Heaters under a warm water floor. What kind of insulation to put under a warm floor. Benefits of mineral wool

Due to the rapid development of modern technologies for home improvement, various devices are increasingly being used to increase the comfort level of residents. One of these devices is underfloor heating. And for its productive operation and functioning, a number of materials are required, among which thermal insulation occupies a special place.

The task of underfloor heating, regardless of type and configuration, is to ensure uniform distribution of warm air in the room. Since everyone knows that cold air accumulates at the bottom, and heated air rises, the difference in temperatures for a person is very noticeable. The system of warm electric or water floors minimizes these temperature fluctuations in the dwelling, creating an acceptable and comfortable heat exchange.

The main feature of the device can be considered a heat-insulating substrate, which, along with the entire heating system, is responsible for maintaining heat. Among the proposed range of similar products on the modern market there are a number of materials that are used to equip the system.

In order not to be mistaken with the choice of raw materials, one should proceed from the tasks that the products will solve in the complex of the entire installation of underfloor heating.

Among the main functions of the heater, it is worth highlighting the following points:

The presence of thermal insulation reduces the natural loss of heat that escapes through the coldest parts of an apartment or house to the outside or into the ground. In the absence of any materials for insulation, the level of exit of warm masses from the room through the floor surface is 20%.
Due to the laying of insulation, thermal energy circulates proportionally over the entire heating area, eliminating unnecessary heating of floors and other components of the building structure, which are located under the floor.
Due to thermal insulation, you can save money spent on heating your home.
In addition to the main functions, the material provides additional sound insulation, which is important in multi-storey residential buildings.
The properties of thermal insulation products make it possible to create a protective barrier that prevents moisture from entering basements or soil through the floor covering into the dwelling.

Insulation for underfloor heating

Device "warm floor"

Heated floors today are one of the most attractive systems for additional space heating, both in individual housing construction and in apartment buildings. All manufacturers of "water-heated floor" systems, when installing this system, recommend that the floor be thermally insulated in order to prevent the radiation of thermal energy in undesirable directions. In other words, by installing a "warm floor" on a concrete screed, you will not heat the neighbors from below, the basement or the foundation of the house. By laying insulation on concrete under the PENOPLEX ® water-heated floor, you can avoid unnecessary heat losses and energy costs. In most cases, additional waterproofing of PENOPLEX ® thermal insulation under a warm floor is not required, since this material has almost zero water absorption.

This is especially true of the bathroom, since this room is a place with a high level of humidity. Thermal insulation of the bathroom will prevent the formation of condensate, which adversely affects the finish of the room.

Installation instructions:

A layer of thermal insulation of PENOPLEX ® boards is laid on the floor panel. Directly on them, a “warm floor” construct is carried out (according to the recommendations of suppliers). If the hydromembrane is located under a layer of PENOPLEX ® boards, flexible heating pipes can be attached directly to the boards. To prevent cement “milk” from getting into the seams between the insulation boards, the seams must be closed before pouring the screed (glued with adhesive tape);
If a hydro- or vapor barrier membrane is placed on top of the PENOPLEX ® boards for fixing flexible heating pipes, an additional layer must be used to ensure complete waterproofing. Particular attention should be paid to the implementation of expansion joints. In addition, measures should be taken to prevent the formation of heat-conducting bridges at the joints between the plates;
It is not recommended to lay laminate flooring on PENOPLEX ® without a load-distributing screed device. As a screed, you can use both a reinforced screed made of DSP with a minimum thickness of 40 mm, and two layers of plate materials (GVL, DSP, etc.) in the overlap of the joints.

Well-organized warm floor insulation at the construction or insulation stage will bring you a visible bonus in the form of significant savings on home heating, a long period of maintenance-free operation and, most importantly, comfort and coziness for the whole family. Plates PENOPLEX ® are the most optimal insulation for the floor.

How to insulate the floor between heated rooms. The design of the "warm floor"

The role of PENOPLEX ® in the case of operation of underfloor heating between heated rooms is to reduce the degree of radiation of thermal energy in undesirable directions. It is in this case, due to the lack of heat flow dissipation, energy costs are significantly reduced (otherwise, not only your floor is heated, but also the ceiling of a neighbor or basement, respectively).

When insulating floors between heated rooms, including in the construction of a "warm floor" (mandatory), the required thickness of PENOPLEX ® is 40 mm.

Estimated consumption of materials

Oriented consumption of materials when insulating an open balcony with a concrete fence (loggia) with an area of 4 m2, with a ceiling height of 3 m.

What insulation to choose for a water heated floor

Why do you need insulation under water floors
- Plates
- Roll thermal insulation
- Features of laying insulation

Almost every instruction for self-laying a water floor indicates the need to use insulation. The insulating layer helps to evenly distribute heat in the room. Insulation for a water-heated floor reduces heat losses and provides uniform heating of the room.

Why do you need insulation under water floors

According to the installation instructions, it is necessary to include a layer of thermal insulation in the cake under a warm water floor. Although some installation teams miss laying the insulating layer, this is a gross violation of the rules for laying the heating system.

Why do you need a heater at all?

A special heat-reflecting substrate under the water-heated floor serves as a kind of screen that prevents thermal radiation from escaping in an unnecessary direction. Simply put, with the help of insulation, the heating system does not heat the apartment of the neighbors living below, but its own housing.
The use of a substrate serves another purpose related to the peculiarity of underfloor heating. The substrate evenly distributes thermal energy throughout the room, allowing you to stabilize the convection heat flow in one direction and at the same speed of movement.
Heat-insulating mats for a water-heated floor with bosses make it easier to install a water circuit. The device of such a system includes special latches, due to which the laying and fixing of the pipe is carried out quickly and reliably.

Types of heaters for underfloor heating

Although there are a large number of very different thermal insulation, in fact, it can be roughly divided into just two categories.

Plates

This category includes polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam under a warm water floor. The advantage of polystyrene systems is high strength and ability to withstand mechanical stress.

This group should also include a profile mat for installing a warm water floor. The use of a profile system (lugs or guide grooves) is very convenient for pipe laying.

Profile guide mounting mats for a water-heated floor, after laying the pipeline, are poured from above with a small layer of adhesive solution. After drying for 1-2 days, you can start operating the heating system.

Styrofoam for underfloor heating is an unprofitable option. Plates after laying are easily deformed, after which the thermal insulation ability of the material decreases.

Roll thermal insulation

Enjoys well-deserved popularity. Foil reflective thermal insulation for a water-heated floor allows you to reduce the thickness of the "pie". The foil effectively reflects heat radiation.

Foil insulation for a water-heated floor often has a special marking that facilitates the installation of a heating circuit. The thickness of the roll-type substrate does not exceed 1-1.5 cm.

Mineral heaters are rarely laid, since a protective layer will need to be laid on top. It is not advisable to use mineral material for the substrate.

According to customer reviews, one of the best solutions is to purchase a heater such as Teploizol.

You can also use cork insulation. Cork insulation has good performance in terms of: compressive strength, sound insulation and lack of adhesion to cement mortar.

When deciding which thermal insulation material to choose, one should be guided by the technical characteristics of the heated room. Possible disadvantages of the substrate should be taken into account: cost, thickness, maximum allowable compressive load, etc.

How should a water floor cake look like in layers

Preparation of the pie under the floors should be carried out in strict accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation. Installation work is carried out as follows:

Laying a warm water floor on mats, as shown by a comparison of heat-insulating materials (their technical characteristics and difficulties associated with installation), is more appropriate. Permissible load on the polystyrene foam system is 50 kN/m². The weight of the structure allows installation even in high-rise buildings on the last floors, where the use of a concrete cake is prohibited.

In addition, the laminated extruded polystyrene foam with bosses is resistant to moisture, easy to install and facilitates the laying of the water circuit. The only disadvantage of polystyrene material is its cost. But if you consider that plastic mats do not need additional components for fixing pipes, subsequent screed, then the difference in price becomes not so significant.

Thermal insulation for a warm electric floor, which one to choose?

Currently, many install engineering systems in the form of underfloor heating at home. They replace the classical (radiator) method of heating, as well as the use of convectors, heating panels, fan heaters, etc. as heat sources for space heating.

One of the varieties of such a system is a warm floor of the electric type. It is installed instead of the main heating system during the construction of private mansions, repair work in existing residential premises. Electric floors can also serve as an additional source of heat throughout the room or heat the desired spaces (kitchen, bathrooms, nursery, etc.).

The use of warm electric floors in apartments and houses is currently not a tribute to a fashion trend, but a necessity that is caused by such factors:

creation of comfortable conditions;
health care;
economy.

The structure of the electric floor heating

The essence of creating a floor of an electrical structure is laying a special cable, electric heating mats or sections under the main floor covering. A huge plus of such heating is that it can be carried out at will, as well as programmed to turn on and off at a certain time.

A warm electric floor is a complex structure; its performance depends on the correctly selected materials, components and devices, as well as the installation of all components in their place. Insulation is an important component of such a system. Properly selected for specific needs, it will direct and retain heat in the room, help save electricity consumption and household money.

Features of electric floor heating

A well-known fact from the basics of physics: warm air in a room tends to rise to the top, while at the same time it remains cold below. Such fluctuations negatively affect the well-being of a person. You can get a cold, there is a feeling of discomfort. The body will be healthy only when the feet are warm.

The installation of an electric underfloor heating contributes to the uniform distribution of heat, proper heat exchange and the creation of the necessary microclimate in the room. The creation technology is simple, well-established by companies specializing in the installation of underfloor heating. It applies to all types of premises. Such a floor is safe in operation and does not require maintenance during the operation of the system.

When creating an electric underfloor heating, you must adhere to 5 prerequisites:

it must occupy at least 70% of the area of the room in which it is installed;
it is necessary to use a resistive one when arranging - preferably a two-core heating cable, always shielded, infrared film or special electrical mats;
high-quality insulation must be selected and correctly laid;
the screed must be made necessarily sand-cement in compliance with the required proportion, it must be no more than 50 mm thick;
as a floor finish after installation of the electrical system, you can use ceramic tiles, natural and artificial stones, laminate, carpet, parquet and other materials that will match the installed electrical system.

Electric floor systems

Currently, there are electric floor heating systems cable, rod, liquid and film. Cable floors appeared in the 90s. A special shielded cable heats the floor surface to the set temperature. It is set on a thermostat that responds to the signals of a temperature sensor or a special external device that records the air temperature in the room. The heating cable can be mounted in special mats with a certain pitch, which speeds up the process of installing underfloor heating.

A warm electric floor of a rod type is a coal heating element. They are connected by conductors and represent a grid. Each carbon element is a separately functioning device. This is very important - if one of them fails, the rest will work.

The electric fluid system is polyethylene pipes of a certain diameter filled with a heat-conducting liquid, inside of which there is a heating core. The pipes at their ends have a coupling on one side and a damper device on the other. The latter compensates for the expansion of the antifreeze liquid. Such a system is connected to the mains using a special regulator.

A polymer film is a product with heating elements deposited on it, which emits heat in the long-wave range. Film thickness - no more than 3 mm, width - 0.5 ÷ 1 m; it has, depending on the production technology, different heat transfer.

The polymer film is not used for laying under tiles.

thermal insulation requirements

Why do we need thermal insulation (it is also called a heater) when arranging warm electric floors? During the operation of such a floor, heat losses occur, which are associated with the heating of the cable / mat / film and the floor. Laying a special material called heat-insulating will help to avoid heat loss. It will be the basis on which the components of the warm floor are mounted.

In the distribution network, materials with thermal insulation properties are presented in a large assortment, it is not difficult to buy them. They are made from various components in the form of rolls, panels, films and membranes. Not all materials are suitable for creating an electric floor heating. The requirements for thermal insulation material for electric underfloor heating are as follows:

must have a low coefficient of thermal conductivity;
be resistant to high temperatures;
easy to fit and not deform in the process;
must even out small irregularities in the base;
must withstand heavy loads;
have soundproof properties;
withstand the action of aggressive environments;
have a high degree of strength;
do not absorb moisture;
be electrically safe;
be made of environmentally friendly materials (should not release toxic substances into the environment);
have a long service life.

Types of thermal insulation

The main types of thermal insulation

Heat-insulating materials for arranging electric floor heating are made from natural and synthetic raw materials. From a large assortment, the following heat-insulating materials can be distinguished.

Natural thermal insulation is made using a special technology from cork oak bark, which is why it is called cork. Such insulation is supplied to the distribution network in the form of rolls 10 m long and 1 m wide. The thickness ranges from 1 to 10 mm. During installation, there is no need to glue it, it is easy to install, has excellent sound and heat insulation properties, can have a rubberized base, which eliminates the need for additional waterproofing.

Installation must be carried out using heat-reflecting material, as in the design there is no obligatory component of the electric floor, which allows reflecting heat to the floor surface.

Thermal insulation cork

Modern heat-insulating materials of artificial origin for the electric floor include the following products:

Penotherm. It is made of porous polypropylene, has a cellular structure, without marking and with it. The latter facilitates the installation process. A foil made of aluminum serves as a heat-reflecting layer. Depending on the quality of the installation, it can increase the thermal efficiency by up to 70%. Insulation is supplied to the distribution network with a width of 1200 mm and a length of 10 and 30 m, of various thicknesses.

Heater "Penoterm"

"Penofol". Made from polyethylene foam. It has a foil layer 100 microns thick. Available in four types with different surfaces. Penofol type A has a foil surface on one side, type B has a foil surface on both sides, type C has one side foiled, and the other has an adhesive layer, type ALP also has a foil side, and on the other it is located polyethylene film. The rolls have a thickness of 3÷10 mm and a length of 10÷30.

Material for thermal insulation "Penofol"

"Folgoizolon". It is made of polyethylene foam and has air bubbles in its design, as well as a foil layer. It is produced in two modifications: from cross-linked (PPE) and non-cross-linked (NPE) polyethylene foam, differing in service life. For products made of cross-linked polyethylene, it is much higher. Thanks to the material with high technical characteristics, it retains heat well. Supplied with and without underfloor heating markings in rolled sheets of various thicknesses and lengths. It is an ideal heat-insulating material for arranging underfloor heating on balconies, loggias and other cold rooms.

Material "Folgoizolon"

The foil layer must have a lamination.

An additional insulation can be a polyethylene laminated film with markings for underfloor heating. Use products with a thickness of 3 or 5 mm, a width of 1 m and a length of 10 to 30 m.

Insulating film

Mounting Features

Properly selected material for thermal insulation not only makes the stay in the room comfortable, but also reduces the consumption of electrical energy. It depends on the technology for performing electric underfloor heating.

All work on the arrangement of an electric underfloor heating is reduced to the following operations:

ground preparation;
installation of thermal insulation;
installation of heating cable/mats/film;
screed execution;
floor finish installation.

At the stage of preparing the base, it is necessary to dismantle the old screed, level the surface as much as possible (differences should not exceed 10 mm) and clean it from dirt and dust. If necessary, the base surface must be waterproofed.

Before proceeding with the laying of thermal insulation for electric underfloor heating, it is necessary to determine its thickness. It has been experimentally established that over unheated premises it should be 50 ÷ 100 mm, and for interfloor ceilings - 20 ÷ 30 mm. Seams and joints of thermal insulation must be glued with special tape (foiled), between the wall and the screed - damper tape. When laying several thermal circuits with different temperatures, a T-shaped damper profile is used to separate them.

Thermal insulation material is laid not only on the base of the floor, it must be laid along the perimeter of the wall to a height of up to 20 mm.

Installation of electric heating elements must be carried out taking into account the characteristics of the system being laid (cables one or two cores, mats, UV films).

It is better to screed the floor with a sand-cement mortar with the addition of special plasticizers that will prevent cracking. Its thickness should be at least 3 cm. After drying, they begin laying the floor finish. They can be tiles, parquet, linoleum or other types. They are installed according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

Video

A heat-insulating layer under a warm electric floor is not a luxury, but a necessity. It will help to evenly distribute heat from the heating elements, save it and direct it in the right direction. Poorly executed installation at any stage of creating electric underfloor heating will entail negative consequences. This will affect comfort, increased energy consumption and, as a result, waste of money.

The choice of insulation for a water heated floor

The device of a water heated floor requires competent design and strict adherence to technological standards. The choice of insulation is one of the important points. Consider the main types of heat-insulating materials, their properties and characteristics.

Which heater is better

The heater is an obligatory element of a heat-insulated floor. Without it, the system will not be economical, and most of the energy will be wasted on heating the underlying floor or ground floors. This issue is especially acute when arranging the system on the ground.

So, what heat-insulating materials should be used when installing water-heated floor systems? In general, any material that meets certain characteristics is acceptable. First of all, it must be distinguished by a sufficient level of thermal insulation, also be resistant to moisture and chemicals from the concrete screed, and have sufficient rigidity.

In one way or another, all these requirements are met by such materials:

expanded polystyrene (polystyrene);
extruded polystyrene foam;
mineral wool boards;
foamed polyethylene (penofol);
natural cork.

Let's consider each of them in more detail.

Styrofoam

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is popularly called Styrofoam. This material is obtained from polystyrene by foaming. In addition to polystyrene itself, the composition of the insulation includes a large number of additives and modifiers that improve its properties. Thanks to foaming materials, up to 98% of the volume of PPS consists of air bubbles.

Consider the characteristics and properties of expanded polystyrene. The heat transfer coefficient, which is the main characteristic of thermal insulation materials, in expanded polystyrene varies from 0.030 to 0.047 W / m ° C. It depends on the manufacturer and on the density of the material. PPS is produced in different densities, on which the rigidity and weight of the material depend. In this case, the thermal conductivity depends little on the density.

Expanded polystyrene refers to combustible materials. Also, when heated to a relatively low temperature (about 80 degrees), harmful substances can be released from it. Other features of this material include:

resistance to fungi and microorganisms, but the material can be destroyed by rodents;
PPS poorly absorbs water (not hygroscopic), which is convenient when it is installed in a wet screed.

Expanded polystyrene is convenient to use and is often used in underfloor heating systems.

Extruded polystyrene foam

Extruded polystyrene foam (EPS) is a type of expanded polystyrene. It is produced in the same way as PPP, the only difference is in the method of obtaining granules. Its characteristics include low thermal conductivity of 0.029 - 0.034 W / m ° C, not high hygroscopicity.

Various types of XPS are produced, with a density of 25 to 45 kg / m³. In terms of thermal performance and lightness, it surpasses expanded polystyrene up to the PSB-35 grade and is similar to the characteristics of high-density PPS.

This material is tougher, better resists mechanical stress than expanded polystyrene, so it is more convenient to use and it is less destroyed. The main disadvantage is its higher price.

Please note: Both XPS and ordinary polystyrene foam are produced in a special modification for underfloor heating, in which a system of special grooves and channels is made on the upper edge of the plate for laying a floor heating pipe. This simplifies the job.

Mineral wool boards

Rigid rock wool slabs are sometimes used for underfloor heating systems. Its characteristics are similar to ordinary mineral wool. The difference is in rigidity and ease of installation. The main positive characteristics of mineral wool include:

zero flammability - the material is not exposed to high temperatures;
high soundproofing characteristics;
good thermal insulation properties;
chemical resistance.

Rigid mineral wool boards with a density of 175 to 200 kg/m³ are used for screeding, the thermal conductivity coefficient of which is about 0.039 W/m °C. The main negative property of mineral wool is hygroscopicity and vapor permeability. Because of this, when installed in a wet screed, they require careful hydro and vapor barrier.

Foamed polyethylene

Recently, polyethylene foam has been used for thermal insulation of underfloor heating. It is a rolled material with a thickness of 3 to 10 mm. Foamed polyethylene can also be foil-coated on one or both sides. Foiling allows you to create a reflective layer for infrared rays. The use of foiling allows you to reduce the thickness of the required heat insulator.

However, there is a nuance: the reflection of infrared rays by such a layer is difficult in a solid body, such as a cement screed. But still, the use of such material can significantly save on the height of the screed. This will not reduce the height of the room.

According to its thermal characteristics, foamed polyethylene is similar to expanded polystyrene and other materials. The thermal conductivity coefficient of this material in a dry state is in the range of 0.037 - 0.049 W / m ° C, while it must be borne in mind that the foamed polyethylene absorbs water, while its thermal insulation properties decrease.

It is also important to know that foil can be corroded by chemicals in the concrete mix. To eliminate this problem, many manufacturers produce sheet material that is coated on top of the foil with special polymer films.

Natural cork

For water-heated floor systems, a natural heat-insulating material is also used - cork. The heat transfer coefficient of cork is 0.034 and is similar to the best artificial materials. The main positive characteristic of cork is naturalness. It does not include foreign chemical additives and harmful substances.

The main disadvantage is the high cost. The use of natural cork in a cement screed of a warm floor is justified mainly by its naturalness. But the question arises: is it worth pouring expensive and natural material into cement.

Cork is a relatively hygroscopic material. It can absorb up to 12%. In order to protect against getting wet, the cork insulation must be closed with a dense layer of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride film with or without foil.

"Pie" underfloor heating

After analyzing the possible types of heaters for a water-heated floor, we will analyze the composition directly, the so-called pie. After all, the quality of the system depends not only on the correct choice of insulation, but also on proper installation. In what order are all layers of a water-heated floor mounted?

The order depends on what the system is mounted on. If the underfloor heating device goes to the ground base, then first of all it is advisable to arrange a rough concrete screed, on which the cake will be laid further.

insulation of the required thickness, and when installed on the ground, the thickness of the insulation can reach 150 mm, and for ordinary floors, the thickness of the insulation is selected up to 50 mm;
if the insulating material is not covered with a protection on top or a pipe laying system is not arranged on it, then it must be covered with a vapor barrier film to protect it from moisture from the cement mortar (except for foam plastic and XPS);
further, a special panel for laying pipes or a reinforced frame is installed to create rigidity;
the pipeline is attached to the frame or to the panel.

The whole system is ready for pouring the screed and installing a decorative floor covering.

Underfloor heating scheme.

When choosing a heat-insulating material for a water-heated floor, you need to focus on financial capabilities and availability. For most applications, extruded styrofoam or conventional styrofoam boards will do. If it is not possible to arrange a thick screed, polyethylene foam is used. Mineral wool boards are more often used when installing a system in a wooden floor. But it is also possible to use it in a cement screed. Cork - for connoisseurs of natural materials.

Hello dear blog readers! Agree that spring is long-awaited, it's good: everything is awakening, everything is striving further, into warmth, into summer. And then suddenly - bam! - winter returns, with frosts, snowfalls, strong winds. The vagaries of the weather, after all, have not yet been canceled. That is why a human dwelling should be doubly a fortress, so as not to tremble in the cold, and not to languish in the heat from stuffiness. But now about the first - about the cold. Let's think about warm floors again, this time about water floors. And all because today we are interested in a heater under a warm water floor.

What is this insulation for? Reasonable question, let's try to answer. Thermal insulation under a warm floor helps heat in the room to be distributed evenly. Roughly speaking, a warm floor resembles a kind of layer cake, and heat-insulating material is a very important component of this “dish”. If there were no insulation, the functioning of the heating system would be ineffective, and the system itself would hardly be distinguished by durability in operation. That is why any floor that has underfloor heating must be provided with insulating materials.

Let's sum up the preliminary results. So, insulation (thermal insulation) solves several problems:

With its help, heat energy is evenly distributed throughout the room. This is especially true for a water-heated floor, since its heating system consists of pipes bent in some places, and without a layer of insulation, heat cannot evenly flow into the room.

Thanks to thermal insulation, heat practically does not leave the premises. In other words, the insulation does not allow heat to "leak" through the ceiling and be wasted - it accumulates it.

In many cases, thermal insulation helps to simplify the installation of underfloor heating.

With the general concepts like sorted out. Now let's move on to the technical details: they are no less important.

The thickness of the insulation plate under the warm water floor

I must say that the material from which the insulation is made can be different. The most famous is polystyrene foam. In some of its properties, it is similar to polystyrene, but its performance is much more practical. Mineral wool, ecowool, cork material and others are also used for insulation.

But not only the properties of the material used for insulation affect the performance of thermal insulation and its ability to retain heat. An important role is played by such a parameter as the thickness of the heat-insulating layer.

Since we are talking about insulation under a warm floor, it does not make sense to pay attention to climatic conditions when determining the thickness: the heating system of the warm floor itself levels out climatic contrasts. However, there are still certain rules. So, if expanded polystyrene is used, it is recommended to use a sheet with a thickness of at least 30 mm. In addition, for the greatest efficiency and maximum density, the sheets are reinforced with a polymer sheet, which contains a reinforcing mesh.

By the way, polystyrene foam insulation for the floor with a water heating system can be bought ready-made, with special markings. Such sheets are completely ready for use, it remains only to remove the excess. By standard, they are square with a side length of 50 cm.

It must be remembered that underfloor heating is not just pipes “hiding” under the floor covering and heating rooms. In fact, this is a multilayer system, and the full operation of the warm floor as a whole depends on the quality and correct installation of each layer. If such a floor is deprived of insulation, then during the winter it may well lose approximately 25% of heat. Agree that this is a lot. That is why high-quality thermal insulation is so necessary.

Insulation under a warm water floor on a draft concrete floor

A good insulation for a water-based warm floor is, in particular, penoplex. Its sheets are laid out on a primed concrete base, covered with polyethylene, which acts as a waterproofing, and after that the heating elements are mounted.

I must say that the use of underfloor heating (water heating system) when installing thermal insulation will make your floor resistant to moisture and extend its life. What does an effective water floor with maximum results ultimately consist of? Here are the ingredients:

Rough concrete floor or screed to keep heat from sinking and escaping.

The thermal insulation is foiled so that the heat, reflected, returns back to the room. The use of foil thermal insulation significantly reduces heat loss, which leads to an increase in the temperature in the heated room.

Insulation, which, while maintaining the maximum amount of energy, reduces electrical costs. We spoke in detail about the electrical costs from a warm floor once in an article - I advise you to read it.

Thus, the same “pie” mentioned above is obtained, but with the correct “filling”, therefore useful and durable.

How exactly it is necessary to install a heater under a warm water floor, how it looks and how it happens, can be seen in the photographs we have proposed. It is on top of the heaters below that the underfloor heating system is laid in the future.

Are you equipping a water-heated floor system in a country house and it's time to lay an insulating substrate? Agree that among the variety of offers of heat-insulating materials offered by manufacturers, it is sometimes not easy to make the right choice.

We will help you determine which insulation for a warm water floor is better. Together with you we will deal with all the intricacies of assembling heat-insulating systems. We explore the characteristics of popular materials, evaluate the key advantages and disadvantages.

Independent home masters will find installation instructions with us. To make it easier to navigate the assortment offered by the building materials market, we have selected videos with recommendations for choosing insulation and installation.

Any instructions for installing a water-heated floor for independent craftsmen indicate that it is necessary to use a heater.

The layer of insulation in the arrangement of the water floor performs several significant functions. It helps not only to ensure uniform heating of the room, but also, acting as a heat shield, can significantly reduce the energy losses of the system.

The screed laid over the insulating layer acquires the properties of a one-piece heat transfer element having a large surface area.

The main purpose of the insulating layer is to evenly distribute heat in the heated room, preventing it from leaking through the floor slabs.

Due to the uniform distribution of energy, an ordered convection heat flow begins to move at the same speed and in the same direction. As a result, evenly distributed heat waves will not form cold and hot spots on the floor, creating the most comfortable conditions for households.

In addition, due to the direction of warm air flows in one direction, it is possible to reduce the energy costs for operating the system, while maintaining its capacity unchanged.

Heaters for creating a warm water floor allow you to save energy. They reduce heat loss by 15-20%. Their main task is to prevent the penetration of radiant energy into the ground, lower rooms or the basement.

In the overall system, a heater for a warm floor performs several functions. It does not allow unnecessary heat loss, ensures uniform distribution of heat. In addition, any material becomes an additional noise barrier.

When reviewing options, it is important to consider the key features of underfloor heating insulation:

low coefficient of thermal conductivity;
resistance to dynamic and static loads that will occur during operation;
shape stability;
long service life.

In addition, thermal insulation for underfloor heating must be fire-resistant and safe.

Manufacturers offer a wide range of heaters that differ in structure, thickness and characteristics. When choosing, one should take into account the features of the room where the underfloor heating system is being installed, a possible increase in the height of the structure, and thermal insulation characteristics.

Popular materials

Styrofoam. Foamed polymer material. It is distinguished by good thermal performance, low weight and affordable price. Plates do not decay and do not pass moisture. The disadvantage of expanded polystyrene can be considered relatively small soundproofing performance.

Leading manufacturers offer a special insulation for underfloor heating with bosses. Thanks to special protrusions, laying water floor pipes is not difficult. The material is characterized by increased strength characteristics, has protection against condensate. Foil mats are also on sale.

Foil mineral wool. Insulation under a water heated floor is offered in the form of rolls or dense slabs. It is made from natural raw materials and belongs to the class of non-combustible materials. Especially popular are basalt mats, which are characterized by high shape stability. When working with them, a minimum amount of dust harmful to the body is emitted. The main disadvantage of mineral wool insulation is increased sensitivity to moisture. When wet, they lose their insulating properties. The presence of a foil layer reduces this probability.

Natural cork. Thermal insulation for a water-heated floor is made from the bark of a cork tree. By pressing, a thin roll material 3-4 cm thick and dense mats are obtained. The heater is characterized by:

safety - the insulation is environmentally friendly and hypoallergenic;
good indicators of heat and sound insulation;
resistance to the processes of decay and destruction by rodents;
geometry stability;
waterproof.

Almost the only drawback of natural cork is its high cost.

Penofol. This type of thermal insulation for a warm water floor is made on the basis of polyethylene foam. The polymer layer is covered on one (type A) or two (type B) sides with aluminum foil. A self-adhesive version (C) is also available. If it is planned to pour a concrete screed, then the ALP type should be used in the underfloor heating system - the foil layer is laminated with a polyethylene coating.

The air present in the structure prevents heat loss, and the metal surface contributes to its reflection into the room. The total thickness of the insulation does not exceed 10 mm. Compact rolls are easy to transport and stack.

Metallized lavsan film. Non-combustible floor insulation, which has ideal reflective performance. The material is inert to aggressive chemicals and microorganisms.

Waterproofing indicators guarantee the protection of the system from the penetration of moisture from the basement or the ground. The film is elastic, has sufficient strength to deformation, tolerates high loads.

The metallized layer is often supplemented with foamed polyethylene with a thickness of 2 to 10 mm. This improves the thermal insulation performance, but reduces the flammability class of the material. Lavsan film withstands temperatures up to +90 °C without destruction and deformation. This allows pipes to be laid directly on top of it.

The main characteristics of heaters are given in the table:

Insulation Performance	Styrofoam	Mineral wool foil	Cork	Penofol	Mylar film
Thermal conductivity, W/m K	0,0336-0,035	0,035-0,045	0,036-0,042	0,037 - 0,052	0,031-0,037
Moisture absorption %	0,2-0,4	0,1-0,2	1	0,35-0,7	0,1-0,2
Vapor permeability, mg/m h Pa	0.05	0,49-0,60	0,2-0,6	0.001	0.001
Flammability, class	G1-G4	NG	G1	G1	G1
Service life, years	50-100	over 50 years		20-25
Operating temperature range, °С	-50 – +85	-200 to +700	-200 to +130	-40 to +95	-60 - +100
Sound absorption coefficient, %		85-90			52
Noise absorption, dB	23-28		10-12 for black, 16-20 for white	20-32

Manufacturers and prices

High-quality heaters for warm floors are offered by many leading manufacturers. Some options are suggested in the table:

Type of insulation	Brand	Options	Cost, rub. per m2
Styrofoam	Knauf Therm	1200x600x47 mm	500
Ecopol		1100x800x38 mm	455
foam shield		1000x1000x50	270
Mineral wool foil	URSA (fiberglass)	roll 18000x1200x50 mm	115-168
Rockwool (basalt)			342
technical traffic jam	Amorim	1000×500×10mm	560
Penofol	Penofol	roll type A (B)	47 (78)
Mylar film	Daewoo Enertec	roll 1x30 m, thickness 3(5)mm	139

Styling features

In order for the underfloor heating system to function effectively, it is important to correctly complete all the installation steps. An important role is played by the laying of insulation. Work begins with surface preparation:

fixing large cracks;
base leveling;
arrangement of waterproofing- the material is laid over the entire floor area with an overlap of 15-20 cm, the joints are glued with adhesive tape;
installation around the perimeter of the room damper polystyrene foam tape. It is glued to smooth walls, and to rough walls it is attached with self-tapping screws. The tape should be 2-3 cm higher than the finished floor.

After that, proceed to the laying of thermal insulation. Plates are laid end-to-end, without gaps. To avoid the formation of cold bridges, the joints are treated with a sealant. The fastening method depends on the chosen material.

The subtleties of the connection of insulation with a foil base

Heaters with foil are stacked with a reflective surface up. This ensures the efficient return of heat energy to the interior of the room. During the installation process, care must be taken to correctly connect the individual plates or strips. Ordinary construction tapes and adhesives are unsuitable. You should use a special version of foil tape, with an adhesive backing.

Conclusion

Insulation for a water-heated floor allows you to effectively store heat and guarantee a reduction in energy costs for heating. Additionally, they serve as soundproofing. The materials are presented in a wide range. The choice should be based on the characteristics of the premises and personal preferences.

A warm floor includes several structural elements, each of which is important in its own way. It is highly undesirable to exclude even those layers that some seem redundant. In particular, we are talking about thermal insulation, whose main task is to reflect heat from the floor surface into the room.

If this layer is neglected, the efficiency of the entire system will be very low - the main part of the heat will go to the floor slabs. The lower floor will be heated to a greater extent than the one where the underfloor heating is installed. What should be the thermal insulation and how to choose the right insulation for a warm water floor, you will learn from our article.

Why insulate floors

Structurally, a heater for a warm floor is a heat-reflecting surface that prevents the movement of air masses in a certain direction. In simpler terms, this is a screen that keeps heat inside the room and prevents it from penetrating to the lower level. If there is a substrate, you will not have to heat the neighbors' apartment or the underground.

The second main mission of the substrate is to uniformly distribute heat waves over the surface. In the absence of this layer, heat will come only from the pipe and the floor itself, according to tactile sensations, will be unevenly heated with cold and hot areas. The foil material stabilizes the convection flow.

In addition, modern heat-insulating mats are equipped with special fasteners for easy installation of the circuit. It is enough to lay the tubes according to a certain pattern, fix them with clips, and then proceed to the screed or flooring method. In general, this method cuts installation time in half.

The choice of material thickness is associated primarily with the height of the ceilings in the room. If the height is more than the standard 260 cm, you can give preference to thick-based insulation - extruded polystyrene foam, polypropylene, cork, etc. At a height of up to 260 cm, a metallized lavsan or a thin foil cloth should be used as a substrate.

Varieties of thermal insulation materials

Insulation for a water-heated floor, the cost of which largely depends on the brand of material and its quality, can be very diverse. I would like to highlight the most common types of thermal insulation sheets that are used to install hidden heating systems.

It is produced in the form of mats with a closed cell structure (foamed polyethylene, made by extrusion). Due to its unique composition, it provides not only protection against heat loss, but is also a good sound and noise insulator.

Polypropylene slabs for underfloor heating have good strength characteristics, and are also quite elastic, so they lend themselves well to processing during installation. They withstand critical temperature values ranging from -30°С to +130°С.

Feature of this model - environmental safety. The cork backing is supplied in rolls, which, in turn, makes it possible to use the amount of material that is necessary for equipping a particular room. In other words, there is no need to glue multiple sheets together.

At the same time, I would like to note an important point: the scope of the cork cloth is limited by the height of the ceilings in the room (its installation is characterized by raising the floor surface by 30-40 mm) and a rather high price. Taking into account the fact that cork fiber is produced as a one-component heat insulator, it becomes necessary to additionally use a ray-reflecting layer.

One of the most affordable and at the same time high-quality elements for insulation. In addition to good thermal insulation qualities, such a heater under a warm floor is an excellent sound and noise insulator.

This building element has excellent performance characteristics and is a coarse-fiber fabric made from rocks, glass and slag. In addition, some varieties of mineral wool are also resistant to self-ignition, and also perfectly repel moisture.

Styrofoam

This model of a heat insulator is recognized as the most suitable for internal heating units, where a pipeline with hot water acts as a source.

Extruded polystyrene foam has many advantages:

increased strength characteristics along with low weight;
affordable price;
durability;
resistance to aggressive substances;
moisture resistance;
resistance to critical temperature conditions - from severe frosts to sultry heat;
ability to resist fungal infections and mold;
ease of operation.

VIDEO: How to properly insulate floors with polystyrene foam

Contributes to the creation of reliable protection against deformation and damage to the floor surface when interacting with an alkaline environment, which prevails in the cement screed base.

A metallized lavsan film base, which prevents energy loss, is laid over the entire surface, on which the heat element will be mounted in the future.

The use of foil insulation, the price of which depends on its thickness and its quality, makes it possible to reduce heat loss and increase the efficiency of the internal heater.

Benefits of a foil backing:

smoothing surface irregularities;
providing improved sound insulation;
moisture resistance;
acceleration of the warm-up process;
creation of a uniform distribution of heat energy, because the heating sources are located at a certain distance from each other, and thanks to this fiber, the coating warms up not only above them, but also between them;
promotes the removal of heat from the carrier, avoiding its overheating.

Experts recommend using polystyrene foam boards, since this material has excellent performance characteristics. As a rule, for the insulation of internal heating units, polystyrene foam with a thickness of at least 30 mm is taken.

Thanks to the widest choice and innovative technologies, today in hardware stores and online sites you can buy insulation for a warm water floor already with a marking grid, which simplifies the installation process according to the chosen scheme. There is no need to do markup manually, spending a lot of time on it.

Properly installed floor heating installation is the key to keeping the heat inside the room. The assembled unit without the use of insulating materials loses on average up to 30% of heat, which completely eliminates its advantages and increases the heating bill. Therefore, in order to reduce the cost of paying electricity bills and preserving heat, you need to use a reliable and high-quality insulation under a water-heated floor.

The scope of heat insulators is quite extensive. With the help of such materials, it is possible to insulate the basement, balcony, attic, loggia and other rooms that need it. The only thing is that the thermal insulation sheets presented above are not suitable for finishing external facades.

The “correct” installation of interfloor ceilings requires the mandatory installation of heat-insulating materials.

Otherwise, sooner or later, condensation will begin to form on the floor surface and in areas where the floor is in contact with the outer wall joists. The increased amount of moisture that accumulates on the inside of the floor can provoke the appearance of mold and fungal infection, which, in addition to the ugly aesthetic appearance of the decorative coating, exude an unpleasant odor. And this, in turn, will negatively affect both the heating structure itself and the health of the people living in the house.

Insulation for a warm water floor is endowed with a special operational ability. It consists in reducing, where there is no need for it, the radiation of heat energy. This means that the heat flow will be directed to the heated room itself, and not pass through the interfloor and wall ceilings. Thanks to this, it is possible to reduce energy costs during the operation of the heating unit.

We hope our advice will help you choose a quality insulation sheet that will help you create an efficient indoor heating installation.

VIDEO: What you need to know about thermal insulation of water floors