Underfloor heating under a tile - which is better?

Ceramic (tile) tile today is considered as one of the most popular materials for the final floor covering. According to its qualities, the tile is universal at the request of both the builder and the owner - it is waterproof, neutral to chemically active substances, wear-resistant, does not need constant additional processing, relatively inexpensive. And when decorating special rooms (bathroom, kitchen), you can rely, except for expensive natural materials and synthetics, only on tiles. However, at the household level, ceramic tiles are not very convenient - first of all, due to their cold resistance. The feet of the residents of the apartment, in which the floor is tiled, will freeze with the corresponding consequences. The most likely way out of this situation is to make a warm floor under the tile. Which is better from the existing options - consider this issue in this article.

to contents ↑

Types of underfloor heating

In almost all cases when the house is going to lay the tiled floor in living rooms, zealous owners think about the warm floor. Fortunately, modern structures are not very difficult and quite safe. There are several options for choosing a warm floor for tile:

• Liquid underfloor heating based on the construction of a system of pipes from home water heating;
• Electric heated floors with appropriate heating technology;
• Electric heating systems with infrared principle of heat transfer.

to contents ↑

Water heating

The water heated floor basically has a closed pipe structure underneath, located in the concrete frame of the floor, along which warm liquid moves, usually water from a separate or central heating system.

Important! This form of floor heating can be used as a leading source of heating, and be as an additional system. Concrete base, when it is made in compliance with all technological requirements, is a good base for pipes.

The technology is quite simple:

• On a concrete basis, it is necessary to lay an effective heat-insulating layer to save heat. It should go only up.
• A solid base that does not allow the insulation layer to move and, mainly, becomes the support of the pipes. It is best made of strong metal.
• Pipes with heating fluid.
• The device controls the state of the liquid circuit and temperature level.
• The surface concrete layer has a multifunctional purpose. Concrete covers and protects the entire structure, collects the heat generated by the pipes and distributes it throughout the floor, making the tile warm. Heated concrete can be a source of heat for a long time, which saves energy. The thickness of the concrete layer should reach 3-5 cm.
• Tile (ceramic) tiles are placed on the concrete layer, so the concrete should be relatively even. It is not worthwhile to achieve an ideal surface, since minor flaws can be corrected during the laying of tiles.

Disadvantages of the water floor

Underfloor heating with a warm liquid (water) carries many positive aspects. But, unfortunately, there are also many negative consequences. Here are some of them that appear during and after installation:

• complexity and high complexity of installation operations;
• sufficient financial burden;
• difficulty in circulating hot water;
• failure of non-metallic hoses during crimping.

All this leads to the fact that it is much more often used less dangerous during operation and not such a laborious installation option using electricity from a household network. The popularity of this path is already visible. that there are several construction options.

to contents ↑

Pros of electric underfloor heating

When you finally decided to make an electric underfloor heating for ceramic tiles, you should immediately think about what purpose you will be installing it for.

Important! The essence of the electrical network in the floor is based on the use of a special wire that heats up when an electric current is connected through it. The operation of modern technologies for heating the apartment allows you to maintain a normal temperature in the winter.

How to choose a heated floor electric under the tile?

• First you need to solve for yourself the problem with the electric floor - this is a leading or auxiliary heating source.
• Another problem is closely related to the first - how much complexity and labor intensity you can afford. After all, the overall scale of the work, although it does not reach the level of the water floor, but, nevertheless, it will be necessary to produce a cement layer with a thickness of almost ten centimeters.

In everyday practice, two technologies are used to install an electric floor, each with its own difficulties:

• cable installation;
• special mats.

Important! You need to understand that if you decide to make electric heating a leading source of heat, then only a cable is allowed for this. Electric mats can not withstand such an operation, it is suitable only for auxiliary heating.

From your decision, what type of heating you need to choose for a warm floor under a ceramic tile, the methods of construction will be significantly different.

Cable heating

Laying wires under ceramic tiles is the classic direction of a warm floor when heated by electricity. This heat supply is more efficient and economical. In this case, heat is distributed evenly on the floor.

Important! In practice, this is the best tile underfloor heating. Typical power consumption reaches 120 W / sq. m, while electric mats spend 160 W / sq. under the same conditions. m

When installing this heating option, the presence of a cement screed - the wires for heating are placed in it, the cement thickness is at least 3 cm, the normal one is 5-7 cm. This layer provides a more uniform and long-term heat distribution after the system stops working.

Important! For the bathroom in the apartments, the installation of a cable floor is mainly used, since this provides the danger of a circuit when water appears on the floor - the cement layer perfectly hides the cable from liquid.

It should be borne in mind that if you rely on the electric floor as the main source of heat, it needs to occupy two-thirds of the premises. Wires must be placed close to each other.

There are two main types of cable loops:

• in one wire;
• in two wires.

The difference lies in the method of connecting to the thermostat. A single-core cable must be connected at two ends, a two-core cable from one, and it does not matter where the wire ends.

Features of the process:

• It is optimal to create the cement base of the floor even during the construction of a new building or during the period of major repairs.
• After the cement screed has hardened, it is necessary to do thermal insulation. A layer of insulating film is placed on the cement, only after that other work is carried out. Installation of an additional layer saves a large amount of heat and saves energy.
• The wires are distributed at a specific distance from the wall, they should not be under the home furniture, the location of which is determined in advance. When the heating is mounted on the ground floor or as the main heating system, the cable is placed with high frequency.
• After installing the wires, you can fill the circuit with cement. The inclusion of the operating mode is possible only after the cement has dried. The approximate period of work and setting of cement is 4 weeks.

Electric heating mats system

A less effective, but easier and less laborious method of floor heating is the use of special mats. Once again, it should be noted that the systems can only be used as a source of additional heating

Heating mats are made as already prepared sections or cloth, on the latter an ultra-thin wire is designed. Mats are placed on an existing screed on a special glue or a thick layer of cement - up to 1 cm.

Important! Most often, glue is used for such cases, since when it is used, dirt is almost not released.

Installation of heating mats is simple - the sections are placed on the floor, notching the grid in the necessary places. Then the circuit can be connected to the thermostat. The work is over.

Important! A heat insulating layer when using such a technology is not needed. The transition to the operating mode is possible after the glue hardens - this is about 5 hours.

Electric floor selection

Existing in various forms, modern trade advertises already constructed options for electric underfloor heating. They will cost a little more, but they save time and help a lot if you have poor skills in electrical and construction work.

A ready-to-install kit is usually sold in a box. Each of them has the recommended area printed on the footage of wires or mats.

Important! The emerging scope for the territory follows the following reasons - a minimum of meters is used in the installation of a leading heating source. At the same time, do not forget that:

• It is impossible to reduce the area below the specified length - then a general overheating of the wires is possible, which will cause unnecessarily short circuit operation.
• The maximum value of the indicators can be used for additional secondary heating. As a rule, when installing the floor using averaged indicators.

Before installing a heated floor on an electric heating system, you must first determine whether your home network is able to service such power. But even if the answer is yes, it is better if a separate line exists for heat sources under the floor.

Electric floor heating with infrared function

When you are planning how to mount a heated floor under ceramic tiles with electric heating, using a short time and a minimum of labor, the infrared floor is the best solution.

Important! The main advantage of such a system is that it is easy to install and can be connected to the network without waiting for the hardening of cement or glue.

The essence of this technology is based on heating various things, the situation located in the room, from the inside. Infrared film can be placed under different surfaces - ceramic tiles, laminate, as well as attached to the walls or even the ceiling.

Important! When installing, you must remember that the film sticks at a quarter meter distance. You can arrange the infrared floor, ignoring the arrangement of furniture.

The device evenly heats the floor, various things in the room, those, in turn, also transmit heat. Infrared streams do not reduce the atmosphere in the apartment, which is essential when someone in the family suffers from ailments of the respiratory structure.

With the loss of the working state of one of the parts, the floor retains the possibility of exploitation. If necessary, the floor can be mounted on another site.

In general, the following characteristics of the infrared film are guaranteed:

• moisture resistance;
• mechanical stability;
• protection against electric current.

Important! Contrary to popular belief, this film is durable and strong. The period of operation of such a floor reaches 30 years, the warranty, as a rule, lasts 15 years.

to contents ↑

Stock footage

When you are looking for the best tile underfloor heating, you involuntarily pay attention to the fact that each technology has its own chip - the original method of heating, ease of installation, low cost, and operating time. On the other hand, each has its own drawbacks. Therefore, a consumer planning to install a warm floor needs to take into account positive and negative phenomena, only then purchase a finished structure or individual elements.