrete screed, since it is designed for heavy loads. Foamed polystyrene is actively used when laying heated floors with electric heating elements, be it flexible hoses or film floors.

In cases where preliminary leveling of the base for a heated floor is required, OSB and chipboards, as well as plywood, can be used as a substrate.

It is worth noting that for electric-type heated floors, it is not advisable to lay underlays equipped with a layer of reflective aluminum. If the aluminum insulation layer is damaged during operation, current leakage will occur, which may lead to negative consequences. The reflective layer must be on a polyethylene film, onto which vacuum deposition is applied.

Two initial factors should determine which brand of substrate will be chosen:

Finish flooring type. The heavier the coating, the stronger the substrate is chosen. Under the laminate you can put a simple backing made of foam materials (read: " "), and under the tiles - a backing made of materials that are especially durable.
Room type. It matters whether the premises are new or the renovation is carried out repeatedly in the old premises. Based on what type of electric floor will be chosen and what features of the load-bearing floor, the thickness of all layers of the heating system together with the floor covering can vary from 10-15 mm to 3-4 cm.

All these nuances must be taken into account when calculating the height of door and window openings. During the repair process, it is advisable to take into account all parameters in order to reduce the height of the heated floor as much as possible. This will allow you to avoid problems with the height of the doors not matching the opening, and so on.

If something goes wrong, the door leaf and vertical trims will need to be cut a few centimeters at the bottom. The most unfavorable outcome is that you will need to raise the lintel of the doorway or redo the entire heated floor system.

Only substrates on a rigid base should be laid under linoleum, and the screed layer should be low. The principle of installation of the substrate depends on the materials used, as well as on the recommendations offered by the manufacturer.

Types of underlay for floors with water heating

The specificity of heated floors with water heating is that a finishing cement-sand screed is always poured over the pipes.

In this regard, the lining under a warm water floor must meet more stringent requirements than, for example, for electric heating:

Mechanical strength. Craftsmen strongly recommend laying a durable substrate made of OSB or chipboard, plywood or extruded polystyrene foam for a water floor. These materials are not subject to permanent deformation and can withstand significant loads.
Resistance to high humidity. This is important because in the event of an emergency, high-quality material can continue to be used after the leaks have been eliminated. Of course, during the installation of a water floor, all possible measures should be taken to prevent the system from leaking.
The substrate under the water-heated floor must also ensure reliable fixation of the heating pipes in the given direction. In particular, for such purposes, pads with bosses are often used, which make it possible to evenly distribute pipes over the floor surface and speed up the installation process.

The thickness of the substrate for water heating pipes is of great importance. To decide which underlay to choose for a warm floor, you should take into account the quality of the existing thermal insulation of the floor covering. For wooden structures, the floors of which are insulated with mineral wool, a thin underlay can be laid. But if it serves as the only heat-insulating layer in the room, then you should opt for materials with a low level of thermal conductivity. It is optimal if a reflective substrate is laid under the heated floor.

As a finishing coating for underfloor heating with water heating, the most different materials– artificial and a natural stone, ceramic tiles, linoleum, laminate and others. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the fact that the resulting weight of the screed with the finished floor will directly affect the strength of the substrate. That is, the heavier the floor, the more reliable and thicker the bedding under it should be.

Competent selection Supplies for underfloor heating equipment in each specific case allows to reduce the total cost of construction work, significantly increase its efficiency and increase its service life. Therefore, before choosing the type of substrate, you should carefully understand the characteristics and features of a particular type of material.