Despite the fact that many are confident in the complexity of installing a water heated floor, choosing the right materials and following the technology it is quite possible to make your own this design even without construction experience. After studying the materials described below, you will know how to make a warm wooden floor with your own hands in your home.
Types of heated floors
Today there are two types of heated floors: water and electric. It is worth considering
that many people prefer a water floor designed to be laid on a wooden base. An electric floor is a conductive system connected by heating mats, which can be replaced by a cable or a heating film (depending on the desired power).
The choice is made in favor of a water floor, since the system of heating pipes with circulating warm water completely hidden behind the wood flooring.
Even if a wooden floor has been in use for a long time, there is no prohibition on installing a heated floor. The main role is played by the finishing coating, the characteristics of which can be obtained from the seller in the store or from the manufacturer.
Important points during installation
When performing this type of work for the first time, it is necessary to prepare theoretically and take several points into account during the process.
Note! The boards on the base must be laid as tightly as possible without any gaps, otherwise they must be laid thermal insulation material. But if a wooden floor is unsuitable for use, the best solution is to dismantle it.
Cases when replacement of the base is required:
- lack of insulation and drafts under the floor;
- the step between the lags exceeds the distance of 60 cm;
- if the boards need to be planed. This will be required when, as finishing coating laminate is planned, since according to the technology for laying it, unevenness on the base should not be more than 2 mm. Since laminate does not provide a backing, the base must be carefully prepared.
Floor insulation
The water floor is installed on a heat-insulating material.
Having laid the logs at intervals of 60 cm, proceed to construct a raised floor by attaching plywood or used boards with bottom side lag Insulation protected on both sides waterproofing film, is laid between the joists.
Note! Not as a waterproofing agent regular will do polyethylene, since it promotes the formation of condensation and, accordingly, moistening of the insulation.
It is optimal to use mineral wool in slabs as an insulating material.
Flooring boards
First of all, it is necessary to prepare grooves for laying pipes of the underfloor heating system.
The boards are laid in such a way that there is a 2*2 cm groove between them, and at the end there is a groove round shape for bending pipes. On this preparatory work can be considered completed and correct execution they should not take more than 12 hours.
Pipe laying instructions
- Roll out rolled foil over the surface of the longitudinal grooves, and lay metal-plastic pipes with a size of 1.6 cm in the grooves on top, wrap the pipes with foil and secure the edges with a stapler.
- To prevent the pipes from slipping out of the groove, secure them with metal plates, placing them across the groove. Lay the pipes over the entire surface in the same way.
This stage is the most difficult. There are two ways to proceed here:
Note! Under no circumstances should a warm wooden floor be connected to a centralized heating system without availability special permission, which is why its installation is carried out mainly in private homes.
Having completed the connection work, mandatory you need to check the system for leaks and defects, otherwise you will have to high costs for reinstallation of heated floors and replacement flooring.
Flooring installation
The range of floor coverings is quite wide, but you should make a choice taking into account its thermal conductivity. Please note that wood conducts heat much worse than ceramic tiles, so this factor cannot be ignored.
Having settled on laminate, which is becoming increasingly popular, installation should be carried out according to its technology, and for this you will need no more than 3 days without large financial investments.
Thus, you are convinced that installing a water heated floor on a wooden base is quite effective and accessible to everyone with a responsible attitude to this process.
Video
The following video describes in detail the process of installing a heated water floor on a concrete base:
And this is how a warm water floor is installed on a wooden base:
In order to make your home warm, today there are a lot of technologies. Sometimes modern engineering solutions cause mistrust and a lot of controversy. One of these questions is: is it possible to install underfloor heating on a wooden floor? For many, installing an electric or water floor on a wooden base seems difficult and sometimes even impossible. However, today we will tell you that this is not so.
This scheme allows you to clearly understand the principle of arranging a wooden floor using joists for a heated floor using the example of a water heating system
Warm floor wooden joists has a big and main advantage - the absence of “wet” work, in particular, screed installation. IN in this case the base is boards. At the same time, they are subject to certain requirements:
- The thickness of beech and oak flooring should not exceed 24 mm, pine or larch – 22 mm;
- If new flooring is being made, the boards should first be laid out on a heated floor for several days. This is necessary so that they do not subsequently become deformed.
Before you begin laying cables or pipes, you need to prepare the base. There are two options here:
- Over existing subfloors. IN old surface cracks and gaps between the boards are sealed (foam plastic, mineral wool);
- From scratch. The logs treated with antiseptics and fire bioprotection are located 60 cm from each other. Cracks, mold, and rot on boards are unacceptable.
As you can see, laying heated floors in any case requires a rough foundation. The next step is to do thermal insulation. Thermal insulating material fits tightly between the joists, which eliminates the appearance of cold bridges.
Once the rough base is prepared, you can begin laying heated floors.
Electric floors
The system consists of cables, heating mats or film. If using a cable, please note the following points:
- The system must be insulated from moisture.
- The temperature of the heated surface should not exceed 27° C. Therefore, it is recommended to use temperature sensors and.
Scheme for installing a cable heated floor on a wooden base: a heat-reflecting substrate and a mounting grid are laid on top of the insulation laid between the joists On a wooden base you can do it according to the following instructions:
- A foil-coated heat insulator (foil side up) is laid under the joists of the future floor, the layer of which is at least 30 mm.
- A mounting grid is laid on top, onto which the cable will then be attached.
- Lays in loops electrical cable. Cuts are made in the joists for the hinges.
- The heating cable is placed in the cuts and secured to the mesh using clamps.
- The temperature sensor is placed between the joists, and a temperature control device is mounted on the wall.
If the heated floors are functioning correctly, you can begin finishing floor. It is important to remember, however, that between fine coating and the cable must be at least 30 mm.
Diagram of the installation of an infrared heated floor on a wooden floor according to the logs: 1 - logs, 2 - insulation, 3 - IR film, 4 - air gap, 5 - floor base (gypsum fiber board, OSB, plywood, polyethylene film), 6 - floor covering (laminate , parquet, linoleum, etc.) The most economical and simple option for heating a wooden floor is . The installation goes like this:
- Thermal insulating materials are laid out on the base;
- A heating film is fixed on top;
- The film is connected to the network;
- The finishing coating is installed.
The design of a heated floor with a heating film on wooden base: 1 - floor covering (laminate), 2 - PE film, 3 - IR film, 4 - cork backing, 5 - floor base (plywood, OSB, gypsum fiber board, etc.), 6 - insulation, 7 - joists As for heating mats, they are laid in a layer of tile adhesive; in other cases their use is not recommended.
"Light" water heated floor
Since electric underfloor heating consumes significant amount electricity, it is not widely used in private housing construction. Most often, residents of cottages, since water is a cheap coolant.
A system of water heated floors requires the presence of a heating boiler, a pump, flow control fittings (taps, valves, bypasses), as well as control equipment(flow meters, thermostats).
Laying a water floor is possible in two ways, one of which is simple, and the other is more complex, since it includes a larger number of elements. For both options you will need:
- , the laying step of which is 20 cm;
- Thermal insulation. Mineral wool is best because it is a natural material. Polymers are not able to withstand permanent exposure to elevated temperatures;
- Rigid base.
For more complex installation Additionally, you need aluminum foil (preferably a solid sheet), metal mesh to strengthen the entire structure, polyethylene pipes high pressure, a temperature sensor in a corrugation, as well as a mechanical or automatic temperature regulator. In order to save the resulting heat, heat-reflecting screens are used. With their help, heat flows are directed upward and warm the volume of the room. More information about such a system and its installation in the video:
Making water floors on wooden floors is not so difficult, but it is necessary to take into account some features. In particular, pipes with a diameter of 16 mm are best suited for a piping system, since they are able to provide the required coolant flow in the system. The pipes should be wrapped in foil, this will significantly reduce heat loss.
The maximum length of one circuit is 100 m. However, you should always strive to reduce this indicator: the shorter the length of the circuit, the more efficient the entire system will work and you will be able to save more heat. How to reduce the length of the contour? To do this, you can divide the room into sections with a maximum area of 40 m2. Moreover, each of them must be equipped with an autonomous circuit. Don't forget that wet floors don't have to cover the entire floor surface.
The main advantage of the flooring system is the small thickness of the entire structure Don’t skimp on a heating boiler, pump, etc. auxiliary equipment for a water floor. The efficiency and functioning of the entire system as a whole depends on these elements.
The main difficulty in installing a “water heated floor” system on wooden floors is its connection to the general heating system. This really requires professional skills and experience. So if you're not sure, the best option will seek help from specialists. This may cost more, but you will not have to worry about the correct installation of the system and its correct operation. Leave your opinion about the article in the comments or share your experience of installing underfloor heating systems on a wooden base.
Most people believe that a “warm floor” system is not needed for wooden floors. This is mainly due to the following advantages natural material like lightness and good insulating properties. In addition, installation is difficult due to possible deformation of natural wood due to changes in temperature and humidity levels. However, today a solution has already been found to the problem of how to combine plank flooring with a modern floor heating system.
Water heated floors without screed are used quite often today. A concrete base is certainly reliable, but it cannot be installed in every room. It is in these cases that an alternative heated floor system is used. Installation of such structures is easier than designing a screed, and in operation they are in no way inferior to it.
Underfloor heating system without screed
If the house is built of timber and the rooms have low ceilings, making a concrete screed can additionally “capture” an already small space. In addition, laying a concrete base is a labor-intensive and dirty job. In this case ideal solution you will have a water heated floor in wooden house with your own hands.
A water floor without a concrete base is installed on a wooden or polystyrene covering. Pipes are laid in special recesses. For better distribution warm air install special metal plates. The laid pipe system is covered with waterproofing material on top, and a finishing coating is applied to them.
Pipe system for wooden heated floors
Advantages of water heated floors
Having a small thickness, this system allows you to save usable area rooms. The structure can be easily installed on any type of floor. In this case, immediately after installation, you can perform surface finishing.
Some installation features
The mechanism of operation of the underfloor heating system involves the transfer of energy from the coolant to the material located above it and the finishing coating. Then the floor, heating up, releases heat into the room.
Water heated floor installation
If the floor is covered with a regular concrete screed, this principle works great. However, in the case where laid pipes filled with water or ethylene glycol are surrounded not by a concrete base, but natural wood, natural material prevents heat transfer. Of course, water heated floors can be installed on a wooden floor, but such nuances must be taken into account. Wood will still not allow all the energy generated by heating to pass underground, but indoor heating may not be as efficient.
Despite this, traditional concrete screed is not The best decision problems, since a heavy layer of concrete will put pressure on plank floor. Even if during construction reliable design, natural wood may not withstand heavy loads. In addition, it is often necessary to equip a bathroom or bathhouse in a wooden house by installing heated floors in such rooms, and it is impractical to make a foundation that is too strong and massive in such rooms.
Water heated flooring
No less important factor What complicates the installation of the system is the presence of a substrate, which must be laid on a wooden floor. Based on substrate materials different kinds insulation, which also prevent the free passage of heat. However, everything negative points installations can and should be taken into account and the task successfully completed. So, if you are interested in how to make a water-heated floor on a wooden floor, you should be patient and carefully study the special advanced installation technology.
Other design characteristics
The underfloor heating system will be lightweight. Heated by the pipeline, the structure transfers heat to the coating in full and indirectly to users. During installation, the substrate should be laid under linoleum flooring, carpet or ceramic tiles if the floor is laid in the bathroom.
Setting up such a system will not take much time. When installing, there is no need to wait 28 days for the screed to harden.
Laying water heated floors on a wooden base
Providing heating
Usually water heated floor wooden base ready for use almost immediately after installation of the finishing coating. Another advantage of this design is that areas of the coating with minor defects and damage can be easily repaired. It should be noted that the presence cement screed complicates the restoration process.
Laying method
There is a common technology that you need to master if you are interested in the question of how to make a warm floor in a wooden house. Water heated floor system for wooden floors installed using the flooring method.
Pipes with coolant circulating through them are not laid in a concrete screed, but on logs or a rough base of boards in specially equipped channels.
Installation of a water heated floor system
In order for heat to accumulate and distribute properly, special plates with longitudinal recesses for the heating circuit pipeline are strengthened in the channels.
Metal plates not only perform the function of heat transfer, but also make the structure more rigid, which makes it possible to do without a substrate.
If you do the installation yourself, you don’t have to buy expensive plates, but use 200 micron thick foil instead. Sometimes when finishing the floor tiles or when laying linoleum, the presence of a substrate is desirable. To do this you will need to purchase GVL sheets or cement bonded particle boards with the lowest insulation values.
We lay pipes for the water floor system
This can be done in two ways. Their differences lie in the design of the channels for placing pipes. As a rule, installation technologies based on modules or rails are used.
For the first option, you should buy special ready-made chipboard modules. Recesses are already cut into them at a certain distance from each other. These intervals depend on the expected heat transfer of the system.
Modular installation of water heated floors
Included in this kit modular system As a rule, everything necessary is included: the modules themselves with grooves in them, metal plates, fasteners and pipes. All that remains is to assemble the structure in accordance with the diagram supplied with the product. However, flooring in a modular manner is not cheap. Therefore, many prefer an alternative - the budget rack and pinion method.
It does not involve equipment of channels in chipboard sheets, and packing the slats. The planks are cut from boards or plywood. The spaces between them must be equal to the thickness of the slats, since in the formed grooves the pipes, the outer diameter of which is 17 mm, must not only fit freely, but also not be destroyed by the displacement of the wood. The width of the guide strips depends on the distance between the pipes in the structure being manufactured. So, with the “snake” method of laying pipes with a pitch of 300 millimeters, a 22 mm plank should have a thickness of 278 mm.
Rack laying scheme
Mixed method of installing wooden heated floors
Some craftsmen prefer to use another installation method, which is something between rack and pinion. modular option. In this way, you can install heated floors easily, quickly and without spending a significant amount of money.
Start by selecting edged board quarters with channel dimensions. Having measured at least seven centimeters from the wall, use a cutter to make a strip or recess so that the pipe is connected to the next row. The thickness of the board must exceed the sampling parameters, and the width must be equal to the pitch during installation. There is no need to lay a rough base, and the planks are attached to the joists using self-tapping screws.
Installation of a heated structure on a lightweight slatted base
If you are laying the system on an old wooden floor, you need to carefully inspect the floor before starting work. It is better to lift the floorboards, check the condition of the joists, and, if necessary, restore or replace worn and damaged structural elements. Sometimes it is necessary to nail it to the beams on the floor wooden beams and add additional insulation.
The next stage is laying insulation.
The process of laying thermal insulation
Polyethylene, which is laid out overlapping, is suitable for this. A damper tape with a width of 5 centimeters is attached to the wall along the perimeter of the floor covering. To install a heated floor with a water circuit, it is convenient to use the “snake” method of laying pipes.
On a pre-drawn floor plan of the room, we mark the area where pipes are supplied and where equipment is attached to adjust the system; we also need to draw the position of the guides with the necessary clearances. Usually it is 150 - 300 millimeters. It is better to use corrugated pipes with a diameter of 16 millimeters. The slats are made according to the dimensions.
Snake pipe laying method
Then we fix the guides to subfloor using self-tapping screws. The corners of the strips in pipe bending areas should be rounded. Foil with a thickness of at least 50 microns is placed in the prepared grooves. Lightly pressing and smoothly bending around the recess, we fix it. At several points you can attach the material to the slats with a stapler.
If the pipes in the system are also wrapped with foil, then the heat transfer of the structure can be slightly increased.
We lay the pipes in the formed channels. Metal plates are also used for fastening to the subfloor. Afterwards, a connection is made to the heating circuit and the heating system is pressurized. After checking the normal functioning of the water floor, you can immediately proceed to finishing with tiles or laying a backing, if necessary. It is recommended to use the substrate materials CBPB slabs which do not contain formaldehyde.
Warm floors in a wooden house, how safe is this design and is it possible to quickly and efficiently heat the entire building? This question arises especially often when using such a heating system in a wooden floor structure, or when using a wooden decorative covering (parquet board, parquet). Let's consider how safe it is to use electric underfloor heating on a wooden floor and how to arrange such a system correctly.
When choosing any system related to power supply and wooden structures it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of this material. The main problems that arise when designing a heated floor system in contact with wood are:
- Flammability. Wood is a flammable material that must be protected from open fire and overheating that may occur in electrical systems in case of short circuit.
- Tendency to dry out. When wood overheats, the moisture in it evaporates. In this case, the material decreases in size, cracks, warps and in some cases becomes unusable. This has a particularly acute effect on decorative coatings.
- Low thermal conductivity. This is important when covering underfloor heating systems with natural wood. In this case, heat does not penetrate well into the room being served and does not heat it up to comfortable temperature. In this case, the tree itself may overheat.
How to fix these problems and use modern and convenient system in contact with the tree?
To solve the fire safety issue, it is necessary to use only systems that fully comply with all electrical and fire safety. Second important point – high-quality installation. All contacts must be insulated in strict accordance with installation technology.
For a wooden floor on joists and under a decorative covering made of the same material, it is permissible to use all modern systems electric heating: infrared film, cables, mats and rods. The following requirements must be adhered to:
- Underfloor heating temperature wood covering should not exceed 27 °C.
- Sudden temperature changes should not be allowed for a short period of time. During the day, temperature changes within 5 °C are possible.
- The heating cable must not come into direct contact with wood.
This primarily applies to decorative coating, but it is also important to adhere to these requirements when installing heating in a wooden floor on joists.
Electrical transformer installation in a floor structure on joists
The floor in a wooden house is most often arranged in the form of a structure according to wooden beams- lagam. This leaves its mark both on the coating design and on the nuances of using heated floors. On wooden floors It is possible to install an electric heated floor using the joists; it is installed in the space between the joists while observing safety precautions.
Requirements
A warm electric floor in a structure with logs is made from both a heating cable or mat and infrared film.
Important! When calculating, assume the total power of the system is not higher than 80 W/m². If a cable is used, its power should not exceed 10 W/m (linear meter).
A floor heating system, which is installed in air gap between the top covering and the thermal insulation. Myself a heating element should be no closer than 3–5 centimeters from the bottom edge of the wooden covering.
Cable heated floor in a structure with logs.
The basic requirements that must be adhered to are:
- If a heating cable is used, it should be located at least 3 cm from the joists and any other wooden elements.
- The heating cable is mounted on metal mesh with small cells, which is attached to the joists.
- A layer of heat and sound insulation must be applied. Recommended use mineral wool 5-10 cm.
Installation stages
When using underfloor heating in the form of a heating cable, work should be carried out approximately in this order:
When using infrared film, the process is similar, differing only in some nuances. It is also important to arrange a hydro- and vapor barrier, onto which thermal insulating material is sent. Next, you can use a reflective film, which will allow the entire system to work more efficiently. Between the infrared film and thermal insulation, it is necessary to create an air gap 1–2 cm thick. To do this, lateral surface lag slats are nailed in such a way that it is convenient for them construction staples attach the edges of the heating film.
Application of electric transformer under wood covering
The main problem that arises when using an electric heated floor system under a coating of natural wood– the possibility of it drying out and causing gaps to appear between the boards or parquet. In order to avoid this, you must adhere to the rules that have already been given.
Important! The floor temperature should not rise above 27 °C, and differences during the day should not be 5 °C.
For monitoring, a temperature sensor is used in the screed mass or in the air gap between the lags.
For comfort, a sensor is also used room temperature. Such systems with two temperature sensors are recommended as optimal for wooden coverings.
Construction of a heated floor under parquet.
To properly install wood-look underfloor heating, you must adhere to the following rules and requirements:
- First of all, you need to read the installation instructions for specific products. Make sure that their use in a system with heated floors is permissible.
- When selecting, the total power of the system should not exceed 80 W/m². Also, the power should be evenly distributed over the entire floor area.
- The installed heating system should operate for about two weeks before laying the decorative covering.
- One or two days before work, the heating is reduced to 18 °C.
- After installation of parquet or parquet board Over the course of one to two weeks, the temperature is gradually raised to working temperature.
In addition to the temperature when using natural wood coverings, it is important to adhere to relative humidity within 40-60%. At the same time, the material is not subjected to intense drying and its characteristics are optimal. When humidity drops to 30%, drying increases, which leads to the appearance of gaps and cracks. If this is added heat warm floor, the wood deteriorates at a rapid rate.
Also, when installing heated floors on concrete base You can use a system with logs that are installed on the screed. A warm floor is installed between them; the air gap allows optimal temperature control.
Since there is a limitation on the specific power of the system, sometimes it is not enough to heat the room, and it is necessary to use additional heating devices.
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A warm water floor in a wooden house is the most good decision to insulate the room. Although it seems that this statement is not entirely true, because in the usual version of laying a heated water floor, a concrete screed is used, using special technologies, it can also be equipped for wooden house.
Thanks to large selection building materials, today it becomes possible installation water floor without increasing the load on the floors. Another advantage is that the height of the room when installing a warm water floor in a wooden house will not decrease by much.
Making a warm water floor in a wooden house with your own hands
If you insulate the floor using water heating, you will eliminate the danger associated with laying electrical wiring under the floor of a wooden house, and since the heated floor pipes are strong enough, the water floor will last you a long time.
Today, water flooring is the most convenient and completely in a real way insulation of a private wooden house.
It is also necessary to remember that the warm floor must be supported from the outside, using wall insulation. In a private house, heating a room with a heated floor will be much faster and more efficient if you use some kind of wall insulation. This is due to the fact that since the wood warms up over a long period of time, the entire room in general will warm up quite slowly.
How to install heated wood floors
So, you have decided to install warm wood flooring. But how to do that? There are several ways to install a heated floor on a wooden base, and each specialist does it in exactly the way that is convenient for him. But we will focus on one specific one.
Let's consider the procedure for performing the work necessary to install a heated floor:
- 1. First, let's calculate heat losses and hydraulics. This operation is carried out using computer program, calculation instructions are not difficult to find on the Internet. At the exit, we must find out the pipe length, diameter and laying pitch.
- 2. Now you need to dismantle the old floor (if there is one). This is done to eliminate drafts underneath and to level it with an accuracy of 2 mm. Why align it this way? Yes, because the laminate (and it is under it that the floor will be laid) requires precisely such precision of the base.
- 3. After this, we will start insulating the floor. The surface of the insulation should be protected with a vapor barrier film. You should not protect the insulation with ordinary film, as condensation will form.
- 4. Now let's start laying the floorboard. To begin with, we cut out a 20 by 20 mm groove for the pipe from one edge of the boards. Also, curves need to be cut at the ends of the outer boards so that the pipe bends smoothly. As a result, after assembly, you get a floor, along the entire surface of which a “snake” has been cut to fit the pipe.
- 5. The next step is to prepare the reflective layer. This layer consists of foil, the thickness of which is from 50 microns and above (it is convenient to use). Why put in foil? To increase thermal conductivity. As already mentioned, wood conducts heat poorly, but foil will absorb it instantly. You can also use special metal sheets, but it is expensive and takes a long time to install.
- 6. Now you need to hang up. We place the cut foil over the grooves in the floorboard, after which a metal-plastic tube of the selected diameter is placed into the grooves. Next, the tube is wrapped in foil, which must be secured to the floor using a stapler. To prevent the pipe from jumping out of the grooves, it must be secured using small metal plates, which should be located at an angle of 90° to the grooves.
- 7. After this, you need to start connecting and crimping. Connecting to the heating system is the most important step. The simplest way— heated floor with manual adjustment. Although the choice will depend entirely on you, you can use both mixing units and collector systems, that is, any system that allows you to control and regulate the temperature of heated floors. When everything is laid and connected, the system should be pressure tested, thereby checking it for leaks and damage to the pipeline. This action is mandatory, since otherwise you risk experiencing swelling of the floor.
- 8. And finally, laying the flooring. What material to choose is your personal choice; the simplest option is laminate, although any other will do. However, there is one “but”. All flooring materials have their own individual thermal conductivity coefficient. The thermal conductivity of wood is the worst, while the thermal conductivity ceramic tiles– the best.
That's all. If you don’t procrastinate and work concentratedly, the whole process will take about two days. And the costs will be minimal.
And in addition to everything written above, a video is attached.
Warm floor on joists
If you want to make it warm along the joists, you will have to overcome some problems associated with the base - wood. Traditional wood joists cannot be laid on top of wooden joists. concrete screed, since this may be an excessive load for the lag. This means that the joists are deformed, the screed will crack, and, consequently, the entire floor covering will deteriorate.
So how to lay the floor along the joists? Let's look at the procedure required for this:
That's all. As a result, we received a base on wooden logs, on top of which almost any covering can be laid, not excluding tiles and porcelain stoneware.