Mats for water warm floor – views, characteristics, how to choose and make installation

Few things compare to the comfort of a water warm floor when it comes to keeping our homes warm and inviting. Imagine walking onto a floor that dispels the chill from even the coldest of days by softly radiating heat. This is where water warm floor mats come into play, providing a cost-effective and opulent means of heating our living areas. We’ll go over the many kinds of mats that are out there, their features, and important advice for selecting the best one for your house in this guide.

To begin with, it’s critical to comprehend the various kinds of mats made for water-heated floors. Usually, there are two types of these mats available: hydronic and electric. Hydronic mats use hot water pumped through pipes to create warmth; electric mats use electricity to do the same. Depending on variables like energy efficiency, installation complexity, and personal preference, each type has pros and cons.

It’s important to consider each type of mat’s characteristics when deciding which one to choose. For example, electric mats are frequently a more popular option when retrofitting existing homes because they are quicker and easier to install. However, hydronic mats might provide longer-term energy savings, especially when combined with renewable energy sources like solar or geothermal heating systems.

Selecting the ideal mat for your water-warm floor requires taking a number of things into account. First, evaluate the area you plan to heat in terms of its size and layout. This will assist in figuring out the mat’s wattage or BTU (British Thermal Unit) requirements in order to guarantee sufficient heating coverage. When making your choice, don’t forget to take things like insulation levels, floor covering materials, and your budget into account.

After choosing the right mat for your requirements, installation must be done correctly to guarantee longevity and optimum performance. Installation usually entails laying the mat evenly across the subfloor, connecting it to a thermostat and power source, and covering it with an appropriate flooring material. The specifics may change based on the type of mat selected. Ensuring a successful installation process can be achieved by adhering to manufacturer guidelines and obtaining professional assistance when necessary.

The correct mats for a water warm floor are essential for both heating and insulating your home. There are several varieties of these mats, and each has unique qualities that impact comfort and effectiveness. When choosing and installing them, homeowners can make more informed decisions if they are aware of these distinctions. To guarantee optimum performance, variables like material quality, thickness, and heating capacity should be taken into account. To get the most out of water warm floor mats and ensure uniform heat distribution and energy efficiency throughout the house, proper installation is also essential. An inviting and energy-efficient home can be achieved by homeowners with the right mat selection and installation techniques.

The purpose of mats

Reducing heat loss is the primary goal of water warm floor installation, and mats help with this. There won’t be any sense in placing the contour directly on the base because most of the heat will be dissipated.

Heat-reflecting mats are made specifically for this. They keep heat from escaping while shielding the space from chilly air infiltration. Furthermore, condensate and mold growth are not included.

Examine the following primary purposes served by the heat-insulating substrate in the warm water floor’s "pie":

1. Sound insulation – if a layer of 2 cm, noise absorption up to 23 dB;
2. Waterproofing – in the presence of a special film layer;
3. Thermal insulation – directs warm streams up, which reduces the cost of heating the house;
4. Uniform distribution of heat flows in the room. This moment is important for water floors, where heat is not consumed evenly, due to the presence of straight and curved pipes in the circuit;
5. Promotes the maintenance of operational loads due to high strength.

Furthermore, because of the raised layer or pattern on the surface, mats make it easier to lay the warm floor’s heating circuit. Additionally, you can expedite and simplify the installation process with the help of unique latches and side grooves.

What materials are used for the manufacture of mats?

Although mats are now made of many materials, the most recent models are constructed from extruded polystyrene foam, which has the following features:

• low vapor permeability – water vapors pass through it, and the material does not accumulate liquid;
• small thermal conductivity – which helps to maintain heat;
• high density – withstands huge loads, made of raw materials with a density of 40 kg/m3.

Furthermore, the substrate has no fear of rats.

Just so you know! Because the design is heavy—up to 200 kg per square meter—the material’s density is crucial to the construction of the water floor.

Insulation is crucial to the construction of the water floor because it bears the majority of the load and is the lower portion of the "pie."

Pros of the use of mats

Mats are a contemporary heat-insulating product that are manufactured using the newest European technologies and satisfy the most recent safety and quality standards. They incorporate every advantageous feature of the current heater. There are no inherent drawbacks in this instance with respect to other heat insulators.

Advantages of the mats:

• High performance:
• increased thermal and sound insulation;
• the possibility of laying the “pie” of the floor in any way – with or without screed;
• not subject to deformation with prolonged use;
• Simplicity in installation – equipped with a castle mechanism;
• have marking (most models) – simplifies the process of laying the circuit;
• do not rot and do not form a beneficial environment for the propagation of microorganisms;
• do not absorb water;
• Do not harm a person – do not emit toxic substances;
• able to withstand high temperatures -from +180 to -180 degrees;
• Operational period up to 50 years.

Just so you know! Because polystyrene is not fuel-processed, anti-peirers are added to it, rendering the product non-combustible.

These products bear a "C" mark.

Types of heat -insulating mats for warm floor

When building water-warm floors, professionals recommend using a variety of mat types. Every model is unique and made for a particular set of circumstances.

The type and reputation of the manufacturer have a direct impact on the substrate’s price and dimensions.

Foam polystyrene slabs

Polystyrene matting is a great alternative for warming water-heated floors; they can even be placed on a cold, dark floor. There are various kinds:

1. Foam – the simplest and cheapest. When choosing a foam for a warm floor, the density indicator should be taken into account, it should be not lower than 35 kg/m3. If it is smaller, then the substrate will not withstand the load from the water heating system.

• Poli -polystyrene extruded – the substrate is high -quality and durable. Since the material has a rigid base, in addition to the insulation, the product acts as a black floor equalizer. The best representative in this segment is the foam, its thickness varies from 2 to 10 cm. The structure is cellular with increased strength, which makes it possible to withstand heavy loads.

It is easier to install extruded plates when locking joints are present. There are several models with surface markings that make the circuit installation easier. Additionally, the pipes are fixed by just sticking them into the substrate using the brackets.

Just so you know! It is not uncommon to place a foil-covered roll of insulation on top of the plates to enhance their thermal insulation properties.

Rolon foil insulation

Foamed polyethylene is used as a base for the production of mats with a foil coating for heated floors; its thickness varies from 3 to 10 mm. This is a basic, low-cost insulating material. Rolls are available for purchase, which makes transportation easier.

Several forms of this substrate are produced, including foam, isolon, and ecofol. They are all outfitted with a polymer film or foil aluminum layer. This layer is responsible for dispersing warm air throughout the area and directing it in the proper direction.

Because foil rolling insulation has a low degree of thermal insulation, it only conditionally applies to mats. As a result, its application is fairly restricted. When the water system is intended to provide extra heating and the floor is already outfitted with additional insulation, the foil product is advised for usage.

Since these mats have no effectiveness, it is not advised to place them above cold rooms or on first floors. Furthermore, there are certain challenges in the styling process of the heating elements on this heat insulator.

In fact, specific fastening elements like brackets, clamps, or reinforcing mesh are needed to secure the pipes of the heated floor. After the product is inserted into the joint, the foil surface should face upwards, and special tape is used to glue the seams together for increased tightness.

Notwithstanding its modest indications, it is important to remember that in certain situations, using a roll of heat insulating foil is essential. The only situation in which insulation is feasible is when the room has low ceilings, and every centimeter counts.

Foam polystyrene mats with foil and film

Polystyrene mats with a foil or film layer are used as a form of thermal insulation.

1. In plates – they are equipped with a castle device. Their thickness is 2 – 5 cm, width 100 cm.
2. In the form of panels – fastened with film coating in a single canvas. Standard roll size – 5 meters.

Waterproof tape should be used to connect the plates when they are installed in the water floor design. It just fits on the base if a panel view is utilized.

Certain models come with a self-adhesive layer that facilitates docking. Many insulating materials have a unique marking on their surface that is used to place the pipeline—steps of 50 or 100 mm. The task of laying pipes is made easier by this mesh.

Plastic brackets or reinforcement are used and placed on top of the flooring to fix the warm water circuit.

By using such a substrate, you can waterproof the base prior to installing a water device and simultaneously create good thermal insulation.

Warms with bosses

A contemporary heat-insulating product that was created specifically for heating water floors is insulating material with bosses. Polystyrene foam with a density of at least 40 kg per m3 is used in isolation lining with protrusions, giving the product load resistance. 40 to 50 mm is the standard sheet thickness.

The plates have protrusions, or beans, that are created using a unique stamping technique called hydropalent. The bosses are shaped like cubes, polyhedrons, cylinders, and circles.

They are the same distance apart, with a standard height of 20 to 25 mm. Bosses of this size work well for securing pipes with a 20 mm diameter because they consistently hold the pipes in place.

Just so you know! When hydraulic warm floors are built using heat-insulating mats with bosses, there is no chance of pipes moving around during installation or screed erecting.

The film coating used in various heat insulator models with bobes may vary. Certain species lack this layer entirely, although the product’s quality is unaffected by this.

Special locking grooves incorporated into the plates make installation easier and result in dependable sealing. There’s a single canvas created where any screed can be filled in. Excellent sound insulation is another benefit; noise levels are lowered to 25 dB.

Recommendations for the choice of mats

• When using thin and light plates, they need to fix the floor. Glue is suitable for this, but metal fasteners are strictly prohibited, since they will damage the waterproofing layer and product strength.
• When laying a flat substrate without locking joints, their joints are glued with waterproof tape. And if the plates have a foil layer, then the adhesive tape should be foil.

• The foil side of the substrate should look up.

Only after the insulation has been installed throughout the entire floor surface can the water circuit layout be started.

For a water warm floor system, picking the appropriate mats is essential to maintaining both comfort and energy efficiency in your house. With so many options available, knowing their distinct qualities will help you make a well-informed choice.

First, think about the kind of material the mats are made of. Both heating cables and carbon have benefits of their own. Heat is distributed uniformly by carbon mats, and installation flexibility is offered by heating cables. To choose the type that best fits your needs and preferences, consider your options.

Second, be mindful of the mats’ coverage area and power output. Make sure the power output is appropriate for the size of the space you want to heat. Choosing mats with power settings that can be adjusted can provide greater temperature control and enable more economical use of energy.

Examine the mats’ insulating qualities as well. Adequate insulation ensures that the warmth stays in the room and reduces heat loss. Superior insulating qualities of mats improve the heating system’s overall performance and help save energy.

An additional important factor to think about is installation. To guarantee proper installation, carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions or get professional assistance. In addition to guaranteeing peak performance, proper installation extends the mats’ lifespan.

In conclusion, careful consideration of a number of factors, including material, power output, insulation, and installation, is necessary when choosing and installing mats for a water warm floor system. You can benefit from a cozy and cost-effective heating solution in your house for many years to come by selecting the right mats and installing them appropriately.

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