Warm floor on the balcony and loggias: 4 arrangement options, installation instructions

Maintaining a warm and comfortable atmosphere on your balcony or loggia can really help you make the most of the space. Warm floors not only increase comfort levels but also increase the amount of space that can be used in your house, letting you take advantage of these areas even in the winter. We’ll go over four different ways to set up a warm floor on your balcony or loggia in this guide, along with detailed installation instructions to help you add warmth to these frequently unused spaces in your house.

First option: For warming the floors of balconies and loggias, electric radiant heating mats are a popular option. These mats are made of thin mats with embedded electric cables or heating elements that are simple to install beneath a variety of flooring materials, including stone, wood, and tiles. With electric radiant heating mats, you can regulate the temperature to your liking and enjoy efficient, adaptable warmth.

Option two: Installing a hydronic radiant heating system is an additional way to warm the floor of your loggia or balcony. Warm water is circulated via pipes buried beneath the flooring surface in this system. With its exceptional energy efficiency and ability to be integrated with your home’s current heating system, hydronic radiant heating offers even warmth throughout the entire space.

Third option: If you’re searching for an inexpensive fix, think about placing insulated underlayments under your flooring. On your balcony or loggia, insulated underlayments act as a barrier against the cold, assisting in heat retention and fostering a cozy atmosphere. Even though it might not be as warm as radiant heating systems, this choice can still have a big impact on keeping the room feeling comfortable.

Option four: Installing heated floor mats or panels is an easy and practical DIY project for individuals looking for a more affordable option. These panels or mats are made to be simply installed on the current flooring surface and powered by a plug. Although they might not offer the same coverage as other heating systems, heated floor mats or panels are a simple, cost-effective way to warm your loggia or balcony.

After discussing the various configurations for a warm floor on your balcony or loggia, let’s get started with the installation procedure. Whether you go with hydronic or electric radiant heating, insulated underlayments, or heated floor mats, we’ll provide you the detailed instructions you need to spruce up these areas and turn them into comfortable, year-round extensions of your house.

Which warm floor is better to use on the balcony?

What kind of warm sexual heating works best on a loggia or balcony? Many of these properties’ owners ask this question. There are several kinds of floor heating, including cable, infrared film, and water:

1. Water – the most expensive device consisting of pipes, it is more often mounted in a screed.
2. Electric cable – in it the cable acts as an element of heating. "Pie" is also poured with concrete solution.
3. Infrared film – heating is produced due to carbon plates, they radiate ultraviolet waves.

A water-heavy structure is inappropriate here because the balcony is an outlying plate that is not designed to support large loads. It is also not advised to install an electric heated floor beneath the screed on the balcony. The best option is the infrared film because it is lightweight and simple to install.

If the load data on the plate are appropriate in a given situation, a water or electric model for the screed in a loggia may be taken into consideration. This requires that the level of loads be calculated beforehand.

On the wall, an electric TP? Whether to select a particular type and install it is up to you.

We will carefully analyze each model to decide which warm floor is best.

Balconies and loggias can also be included in the process of creating a warm and energy-efficient space, in addition to the main living areas of a house. Putting in place a warm floor system in these spaces improves usability year-round by providing comfort and utility. These outdoor spaces can be easily transformed into welcoming retreats by homeowners with four different arrangement options and simple installation instructions. Every method has advantages and disadvantages of its own, whether it is raised floor systems, hydronic heating retrofitting, integrating into a concrete slab, or using electric radiant mats. Warm floor systems can be installed quickly and easily by following the installation instructions, guaranteeing maximum performance and year-round enjoyment of a balcony or loggia.

Water floor – its characteristics

Among the different types of heating systems is the water floor. is a type of pipe design where coolant circulates inside. Water or antifreeze can be used. The "snake" or "snail" layout is used for heating elements.

The base, a layer of thermal and hydraulic insulation, pipes, concrete screed, and finish coating make up the floor’s "pie."

Advantages and disadvantages

This type of room is the most affordable, ideal for warming, and takes up no useful space—even with high installation costs during use.

It is either connected to an independent source or to the central heating system (although the latter requires authorization, time, and money).

However, because the screed frequently pours the hydraulic field during construction, installing it on the balcony is not advised due to its heavy weight. In a room like this, adjusting the entire system is also challenging.

Additionally, the installation of the pump—which is fairly difficult—is necessary because of pressure jumps in the pipeline. Leak risk is another drawback of water structures because it can be challenging to identify and fix the source in these circumstances.

One drawback of the system is that it cannot be turned on during cooling season if it is connected to a common riser. I’ll have to use the cold room or wait for the house’s entire heating system to function.

Installation

It is possible to install a water floor on the loggia even though it is not advised to do so on the balcony. In actuality, the loggia can support a heavy load because, in contrast to the balcony, it has two supports from below.

See the video to learn how to install central heating.

• A layer of waterproofing (technical polyethylene) is laid, it must be laid down on the walls.

• Thermal insulation is mounted – extruded polystyrene foam plates 30 – 50 mm.

• Dampfer tape is glued around the perimeter of the loggia – it will compensate for the temperature extensions of the screed.

• Pipes are placed according to the planned scheme, but the “snake” is more suitable for loggias, the standard diameter of pipes 20 mm. The pipeline is attached to the grooves of the plates, or with special fasteners. Necessarily – the presence of seamless pipes made of metal -plastic. They should be placed from the walls at a distance of 50 mm, with a step of 100 – 150 mm.

• The heating system or autonomous source is connected to the system.

• A concrete solution screed is poured.

• The finish coating is mounted (only after complete hardening of concrete) – material with high heat transfer, you can cover the floor with linoleum, laminate, tiles.

You must test the system before adding concrete to the structure.

Waterflower water floors can be laid on the lags; this will be much simpler and faster.

Lags are positioned between 30 and 40 centimeters apart. Thermal insulation material is placed between them, and waterproofing is placed underneath. Plywood sheets are placed on the lags, and pipes are inserted into the grooves created. On top of it is applied the final coating.

Heating mats and their types

The floor beneath the heating mat is actually the same electric cable, but the wire is fixed on a fiberglass grid. a mat with a width greater than 50 cm and a length ranging from 50 cm to 3 meters. Information about heated floors from 220 W of electricity. The cable used by the device has a diameter of 4, 5 mm and 2.5 mm.

There are two types of wire used in electrical mats:

1. One -core – both ends are connected to the thermostat, so equipping heating with such a cable is more difficult. Minus wires – radiation of an electromagnetic field, it is not recommended for styling in rooms where a person spends a lot of time. Plus – the cost is not high.
2. Two -core – a more perfect look, suitable for the balcony. When placing it, it is not required to bring both ends to the regulator. Such a cable radiates a minimum of electromagnetic waves, so it is not dangerous for people.

Any of these wire types can be used to make electric mats that last longer than a year.

One-core cables warm up more quickly than two-core cables because they are thinner and have more power.

Advantages and disadvantages

Electric mat warming’s primary benefits are as follows:

• do not take the height of the room, since the thickness of the "pie" is only about 2 cm;
• economical – electricity consumption is not significant;
• Easy to install.

However, mats are more expensive than a standard cable floor.

Mats are not meant for continuous use; they are advised for prolonged heating. There is no way to shorten the product. Therefore, you must first measure the area of the balcony after deciding on the warm floor, which is in the form of mats.

Installation

• preparation of the draft base – alignment and sealing of bumps, cleaning of garbage.

• laying thermal insulation – this is necessary in order to exclude heat loss;

• Flus filling – concrete layer will serve as a base;

• placement of mats according to the scheme;

• installation of the thermostat and connecting the system;

• applying tile glue 2 – 3 mm and fixing tiles – glue should be applied evenly so that air voids do not form.

The foam is placed on top of the mats that the boards are placed on if a wooden coating will be applied to the balcony or loggia.

Hearing electric cable

A regulator controls the system of an electric cable floor, which uses a two-core, 5 mm screen cable as its heating element. The device heats the surface between +25 and +32 degrees while operating at a 220 W voltage.

Although laying by "dry" means is an option, the wire is submerged in a concrete solution or a mixture of tile adhesive.

The benefits of cable heating include:

• The size of the electromagnetic field emanating from the system is small and not dangerous for humans;
• Since the design uses low -power veins, the service life is significantly increased;
• The presence of a shielded film provides electrical and fire safety, protects against damage.

Tile-like electric heated flooring with a finish coating is a smart option for the loggia or balcony.

The cable device’s minus in terms of installation time and structural severity is filled with a screed of concrete solution.

Installation

• Then it is necessary to do thermal insulation – lay the extruded foil polystyrene foam 20 – 30 mm thick;

• Pour a concrete screed over the thermal insulation with a thickness of 10 – 15 mm – there will be no contact of the material with the insulation, and the risk of overheating will be minimized;

• lay the mounting tape and spread the cable according to the planned scheme – the fixation of the wire is carried out by the tape;

• Install a thermostat and a temperature sensor – for wires that go from floor to control, it is necessary to make strobes;

• lay the finish coating – only after drying the screed.

If the cable is not mounted on a well-insulated loggia, the street will be awakened. Performance testing of the system should be done prior to adding the concrete mixture.

Infrared warm floor

A common model is the infrared electric floor, which is ideal for setting up on a balcony. Two layers of polyester films with carbon plates inside make up the design.

The production of long-wave infrared radiation by IK POL WORK. There are various varieties of film, with variations in power, heating temperature, thickness, and application area.

The qualities of the finishing material should be considered when determining the strip floor power for the loggia. Laying ceramics is advised at high power.

Advantages and disadvantages

The primary benefits of the movie are:

• environmental friendliness and safety for humans;
• The device does not worsen the quality of the air, as it heats objects, not air;
• does not radiate electromagnetic waves;
• does not affect the height of the room – the thickness of the film is only 0.3 mm;
• If one site is damaged, the whole film continues to function;
• Durability, practicality, repair is not required.

Owing to the canvas’s flexibility, it is simple to assemble and disassemble in any type of room. As screed is not required, the installation procedure is short and easy. ideal for heating open spaces even in the winter, like balconies.

Since balconies are typically small in size, the primary disadvantage of infrared floors is the cost of electricity. However, this disadvantage is not very great. Another drawback of the model is that it is impossible to place large furniture pieces on the film.

Installation

• A heater with a reflecting layer (foil isolon) is laid, the joints between the sheets are glued with tape;

• openings are cut into insulation for contacts and sensor so that there are no protrusions;
• The infrared film is mounted, if necessary, it is cut strictly along special lines;

• Contacts are connected and isolated by bitumen tape;

• a regulator and a temperature sensor are installed;

• to stretch polyethylene on top of the film with a small overlap;
• The flooring is laid.

It is possible to use this heating right away after installation.

Installation of the temperature sensor

Without a temperature regulator and sensor, it is impossible to change the temperature in a room heated by electric floors. All systems connect devices in the same straightforward manner; following the directions is crucial.

What you need to install this device is:

• make a recess in the wall for the box;
• stop the grooves for the wire in the wall from the floor to the installation site of the regulator;

• install the device in the prepared opening;

• insert the sensor into the corrugated tube and place between the heating elements;
• Connect the sensor and cable from the floor to the regulator.

To reduce the number of wires, the regulator needs to be positioned close to the wiring.

Insulation of the balcony floor

A significant amount of heat passes through the base plate when the warm floor is operating. Furthermore, these losses will rise dramatically if the neighbors’ balcony below isn’t heated. As such, care should be taken when insulating the balcony floor plate.

The features of the balcony and the ceiling height are taken into consideration when choosing the technology and material for thermal insulation. There are many options in private homes with high ceilings and loggias supported by columns from below; any way works well for any way.

Even though the design elements of the apartments are reflected in the heating quality, consideration must be given to them when selecting the material.

Ceramzite insulation

Expanded clay must cover at least 5 cm of the balcony slab, preferably 20 cm, to have the desired insulating effect.

Because keramzit is a hygroscopic material, it loses its ability to insulate heat when wet and dries slowly. There are multiple varieties, ranging in size from 5 to 20 mm for fractions like sand or gravel. Since it is inexpensive and has qualities that are nearly identical to those of contemporary heaters, it has been used for thermal insulation for a very long time.

The degree of shrinkage is greater, but the indicators of expanded clay are higher the larger the fraction.

Styrofoam

Foam is an artificial material composed of polymers that is resistant to moisture and external factors.

However, because of its lower density, its thermal insulation properties are lower. Despite being inexpensive, foam is frequently installed, but because of its lower durability, it is not advised for use by women.

Extruded polystyrene foam

Solid sheet insulator, extruded polystyrene foam has a standard thickness of 3 to 5 cm. The slabs are strong and resilient enough to support human weight. Installing the heating element and beacons on this material is simple.

Penoplex essentially doesn’t lower ceiling heights, but expanded clay and foam are much more expensive. However, since the balcony’s area is only 3 kV.m. on average, using it is preferable because the costs won’t be high.

Balcony plate insulation with polystyrene foam is an easy DIY project because the process is straightforward and resembles installing any heat insulator:

• The plate is aligned – large bulges are cut off, and the recesses of more than 3 mm are filled with cement mortar;

• polyethylene is spread as waterproofing;
• The damping tape is glued around the perimeter of the balcony, its width is 10 cm – it compensates for temperature expansion;
• Polistyle foam sheets are laid;

• A reinforcing concrete screed is poured with a layer of 5 cm, a plastic mesh is used for reinforcement.

Once the screed has dried, you can start installing the heated floor right away.

Warming of walls and ceiling

The walls and ceiling need to be insulated in order to keep the loggia comfortable without wasting heat.

You can use different types of thermal insulation materials for this, such as polymers or minerals, leaves or rolls, hard or soft.

Mineral wool

Basalt stone is used to make mineral wool. Benefits include low heat conductivity, fire resistance, and a reasonable cost.

Nevertheless, because it is hygroscopic and needs extra protection, it is not advised for balcony wall and ceiling insulation.

Styrofoam

Foam is created by foaming synthetic materials, which makes the finished product porous and light.

It is simple to install, doesn’t rot, and has a low heat conductivity.

Foam polystyrene

Polistyrol foam is a type of foam, but it’s an upgraded and more contemporary model. It is inexpensive, lightweight, uncomplicated in style, and a great heat insulator.

Since polystyrene is one of the heat-related materials that is frequently used today, we will discuss how to insulate the walls and ceiling of a balcony or loggia using it.

The way the walls are finished determines how the insulation is attached to them:

• on PVA glue or other composition in which there is an aggressive solvent;
• with the help of special grinning fungi;
• on wooden rails or metal profile.

Over insulating material, the following finishing is feasible:

• Installation of a reinforcing mesh, with putty, painting or wallpaper sticker;
• cladding with plastic panels or siding.

Option	Installation Instructions
Electric Mat System	1. Clean the surface thoroughly. 2. Lay down the heating mat. 3. Connect the mat to the thermostat. 4. Cover with flooring material.
Hydronic System	1. Install insulation boards. 2. Lay down the tubing for the system. 3. Connect tubing to the boiler. 4. Fill with water and test for leaks.
Infrared Panels	1. Fix the panels securely to the ceiling or walls. 2. Connect panels to power source. 3. Adjust the angle for optimal heat distribution. 4. Test functionality.
Under Tile Heating	1. Prepare the subfloor with proper insulation. 2. Lay down the heating cable or mat. 3. Cover with tile adhesive and tiles. 4. Connect to thermostat and test.

Your loggia or balcony can become year-round comfortable havens by installing a warm floor. You have four options for arrangement, so you can personalize your warm floor to fit your needs and tastes.

First, think about electric radiant heating mats; they are simple to set up and offer effective warmth. These mats provide a seamless heating solution and can be positioned directly beneath tile or other flooring materials. You can customize the temperature by adjusting the thermostat, which controls them.

On the other hand, hot water is used in hydronic radiant heating systems to heat the floor. They can be integrated with current heating systems and offer excellent energy efficiency, despite being more complex to install. Larger spaces are a good fit for hydronic systems, which consistently provide warmth.

For those on a tight budget, electric radiant heating cables might be a good choice. Heat can be dispersed evenly over the floor surface by installing these cables in a variety of patterns. They provide flexibility in terms of design and layout, but they might need to be installed professionally.

Finally, take into account infrared radiant heating panels, which can be installed on ceilings or walls to supply heat from above. These panels are a covert way to heat your loggia or balcony because they are simple to install and run quietly. In addition, they use less energy and can be individually adjusted for comfort.

In conclusion, putting in a warm floor for your loggia or balcony is a wise investment that will improve your comfort and enjoyment of these areas all year long. You will be able to create a warm haven that you can enjoy even on the coldest days, regardless of whether you go with hydronic systems, infrared panels, heating cables, or electric radiant mats.

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