Film floor: types and reviews

For the first time an infrared film floor appeared on the territory of our country a decade ago and gained unprecedented popularity. And this is understandable, because it has a lot of advantages, namely: does not overdry the air, but, ionizing it, kills bacteria and neutralizes unpleasant odors. Such a substrate is easy to assemble, and installation work can be done independently, moreover, it does not take much time and effort.

What is infrared?

The heated floor heating is:

1. Warm film (infrared) - one of the most popular methods of floor heating, which has the following characteristics:

• Ideal for cosmetic repairs in the apartment and does not require additional screed;
• The design of the canvas allows you to save a lot of space;
• Suitable for laminate and carpet covering;
• Energy saving up to 20% compared with analogues;
• Has a simple system of the device: it consists of a thermal film based on carbon heating elements with a cross section.

2. Warm carbon (infrared) - an innovative product. It is mainly used for floor heating in large rooms and on open terraces. Here the heating unit is a granite-silver rod.

3. IR warm core film floor is presented in the form of a grid formed of flexible rods, which serve as heating elements. All rods are isolated from each other with a cable with high insulation values. The film floor of this type has such characteristics as reliability, durability, resistance to mechanical influences. Installation of the IC floor is carried out in the screed and in the glue for tiles.

Varieties of IR floor by mounting type

The film floor by types of installation is divided into five types:

1. The rod infrared floor is laid under tile or porcelain tiles. Laying a warm floor under a tiled covering, do not forget to lay a reflective substrate under it, which will help to increase the efficiency of heating.

2. Mounting the infrared film floor under the linoleum, select systems with limited power - up to 150 W / m ² .

When using the most powerful systems, there is a risk of strong heating of linoleum, which can lead to such consequences:

• Local swelling of linoleum;
• Changing the color of the floor covering (fading);
• With strong heating - the release of phenol, a substance harmful to human health;
• Softening and mechanical damages of linoleum in certain areas where the floor covering gets warmer.

Experts consider the infrared film floor as one of the best options for mounting under linoleum:

• It is easy to assemble;
• He is able to work actively for a long period of time;
• This design is notable for mobility;
• It is easily disassembled and transported in case of moving.

Important! When planning to install a warm floor in the house, count the heating only on the surface where there is no furniture. The constant influence of warm temperatures on furniture leads to a rapid decommissioning.

Do not forget about the need for a substrate under the floor. On top of the film floor, it is necessary to put a plywood sheet or a thin chipboard.

3. Installation of IR floor for laminate. When installing a warm floor, you should approach the work with responsibility, since the laminate is sensitive even to small temperature differences. Specialists recommend choosing the IR film floor for installation. This is the most optimal option. Installed under the laminate film floor, does not require special preparation of the surface, and the need for installation in the screed when working with such heating disappears.

Important! Lay the heat insulator below the film warm floor under the laminated covering, so as not to heat the ceiling to the neighbors from the bottom.

4. For warm mounting under the carpet, the warm floor is best suited. The material itself has thermal insulation properties, so the heating temperature will have to be raised a couple of degrees from time to time. Between the concrete and the film, it is essential to lay a heat insulator to reflect heat. The advantages of IR for carpet are as follows:

• Uniform heating of the entire area of the room without the risk of deformation of the floor covering;
• Simplicity in installation;
• A gentle mode of IR radiation, which does not harm people and animals, does not spoil the furniture.

5. Film coating for floor heating in the loggias. The use of a balcony or a loggia as a room for an office, a recreation area or a storage room has been gaining popularity more and more recently. Therefore, there is a need for the insulation of the balcony space, not only from the outside, but also inside.

Before the beginning of the work on the insulation of the floor, heat and waterproofing of the walls is carried out and only then the installation of the warm floor begins. This ensures maximum energy savings. As a rule, the balcony is covered with a film warm floor under the carpet covering or laminate. As a heat insulator, penoplex is used.

Features of IR floor: universality

Due to its versatility, IR warm floor can be made in any room. The main thing is to correctly determine the installation technology, which depends on the operational characteristics of the room. IR substrate is laid under any floor covering, but the best heat is carpet, linoleum and laminate.

To ensure that the floor covering does not deteriorate under the influence of heat rays, try to select special types of coating suitable for this purpose.

Installation

The warm floor is easy to assemble. This is one of its main advantages. Before installing the film floor, determine the heated area. This will reduce future expenses.

Remember that properly installed warm floor will not have a negative impact on the surface that reacts to heat and furniture. It is easy to mount by yourself: for this you do not need special tools and skills, only patience and compliance with the instructions.

Ergonomics

The popularity of the warm floor is due to low power consumption and a more even distribution of heat. Therefore this type of heating displaces to the second plan bulky heaters.

Interesting! If you insulate 75% of the floor in a room, most likely, there will be no need to use central heating. The heat emitted by the IR film will be sufficient not only for heating the floor covering, but also for maintaining an optimal temperature regime in the room.

Mobility

The mobility of the structure is determined by the materials used for the manufacture. The heating elements in the form of a cable are well insulated and flexible, so this substrate is easy to transport, easy to lay and easy to store.

Exploitation

Technical characteristics allow repair and replacement of individual sections of the warm floor. Damaged elements can be partly replaced, thereby prolonging the service life of the IR floor. This move will save money and time.

The service life of the film floor is more than 20 years.

What are the pros and cons of the coverage of the owners?

Advantages of a film warm floor

1. It is not necessary to make a cementitious screed on top of the film, you can immediately put a floor covering on it.
2. Due to the small thickness of the film does not affect the level of the floor in the apartment.
3. The film floor under the laminate or any other coating has the lowest level of energy consumption.
4. Relatively low price, which makes such heating method preferential in the choice.
5. Simplicity and ease of installation.

Disadvantages of the film floor

1. The floor in the room should be more or less flat, otherwise there is a risk of malfunctioning in the form of uneven heat distribution.
2. Connect a contact to the film does not always work out the first time, especially if you are a novice in this business. After making a mistake, cut off the damaged contact and try to connect to the other one.
3. Using such a surface, you can not be sure of absolute fire safety.

The film floor has its advantages and disadvantages. Before making a choice, think carefully about which type of heating is most suitable for you. It is best to consult specialists, to ask friends who have already installed a film floor at home. Feedback from those who already use it, too, can serve as a clue in the choice.

The topic of mounting the infrared film warm cover is extremely developed. Buyers are not lazy to leave feedback, which shows that this method of heating is popular with people and becomes preferable in choosing.

The market of Russian manufacturers, taking into account the harsh climate of the region, tries to create a film floor with IR heating, which supports the optimal mode. Therefore, the choice of a warm floor is an excellent solution and an advantageous investment in the repair of an apartment or house.