Selecting the ideal electric warm floor type for your laminate flooring can significantly improve your home’s warmth and comfort. Because of their efficiency and even warmth, electric floor heating systems are becoming more and more popular among homeowners. These systems eliminate cold floors by providing heat directly beneath your feet, in contrast to conventional radiators.
Electric floor heating systems come in a variety of varieties, and each can be tailored to meet the unique requirements of laminate flooring. You can choose the option that best suits your heating needs and budget by being aware of the features of each type. Installation considerations are also very important because a well-executed installation guarantees the heating system beneath your laminate both optimal performance and safety.
It’s crucial to account for both the setup and ongoing operating expenses when installing an electric heated floor. Two important aspects that can affect your decision are control over heating and energy efficiency. Smart features like programmable thermostats, which let you set your own heating schedules and reduce energy costs, are frequently included in modern systems. To guarantee that your investment is safeguarded over time, it’s also critical to consider the manufacturer’s durability and warranty offerings.
This post will walk you through the various electric floor heating system types that work with laminate floors, offer advice on selecting the best system, and show you how to install it properly. Whether you’re building a new home or remodeling an existing one, knowing these fundamentals will enable you to design a cozy and welcoming area without sacrificing design or functionality.
Type of Electric Floor Heating | Installation Tips |
Electric Cable Mats | Ensure subfloor is clean and flat. Roll out mats and space evenly. Use a thermostat for temperature control. |
Heating Films | Best for thinner laminate. Check compatibility. Lay film directly under the laminate, avoiding any overlap. |
- Laminate floors types
- Infrared film
- Installation
- Carbonate rod
- Advantages and disadvantages
- Installation
- Carbox continuous
- Cable – pros and cons of
- Installation of cable floor
- Heating mats
- Installation mat
- Amorphic metallic
- Installation
- Comparison of electric floors, which?
- How to choose a laminate?
- Laminate laying
- Video on the topic
- TOP – 7. The best warm floor for laminate (electric, infrared, dry installation). Rating of 2024!
Laminate floors types
The finishing surface is heated by a warm electric floor heating system. Because it is concealed by the coating, it can be installed in any room and does not detract from the interior design.
Both cable and infrared are options for electric heating. Every species has advantages and disadvantages of its own. The conversion of electricity into heat is the basic method of operation.
Infrared film
Warming carbon elements that produce infrared waves is known as an infrared warm floor. The product is produced using varying powers and ranges in width from 30 to 100 mm. The model, which has been around for a while, is well-liked because it can save up to 20% on electricity.
The benefits of using infrared electric film
- ease of installation and operation;
- does not affect the height of the ceilings, since the thickness of the film is only 1 mm;
- does not harm human health, as it practically does not radiate electromagnetic waves;
- not afraid of mechanical loads, so you can install under furniture.
Since it heats up using infrared rays, this kind of electric heating does not contribute to the release of formaldehyde, which is contained in the gluelic college.
The price is nearly the only drawback. However, the overall cost of the device is not all that different from other types because of how easy it is to install and how much it saves when operating.
Installation
After completing the project’s planning and material acquisition, you must begin installing an electric heated infrared floor beneath the laminate.
- Preparation of a draft base – leveling and cleaning.
- Laying hydraulic and thermal insulation material – polyethylene film is put on the walls, and thermal insulation sheets are glued together with tape.
- Placement of thermal shit – copper contacts must be directed down, the connection of the strips is carried out by clamps. Lay the film carefully so as not to damage. Cut should be cut strictly along special lines.
- Connection – the cable is connected to the heating elements of the terminals, the joints are insulated with bitumen tape so that the contacts do not perform in the heat -insulating material for them, recesses are made.
- Installation of a thermal sensor – it is placed in the corrugation on graphite stripes, connected to the thermostat.
- System testing – checked the heating of each film.
- Film protection – hidden by special material of the Isospan type, it protects it from abrasion.
- Laying finishing – laminate.
Carbonate rod
The carbonate core TP is a device made up of parallel, self-regulating carbon rods. It has the ability to change the room’s heating intensity based on the outside temperature.
It operates on current, and when it is turned on, infrared waves radiate outward, heating the space and releasing heat.
Advantages and disadvantages
The rods’ parallel connection allows the entire structure to keep working even after one leaves. Furthermore, the warm core floor is moisture-tolerant.
This model can be installed beneath the laminate with or without the screed. The intricacy and length of the work are the primary disadvantages of screed installation.
Installation
A rod electric heated floor laid underneath the laminate functions similarly to how a film system is set up. Installing a thermostat and punching a string (groove) for the wire to run through the wall are the first things you need to do.
The device is connected after the rod mats have been positioned and secured to the insulation. In other words, a thermal attemptor is installed, and the regulator is connected to the wires coming from it.
Installing the laminate can only be done after the solution has dried.
Carbox continuous
Carbon Dioxide Warm floors: a novel kind of heating technology. a continuous carbon layer. Thirteen layers make up mats: three for workers and ten for safety, five on each side.
Cable – pros and cons of
An entire electrical cable is laid out using the Snake or Snail scheme. The structure is typically filled with a minimum 30-mm layer of concrete screed.
Benefits of this apparatus:
- low cost;
- the ability to evenly warm the room;
- durability.
Cons of being a consumer:
- large electricity costs;
- the need for grounding;
- complexity of installation, requiring experience;
- A lot of time takes the premises;
- The dismantling procedure is laborious, as it is required to remove the screed;
- significantly reduces the height of the ceilings due to the thick screed.
Seldom is the cable placed beneath the laminate. Another drawback of this warm system is that if one part malfunctions, the entire apparatus is rendered inoperable.
Installation of cable floor
Installing a thermostat should come first because punching a stroke is a dirty task that needs to be completed ahead of time.
- a damping tape is mounted around the perimeter of the room;
- The heat -insulating material is laid by the foil side up, it is attached with a glue or mounting adhesive tape;
- A mounting or metal tape is spread – it is fixed on the insulation, it is designed to fix the wire;
- A heating cable is placed – it is laid according to the planned scheme, with an indent from the walls of at least 5 cm, fixed with tape;
- A thermal attemptor is installed – at a distance from the wall 50 – 60 cm, the wires leading to the thermostat are placed in a corrugated pipe;
- The system is connected – the cable and wires from the sensor are connected to the regulator;
- Technological holes are made in heaters – they need to be done every 40 cm;
- A concrete screed is poured – you can take a finished mixture or prepared independently, the solution is aligned;
- Touch a thin substrate – it serves as a noise insulator;
- Laminate is laid.
Perform a performance check on the device before adding the screed.
Heating mats
The thin cable used in the matte heating system is fixed to the grid. Since there is no need to fill the thick layer of concrete during installation, it is advised for rooms with low ceilings. Furthermore, applying a laminate to a design like this is not difficult.
The primary feature of the mat that sets it apart from standard cable heating is its ability to maintain heat throughout the entire device, even in the event of a single site breakdown. However, their costs are greater.
Installation mat
- Installation of the sensor – it is laid in the prepared groove, the sensor is previously placed in a corrugated hofroshlang, at the end of which a plug;
- filling the groove with the sensor with a solution;
- The laying of the insulation is a thin material with a laminated surface, the sheets are densely placed, glued with tape, they are made in the glue penetration;
- placement of mat – they are placed in planned areas, the stripes should not come to each other;
- Connection – cables from the mat and the sensor are connected to the thermostat;
- Checking the work – for this, voltage is supplied for a while;
- applying tile glue or concrete solution – a layer of 8 – 10 mm, while the formation of air voids should not be allowed;
- Laying the substrate – it serves sound and thermal insulation, only after the solution dries;
- Laminate installation.
Amorphic metallic
This design’s foundation is an amorphous metal alloy with the following properties:
- high efficiency;
- increased resistance to moisture and corrosion;
- strength and flexibility;
- electromagnetic safety;
- good level of thermal conductivity.
These characteristics make the floor universal; it can be laid over various coatings, including laminate.
Benefits of the metal alloy-based device:
- uniform heating of the room;
- simple installation;
- efficiency in energy consumption;
- the possibility of installation under furniture;
- warranty period up to 25 years.
Installation
Compared to other systems, installing an amorphous metal floor is considerably simpler.
The prepared concrete base is covered with a substrate, heating mats, and laminate; a concrete screed is not necessary.
Fits into the wall-mounted thermostat installation.
It is positioned on the wall between one and one and a half meters above the ground, ideally close to the outlets and away from the windows.
The heating system’s central component is the temperature sensor. It is tiny, and two wires that are attached to the regulator extend from it.
The accuracy of the temperature sensor determines how the device functions. As a result, careful consideration should be given to where to install it.
It should be placed with an indent from the wall at least 60 cm, and preferably 1 meter, in the middle of the film or between the cable loops. In cases with a cable floor, which is filled with a screed, a thermal attenter is placed in a corrugated hofroshlang, he will protect it from the solution and simplify the process of replacing it.
This device is prone to breaking easily. However, since it is inexpensive, the expenses are negligible.
It’s critical to select an electric warm floor system that best fits the unique qualities of laminate flooring when installing laminate. Given laminate’s sensitivity to heat and moisture, the two most practical options are electric mat and cable systems. To avoid damaging the laminate during installation, underlayment and temperature controls must be carefully considered. To ensure that the necessary warmth is maintained without becoming too hot, it is advisable to select a system that has a dependable thermostat and provides even heat distribution. Appropriate installation, potentially carried out by a specialist, guarantees the durability and efficiency of the heating system as well as the laminate flooring above it.
Comparison of electric floors, which?
The first step, when choosing an electric heating device – calculate the level of raising the floor when laying each model. If the ceilings are not high, or you do not want to lift the floor, then it is better to dwell on models that do not need to fill the screed – infrared systems or thin cable mats.
You can use the cable view beneath the screed if the ceiling height permits. A heater of at least 20 mm, a screed of at least 30 mm, and cable thicker than in mats are all present in such a "pie." Although the strength of this design is higher and concrete solution can be poured up to 50 mm, the heating time increases significantly.
A laminate must be used to accommodate the heating system selection, as they ought to get close to one another. Since the product can detect formaldehyde when heated, you should definitely check to see if the model with heating floors is integrated. Since infrared rays cause heating, infrared structures are advantageous in this sense.
How to choose a laminate?
Laminate is an MDF product with a polymer-covered front side. It is important to consider the following when selecting it for warm floors:
- The presence of the speaker that the product is not afraid of high temperature, and meets the standards of the European Union.
- The amount of harmful substances – there should not be more than the norm, otherwise, when heated, the material will distinguish harmful substances.
- Thermal resistance – the higher, the better.
- The thickness of the lamella – the thicker they are, the less heat enters the room.
Furthermore, how the panels are attached is crucial; if they are glued together, they shouldn’t be placed on a heated floor. There’s no need to accept extremely low-quality products.
Laminate laying
The type of warm floor determines the laminate laying principle:
- Cable – you can lay the finish coating only after the screed is completely dried up. A substrate is put on it – sheets of polystyrene of small thickness, or a special insulator. It is possible to lay a laminate directly on the concrete, but then the noise insulation level will be reduced.
- Film – since it is laid without screed, to protect the conductive product from mechanical damage and moisture, dense polyethylene is laid. It has already placed a laminate.
Selecting the ideal electric heated floor for laminate flooring guarantees energy efficiency and improves comfort. Depending on what you require, heating mats and heating cables are both good choices. For many homeowners, mats are a practical option because they are easier to install and work well for uniformly shaped rooms. Heating cables, on the other hand, provide flexibility in rooms with asymmetrical shapes or obstructions, but their installation may require more work.
The compatibility of the materials must be taken into consideration when installing an electric heated floor beneath laminate. An underlay that can tolerate heat without warping or being harmed is necessary for laminate flooring. This entails choosing a high-quality thermal underlay made especially to work with laminate and electric heating systems. Additionally, you can avoid damage and preserve the integrity and aesthetics of your flooring over time by making sure the temperature tolerance of your laminate matches the heat output of the system you have chosen.
Lastly, electrical safety regulations and manufacturer instructions must be carefully taken into account when organizing and carrying out the installation of an electric heated floor. It is advised to have a professional installation to guarantee peak performance and prevent any possible safety risks. After installation, the system should be checked and tuned to your comfort level and the needs of your room to ensure that you have a cozy, warm floor in the winter.
In conclusion, choosing and installing an energy-efficient electric warm floor under a laminate surface can greatly improve the comfort levels in your house. You can enjoy the coziness and added value of a heating system without sacrificing the longevity of your floors by carefully selecting the right type and material and making sure the installation is done by professionals.