Warm floors are not a very complicated thing; they can be done in a house or apartment with your own hands, in not too much time, and not for too much money. Or builders can make a warm floor, but you still need to know the basic technologies and rules for arranging these heating devices to be sure to check the work.

Why is it problematic to make a water floor in an apartment?

In apartments with centralized heating and/or hot water supply, it is prohibited to take heated water from these systems. Connect the water heated floor to centralized systems Not recommended.

But if you really want to, then, of course, you can connect, and most likely nothing will happen “tomorrow”. But soon the technicians will draw up an act-protocol, it is possible that some administrative measures will appear and the involvement, as well as the dismantling of everything, at the expense of the owner.

Such an event as the extraction of energy outside the project from centralized thermal systems must be coordinated with the operators of these systems and ultimately receive a justified refusal.

In an apartment, water for a water heated floor can be prepared legally only with a gas boiler (heater) or electricity at your own expense. But the apartment has increased power consumption and individual gas heating organizing is also not easy.

If individual heating apartment was done earlier, then creating a water-heated floor is quite achievable, but you cannot overload or break the load-bearing structures of the house.

For water and cable-electric heated floors in an apartment, you must remember to lay a layer of thermal insulation under them, at least 30 mm of extruded polystyrene foam, otherwise the ceiling will warm up for the neighbors below.

Features of infrared heating

The heating element of an electric heated floor can be a special heating cable or film - an infrared emitter.

Film emitting in the infrared range is the easiest to install and can be laid under any flooring. It consists of identical segments in which two are sealed in plastic copper conductor and coal heating elements between them. A certain number of plates are separated from the film roll, according to the required total power.

Typically, laying is carried out on 40 - 70% of the room's area, but not under the furniture so that it does not dry out. The resulting power is 0.3 - 0.7 kW per 10 sq. m. The room area is sufficient for auxiliary heating infrared radiation from below, for complete heating it is necessary to gain power of 1.0 - 1.3 kW per 10 sq. m. Such heated floors will require a lot of energy consumption.

Under soft floor coverings (carpet), environmentally friendly plywood or laminate is additionally laid. It serves not only as a mechanical protection for the heating film, but also as a heat accumulator and heat dissipator, since only dense materials from which the air is heated are heated by infrared energy.

A thin roll of foil (but not aluminum) insulation, which is recommended by sellers, is placed under the film.

It’s easy to install such a heater with your own hands and eventually get warm
infrared floors.

Heating with electric cable

The electrical cable is purchased in one piece under design power and the required length. The selection is carried out in the store after the installation plan has been developed. It is laid only in a cement-sand screed, which acts as a heat dissipator and prevents the cable from overheating. Ceramic tiles are usually placed on the screed.

It is unacceptable to cover the cable with a heat-insulating floor covering or lay it under furniture. The screed must be made dense (a thin cable can be laid in a layer of tile adhesive) to prevent air pockets near the cable, which can lead to its burnout.

Basic rules for laying water circuits

The collector and mixing units must be installed by specialists. Heated floor distribution equipment is always accessible and can be easily changed and repaired.

The situation is different with a heating pipeline divided into several circuits and a cement-sand screed. Remaking them is an expensive and troublesome task; partial repairs are also not easy to carry out.

It is important to monitor implementation simple rules creating a water heated floor to avoid emergency situations.

• The surface for installation must be flat, horizontal, and waterproof. The presence of unevenness and slopes can lead to airiness of the contour.
• The screed can only contain solid sections of pipeline without joints.
  If workers laid a pipeline joint under screed, they should be fired immediately.
• The density and laying pattern are recommended by the project, but near the walls (in cold zones) the pitch decreases (0.15 m), in the middle part of the room it increases (0.3 m).
• The lengths of all contours are made approximately the same, a difference of up to 10 meters is acceptable, but the maximum length is no more than 100 meters.

• The screed must be reinforced in the lower part with a metal section 10X10 cm. A plasticizer is introduced into the screed to give the structure the necessary elasticity when thermal expansion. It is recommended to personally purchase a high-quality plasticizer from a reputable manufacturer and monitor its addition to the composition.
• The thickness of the screed - the greater the better for the accumulation and dissipation of heat, and for sufficient strength so that it does not collapse when heated. It is not recommended to make a screed less than 8 cm thick. If the screed is thinner, then metal reinforcement must be laid above the pipeline.
• The screed is divided into fragments by thermal expansion joints; it is not recommended to increase the fragment size to more than 4 meters (preferably up to 3 meters).

It is necessary to protect the heated screed from the cold base with extruded polystyrene foam with a thickness of 12 cm (depending on the temperature of the underground).

There are many more nuances in creating water-heated floors, some of which can be found on this resource.

Which heated floor is better

There are no official restrictions on the use of electric heated floors. But their wide distribution is hampered by the high cost of electricity and questionable environmental friendliness.

The health hazards of electromagnetic radiation should be considered first. Many experts recommend avoiding places with high electromagnetic background, grounding electrical appliances, reducing the length of electrical wiring, using shielded cables... so as not to provoke the development of dangerous diseases...

The apparent cheapness and simplicity of electric heated floors is deceptive; this system has many disadvantages.

But it can also be made together with a dry prefabricated screed. There are also lightweight underfloor heating systems with profiled insulation and metal heat dissipators….

Having decided to create a heated floor system in an apartment or house, owners are faced with another choice problem - which heating technology for the lower part of the premises to choose. Now there are different types of systems on the market. Some of them run on water, others run on electricity. However, not everyone knows that there is also an electric-water heated floor - one of latest technologies, which has already gained good authority among many craftsmen and those who have tried this floor heating system.

Why do people still argue about which floor is better - water-powered or electric-powered? The thing is that these heating technologies differ from each other in installation features and have certain advantages and disadvantages. And the choice is not always easy to make.

Warm floor - which is better?

Features of water floors

This is a rather complex system to install, which operates on a coolant such as hot water. The advantage of water heating is that this type quite economical during operation.

The main disadvantage is the complexity and some installation features. For example, a water heated floor is not allowed to be connected to the system in all cases central heating– for this you need to obtain permission from management company. In a private house, installation will be required, which is also related to the operating features of this type of heating system. The boiler itself can, depending on its type, take up quite a lot of space in the house; this also needs to be taken into account when choosing this heating system.

Also, to install a water heating system for a heated floor, you will have to spend a lot of time preparatory work. It is worth remembering that before putting such a floor into operation, the cement screed must dry thoroughly.

Features of electric floors

This heating system operates, as you might guess, on the basis of electricity. The heat generated by special cables or mats is transferred directly to the finishing floor covering, due to which the floor becomes tactilely pleasant, cozy and warm.

Electric heating floor connection diagram

The main difference from a water floor is that in this case the heating of the surface always occurs equally, while the water runs through the pipes constantly and has time to cool down before the next heating. This is both an advantage and a disadvantage of this type of heating.

On a note! Because of this feature, electric floors cannot always be used. Everything will depend on what kind of flooring is being laid, as well as on the location of the furniture in the apartment. However, the places where wardrobes and sofas are located can simply be bypassed when laying electric floors.

Electric floors are divided into film and cable. The first is laid on the surface of the screed directly under the finishing coating, the second, similar to a water floor, is filled with a cement screed.

With the help of both types of underfloor heating, you can easily install heating in any home. However, choosing between them is always difficult. But technology does not stand still, and now there is an electric water floor on sale that combines the advantages of both types.

Liquid electric floor

Electric water floor is combined view heating systems that combine the advantages of both water and electric type heating

On a note! Calling such a floor water is not entirely correct. Some models do not use water as a coolant - antifreeze is pumped into the tubes. Thus, the correct name for this floor heating system would be “liquid floor”.

This type of underfloor heating is a system of tubes or one long, thick-walled tube. When the liquid heating system is turned on, the coolant is heated, due to which a certain pressure is created and antifreeze or distilled water begins to boil (different coolants are used in different systems). This is how thermal energy is generated.

Advantages of electric-water heated floors

In order to fully appreciate all the benefits of liquid heated floors, it is important to know its advantages, which distinguish this system from other analogues. And electric water systems have many advantages over conventional water systems:

• they do not need to be connected to a heating boiler or heating system;
• the system does not require a pump to operate;
• when installing the floor, you will not have to install a manifold and distribution cabinet;
• the volume of liquid contained inside the system is small, and therefore the likelihood of flooding of the apartment or even severe leakage of equipment is completely excluded;
• heating of the system is as uniform as possible, the liquid inside the tube does not have time to cool;
• ease of installation compared to water systems.

The liquid system also has considerable advantages over the electric ones:

• since the cable is constantly inside the liquid, its overheating and burnout are excluded, unlike an electric cable simply laid in a screed;
• Repairing a liquid floor is easy. For example, adding antifreeze or replacing heating element simply done through a special mounting box. And the damaged area can be identified by small spots on the screed;
• thermal energy is stored not only inside the screed, but also in the pipe itself, due to which the heating effect lasts longer.

If we compare liquid floors with film floors (which are also, in fact, electric), then the former can be used in a room with any humidity level, which distinguishes them favorably from the latter. Also, liquid-based floors can be installed under absolutely any floor covering.

Popular models of liquid electric floor

There are two main models of electric-water heated floors. These are XL Pipe (Korea, Daewoo Enertec) and Unimat Aqua (Korea, Caleo). They have design differences.

On a note! Unimat Aqua systems are also produced in Russia. And this is worth remembering when choosing products.

These are two absolutely different designs, which only have general principle work - the coolant is heated by electricity. But the heaters and heating mechanism are somewhat different.

This type of underfloor heating consists of one long, thick-walled tube with a diameter of 2 cm, which is made of a special type of polyethylene. This element is a “container” for the coolant, which is a certain brand of antifreeze. A seven-core Teflon-lined cable made of chromium-nickel metal is laid inside the pipe. The pipe is sealed at both ends, due to which there is no circulation of coolant, which, in turn, eliminates the need to purchase any other equipment.

On a note! The approximate electricity consumption of this system is 14.5 watts/m2.

Heating due to the liquid system occurs quickly and evenly, allowing for heating of the entire surface of the finishing coating. At the same time, such a floor cools down for a very long time. The advantages of a liquid floor include the fact that it is not afraid of pressure from outside, that is, you can safely place furniture on the finishing coating where such a system is located - it will not cause any harm to the heating.

Installation of XL Pipe is carried out inside the screed, or rather, the laid system is filled with cement mortar about 4-5 cm thick. The pipes are laid according to a specific pattern. For installation you will also need a thermostat. At the same time, there are no special installation features for these elements - they are mounted in exactly the same way as when installing other types of heating. Unless you have to purchase a specific thermostat designed specifically for liquid electric floors. A mounting box 12x12x14 cm is also useful.

The XL Pipe system is reliability, safety and environmental friendliness in one type of equipment. The warranty period is 10 years, but in general, use the system when correct installation maybe about 50 years.

Table. Characteristics and cost of XL Pipe floors.

Model	Length, m	Power, W	Cost, rub.
DW-010	14	560	5400
DW-015	21	840	8000
DW-020	28	1120	10700
DW-025	35	1400	13400
DW-030	42	1680	15300
DW-040	56	2240	21300
DW-050	70	2800	24300
DW-060	84	3360	28000

Advantages of XL Pipe

This floor heating system has certain advantages:

• it is not a source of electromagnetic radiation;
• practically does not require installation of additional equipment;
• does not overheat and has no effect negative impact for finishing coating;
• allows you to place furniture on top of you;
• repairable;
• economical (electricity costs are on average 20-30% lower than when using electric floor heating);
• relatively simple installation.

DIY XL Pipe installation

Step 1. The base of the subfloor is prepared - cleared of debris, all cracks and irregularities are corrected. Next, 5 cm thick extruded polystyrene foam boards are laid on the surface for thermal insulation.

Step 2. The plates are secured with special “umbrellas”. First, holes are made in the slabs for fastening material, then umbrella dowels are inserted into them.

Step 3. A reinforcing mesh with a cell size of 10-20 cm is laid on top of the polystyrene foam boards.

Step 4. The individual parts of the mesh are connected to each other by knitting wire.

Step 5. The heating cable is unpacked and checked for resistance.

Step 6. The XL Pipe is laid out on the floor surface from the mounting box according to the selected pattern in increments of 20-30 cm. The pipe is fixed using plastic clamps on the reinforcing mesh.

Step 7 A power cable is supplied from the thermostat to the distribution box.

Step 8 The wires coming from the pipe are connected to the power cable. The wires can be connected with special terminals.

Step 9 The ground wire is connected to the reinforcing mesh.

Step 10 A temperature sensor is attached at a distance of 5 cm from the system tube.

Step 11 The installation box is closed with a lid, the seams of which are sealed with sealant. That's it, laying and installation are complete, all that remains is to fill the system with a cement screed and wait for it to dry.

Video - Installation of XL Pipe without screed on a wooden floor

Capillary heated floor Unimat Aqua

The Unimat Aqua system is slightly different from the XL Pipe. Instead of one thick tube, it has in its structure a large number of small diameter tubes. That is why the system is called capillary. She connects to special device with a power of about 2.4 kW, due to which the coolant is heated and thermal energy is released. The system is closed, the pressure in it is created using the same device. The system also does not require the installation of additional heating equipment.

On a note! The volume of liquid inside the Unimat Aqua system is no more than 6 liters. The coolant is distilled water.

The heating area of ​​one system is about 20 m2. That is why it is not used for spacious rooms, although several Unimat Aqua can be installed in one room. Service life is about 5 years.

Unimat Aqua is available in two types – basic and additional. The first consists of a control unit, an installation kit and two sections of connecting pipe. From all this a small pipeline is formed. The additional set consists of coils of small-diameter tubes, the quantity of which is enough to heat an area of ​​10-20 m2. Also used for installation are fasteners for tubes and reflective thermal energy material. A standard cement mixture is used to fill the screed.

The main advantage of this system is the multifunctional control unit, which can:

• determine and control the room temperature or heating of the coolant;
• set the time for turning on and off the heating system.

The system is completely safe and can be installed even in a bathhouse. But Unimat Aqua has a certain drawback - it is similar to a water floor system. The coolant comes from the heating unit at a higher temperature, gradually cools down, and therefore the heating of the floors will be uneven.

Table. CharacteristicsUnimatAqua.

Installation of underfloor heating Unimat Aqua Caleo

Step 1. The surface of the subfloor is thoroughly cleaned of debris, all irregularities are removed.

Step 2. Select the location for installing the thermostat on the wall.

Step 3. A groove is made in the rough base or screed for laying the temperature sensor.

Step 4. Heat-reflecting material is being laid. The sheets are connected to each other with tape or secured to the base with a stapler.

Step 5. The floor heating system is laid out on the surface on the side where the thermostat is planned to be installed.

Step 6. Where the mat needs to be rotated, one connecting wire is cut. The strip rotates 180 degrees. The tubes must not intersect with each other.

Attention! The cut should only be made in the middle of the power wire. The maximum strip length should not exceed 25 m.

Step 7 The system is glued to the surface of the heat reflector using tape.

Step 8 Mounting wires are used to connect the mats to each other. To do this, the ends are stripped of insulation at the cut site. A sleeve is installed in this place, it is clamped with crimping pliers.

Step 9 A heat-shrinkable tube is placed over the wire. The power wire is connected to the connecting wire. The sleeve is crimped and heated with a special hair dryer. The sleeve is closed with a tube, which is then heated and shrinks.

Step 10 Next, the system is connected to the thermostat. The Unimat Aqua strip is attached to it using a connecting wire and special regulator clamps. The connection is made according to the diagram included with the thermostat.

Step 11 Holes for connection are cut in the heat reflector future screed with the base of the floor.

Step 12 A temperature sensor is installed inside a corrugated tube. It is located along the rods of the system.

Step 13 The system functionality is checked for 15 minutes.

Step 14 The system is filled with cement mixture and a screed is formed.

Video – Installation of Unimat Aqua floor

Liquid or water electric floors – great alternative other types of heating. It is easy to use, practical and performs its functions well. The use of such systems will add coziness to your apartment or house, making the flooring warm and pleasant.

Warmth makes the house truly comfortable and cozy. Sometimes it happens that the central system is not enough to heat the house. Therefore, many people install a “warm floor” system. But the question arises: which floors to choose – water or electric? To do right choice, you need to consider the pros and cons of each system.

Advantages of electric floors

This system, as the name suggests, runs on electricity. It uses cables made of special alloys as a heat conductor. The current passing through the wires heats the cables, and from them the surface of the floor and more are heated. The ability to organize several temperature zones is the main advantage of an electric heated floor. The first zone is directly above the floor surface (+24°), the second is 1.5-2 m from the floor (+22°) and the third is under the ceiling (+20°). This regime fully meets the needs of the human body.

Warming up the room and distributing temperature flows in the room with a traditional radiator and warm electric floor

Designed for long-term use. They are less susceptible to external mechanical influence, which distinguishes them favorably from water floors.

The electrical "warm floor" system has the following advantages:

1. It can be used indoors in conjunction with central heating.
2. Since the air is heated by thermal radiation, the air in the room does not become dry.
3. Does not require additional equipment, as a result, costs are reduced.
4. Thanks to temperature sensors you can control temperature regime and set it as you wish.
5. does not require major repairs of the base, and the mounting mesh of the heating mats can be cut if necessary.

An interesting fact is that, according to scientists, the use of infrared floors not only reduces energy costs, but also increases human immunity. Under the influence of infrared rays, microorganisms and cells vibrate. Due to this, vital processes are stimulated, and well-being improves. It's up to you to believe this statement or not.

Disadvantages of electric floors

Electric flooring is not suitable for large spaces because the efficiency of using electricity as heat is quite low.

The larger the area of ​​the room, the greater the energy consumption for heating it. Water systems here look more economical. In addition, laying electrical elements (cable or film) under furniture is impossible due to the high risk of their failure due to overheating. However, the rod floor shown in the photo does not have these disadvantages.

Cables in warm floors They warm up evenly, but this is their drawback: this can affect the arrangement of furniture and the choice of finishing floor covering. So, they will work best with, tiles and ceramic tiles, film - with laminate or linoleum.

Resistive heating cables cannot be cut. Therefore, before installation, you need to accurately calculate the length of the wire.

The negative aspects of using an electric floor include:

• Increased energy costs.
• When using an electrical system, electromagnetic radiation inevitably occurs, which can negatively affect the health of particularly sensitive people and the environment in the room.
• Installation without your own hands is quite expensive.
• Laying wires requires precise calculation of the pitch, so it will be difficult to do without some experience.
• The cable floor is laid in a screed. If you are renovating old apartment, then the costs of refurbishment of floors will increase.
• are expensive.
• Heating mats must not be placed under household appliances and large furniture.

Only by considering all the positive and negative qualities of the electrical underfloor heating system can you decide which better view use: cable, matte or film.

Water heating

Pros of water floors

They are a modernized design of water heating. Water enters the pipes from the autonomous heating system. A mandatory requirement is the presence of a pump, since without it the liquid will not be able to circulate through the system.

A significant advantage of a water floor is the low cost of the coolant. Low cost water provides high quality space heating.

Water heated floors have the following advantages:

1. Can be installed under almost any floor covering, including natural parquet.
2. Reliability of system operation.
3. Electricity costs are significantly reduced.
4. Possibility of use as the main heating system, which allows you to abandon visible heating sources (batteries, etc.).
5. cheaper than electric.

Cons of water floors

Like any heating system, water floors are not without certain disadvantages:

• Cannot be installed in apartment building without permission from the relevant authorities. The fact is that if such floors are connected to central system heating, then temperature losses for the remaining apartments increase. It is prohibited to connect to a common heating system without permission from housing and communal services.
• Requires the purchase of additional equipment ( circulation pump, and etc.).
• Damage to communications is possible, which will lead to leaks. Therefore, when purchasing pipes, you must first figure out what material they are made from and which one is better suited for the “warm floor” system.
• Complex installation that requires certain skills in laying pipes, pouring and leveling floors.
• Since the water floor is filled with cement-sand mortar, in the event of a breakdown, the entire screed will need to be dismantled.
• A competent calculation of the system power is required. In case of errors in the project, the consumer risks being left without heating.

conclusions

It is perhaps impossible to say unequivocally which floor is better, water or electric. There are many factors that influence the choice of heating type: the cost of a heated floor, efficiency, environmental friendliness and impact on human health, the level of installation complexity, etc. Obviously, when choosing the type of heated floors, it is necessary to make the necessary power calculations and take into account the type of room in which they will be used.

One thing is certain: if you live in an apartment building, it is better to choose electric floors, if in a private cottage - water ones. The most important thing, however, is initial stage take care of thermal insulation. If you do not reduce heat loss by getting rid of cracks, then no heated floors will provide home comfort.

If you have anything to add, feel free to leave your comments in the form below! Share your experience and knowledge on the selection, installation and operation of different floor heating systems.

Modern technologies are constantly improving. One of the most economical ways to heat a room is underfloor heating systems. They allow you to provide maximum high temperature at the base of the room. The temperature near the ceiling will be lower. A person in such a room will be comfortable, since the heat is evenly distributed across the floor, rising upward in soft currents.

There are many types of heated floors. They use different kinds energy resources. Also, the installation of each system may vary significantly. In each specific case, a certain type of heated floor is suitable. To pick up best option, you need to consider the advantages and disadvantages of each system, as well as installation and operation features.

Varieties

Today, several types of heated floors are used. They are divided into two large groups. The first category includes water heated floor in the house. It consists of pipes that are laid under the covering of the base of the rooms. Moves along them hot water from the boiler.

The second category includes electric heated floors. In this case, wires or other conductors are used. They heat up as they pass through a special material electric current. In this category, a distinction is made between wired and film heated floors.

The cable can be laid in screed or tile adhesive. This version of the system can be installed under almost any coating, the thickness of which does not exceed the standards established by the manufacturer. The film is mounted without a solution. Most often these are chipboard sheets, laminate, parquet, linoleum.

Water floor

Mount heated floor from gas boiler and it is quite difficult for a non-professional to run coolant through pipes. Need to calculate required power equipment that will allow you to fully heat the premises. However, the cost of operating this type of flooring is significantly less. It is for this reason that water heated floors are popular.

During installation, you will first need to prepare the base. The old coating is removed right down to the foundation. Next you will need to purchase insulation material. This could be polystyrene foam. Its thickness should be at least 4 cm, and preferably even more. If this is not done, some of the heat will go down. Energy costs in this case will be significant.

After installing the pipes and connecting them to the boiler (a special underfloor heating unit), you will need to fill the system with a cement-sand screed. The layer should be 5-7 cm. It is important to withstand all the conditions for creating the screed. Otherwise, it will crack and the work will need to be redone. The entire system will raise the floor level by 10-20 cm. If the ceilings in the room are low, such a rise in the floor will be noticeable.

Advantages and disadvantages of water floors

There are several advantages and disadvantages of a hydronic flooring system. Before mounting the presented variety, it is necessary to consider them in detail.

Among the positive qualities, the relatively inexpensive installation of the system should be noted. Also, during the operation of water heated floors, less energy costs will be required.

The presented system also has a number of disadvantages. It is prohibited to mount warm floor from central heating in the apartment. This system is only suitable for a private home. It significantly reduces the efficiency of general heating. The coolant cools down greatly as it passes through the pipes of the water system. Only when installing a separate boiler of the required power is it possible to install this type of heating.

Pipes can be damaged. If coolant leaks out, you will need to carry out major renovation in room. It is also necessary to maintain the required pressure in the system. If this condition is not met, heating will not be effective. Therefore, a pump is often installed to supply coolant. It also consumes a certain amount of electricity.

Cable heated floor

The characteristics of both groups of systems will allow us to determine whether the systems will be effective if they are installed in accordance with all the rules.

One of the popular types of heating systems is cable heated floors. In this case, instead of a pipe, a special wire is used. Its core is made of nichrome. This material heats up very quickly when current passes through it. This energy warms cement mortar over the wire.

The cable is approximately 7 mm thick. It must be mounted in a screed. In this case, it is necessary to prepare the base. First, a layer of insulation is installed. In a private house, the layer must be at least 5 cm. For an apartment, the minimum thickness of polystyrene foam can be 2 cm if the apartment is not on the ground floor. The screed should be from 3 to 5 cm.

Advantages and disadvantages of cable

Which are made in the form of an electrical cable, has a number of advantages and disadvantages. This system is relatively inexpensive. It can be installed both in a private house and in an apartment. The room may have a different area. Even after turning off the wire, the floor covering will cool down for a long time.

The disadvantages include high energy consumption. The wire cannot warm up a thick screed quickly. Long time(sometimes for about a day) the floor will not reach the required temperature. In this case, electricity will be spent on heating.

Not everyone can install a screed. Not all rooms have the opportunity to raise the floor level. You need to add a plasticizer to the screed.

Electric mat system

Cable and water heated floor in the house raises the base level by at least 7 cm. To avoid this, you should purchase a system of electric mats. It looks like a polymer mesh (most often 50 cm wide). An electrical wire is laid out on its surface at the required pitch. It is only 3 mm thick.

The mats can be installed without screed. The base does not need to be specially prepared. If you want to install the system in an apartment that is not on the first floor, an electric mat is laid out on a leveled concrete floor. You can even mount it on old tiles. The system is filled with tile adhesive. Its thickness will be about 5 mm. In this case, the floor will rise by only 1-1.5 cm.

Even a non-professional builder can install an electric mat. You just need to take into account the manufacturer's instructions. In this case, the system will work effectively for about 50 years.

Advantages and disadvantages of mats

There are many opinions from installers and ordinary buyers, which heated floors are better? Water or electric cables are relatively inexpensive. Installation of the mat will cost more. The system has a price that is 2 times higher compared to a conventional wire mounted in a screed.

But the base coating reaches the required temperature in just 30-40 minutes. It does not require using a lot of solution or preparing the base. It is enough to roll out the mat onto a clean primed surface, and then cover it with tile adhesive and tiles. If desired, you can install laminate on such a floor. However, the heating of such a coating should not exceed 28ºС.

Infrared heated floor

Technologies do not stand still. Today they are widely used different types systems Infrared electric heated floor has the appearance of a film. It is laminated with a special paste. Carbon is most often used for these purposes, but other fillers are also possible.

The current passes through the areas with the paste, heating the surface of the base. This system can be installed independently in just an hour. In this case, there is no need to fill the film with solution. First, the substrate under the laminate is installed. The film is laid out on it. The wires are connected to the canvas using special clips.

After this, the laminate is laid directly on the infrared floor. You can also install thick linoleum or chipboard sheets. This floor heats up quickly. If necessary, you can disassemble the laminate, roll up film sheets, and move them to another room.

Advantages and disadvantages

Looking at existing types of heated floors, a few words should be said about the disadvantages and advantages of infrared sheets. The advantages include ease of installation and low cost. This is the cheapest system. It is also universal. The film can be mounted not only under the floor covering, but also behind a mirror, in an animal enclosure.

The disadvantages include high energy consumption. Cable heated floors require less electricity. For example, 1 m² of infrared film consumes 220 W per hour at full power. The mat is characterized by a consumption of 130-150 W/m per hour.

Also, infrared film cannot be mounted under tiles. The solution quickly destroys such a floor. Only the cable and pipes have strong enough insulation to remain intact in the screed for many years.

What to choose?

Knowing what types of heated floors exist, as well as their main differences, you can choose the best option. When the system is installed in a private house, in which heating installation is being carried out from scratch, major repairs are being carried out, you can choose several systems. If the boiler has not yet been purchased, you can install a water heated floor. At the same time, the power heating equipment must meet the needs of the building.

If the repair is carried out in a private house where there is no centralized gas pipeline, you can install the electrical cable in a screed. This option is suitable for an apartment on the ground floor.

If you need to create autonomous heating with a minimum level of floor elevation, you can choose a system of electric mats. This perfect option for an apartment. The coating can be anything. If laminate flooring is installed in an apartment, you can choose film or electric mat.

Having considered types of heated floors, their main differences, everyone will choose the best option for themselves.