Insulation under a warm water floor - the thickness of the insulation plate on a draft concrete floor. The choice of insulation under a warm floor Laying insulation under a warm water floor

What kind of insulation to put under the floor heating system? Let's find out what are the popular types of thermal insulation materials, their strengths and weaknesses. I will talk about 5 options for insulation, which I personally used during the repair process.

Types of materials and their description

Popular thermal insulation for underfloor heating:

• Styrofoam;
• extruded polystyrene foam;
• Mineral wool;
• Penofol;
• Mats heat-insulating assembly for a heat-insulated floor.

Option 1 - foam

The most popular option due to the following advantages:

• Availability. The material can be purchased at almost any hardware store;
• Cheapness. The price per square meter is from 100 rubles per square meter;

• Large range of products. You can purchase material with a density of 15 to 35 kg / m 3 and a thickness of 20 to 200 mm. For use on the floor, I advise choosing options with a density of 20 kg and a thickness of 30 mm;

• Versatility. The material is suitable for water, infrared and electric underfloor heating.

The option also has disadvantages:

• Low material strength. Under high loads on the floor covering, the surface may be pressed through. To avoid this, it is necessary to make a screed of at least 6 cm;
• Installation inconvenience. It is difficult to tightly connect the sheets with your own hands, so the joints must be filled with mounting foam or the sheets must be fixed on the surface.

The process of floor insulation looks like this:

Illustration	Stage description
	Styrofoam is laid on the floor. The material can be laid without preparation on concrete screed, slabs or rough wood decking. The most important thing is to place the sheets tightly so that there are no gaps between them.
	Elements are fixed with dowels. Special fungi are used for fixing thermal insulation. All cracks are filled with cement mortar or mounting foam.
	The film is laid. The process is simple: the material is covered with 10 cm overlaps on the walls; joints are glued with ordinary tape.
	Foil is covered for infrared systems. Reflective material can be used for other types of floors, but it is not required. Penofol is often used instead of foil, it creates a reflective surface and makes the surface even warmer.
	A warm floor is laid on top of the insulated surface. It all depends on the type of construction. The surface is prepared with high quality and is suitable for any systems.

Option 2 - extruded polystyrene boards

Extruded polystyrene foam or, as it is also called, Penoplex, is an improved version of polystyrene. Its main advantages are:

• High thermal insulation performance. Penoplex is 40% warmer than conventional foam plastic, which allows the use of thinner elements for insulation;

• High strength. Of all the thermal insulation materials that I talk about in the review, this one is the hardest and most durable. Therefore, Penoplex is ideal for rooms with a high load on the floor;
• Convenient connection system. The presence of grooves on the ends allows you to join the sheets very tightly. This increases the effectiveness of insulation and simplifies the work, you just need to combine the elements until they stop;

• durability b. The service life of the material is 50 years or more. Extruded polystyrene foam is not afraid of moisture, mold, chemical attack.

Of the significant disadvantages, one can be distinguished: high cost. A square meter of insulation 5 cm thick will cost you 250-300 rubles.

Installation instructions are simple:

Illustration	Stage description
	Penoplex is laid on the floor. The sheets are just tightly joined to each other. The elements are trimmed along the edges, narrow sections can be laid in pieces, after which it is recommended to carefully fill all the cracks with mounting foam.
	Reinforcing mesh is laid a. If you are laying insulation under a warm water floor, then you can use this work option. It is simple, because you need to put a grid, and you can immediately attach underfloor heating pipes to it. It is convenient and reliable.
	It is possible to lay reflective material under the reinforcing mesh. This option allows you to reflect heat into the room, so I recommend not saving and putting a layer of foil or Penofol on the surface.

If you are laying an infrared floor, then the foil is not covered over the Penoplex, but over the screed, after pouring the surface under the heating mats, so the system will be much more efficient.

Option 3 - mineral wool boards

This version of insulation for underfloor heating system has the following features:

• High quality insulation. Mineral wool has good thermal insulation characteristics and is excellent for constructions in which complete insulation of the cold surface is of the greatest importance;

• Compatibility with all materials. If styrofoam and extruded polystyrene foam are not well suited to wood, then mineral wool is an excellent solution in all cases. For wooden floors, it is recommended to use mineral wool;
• Environmental friendliness. The material does not emit any harmful substances into the air, is not damaged by rodents and does not support combustion.

The disadvantages are:

• High price. For a square meter of high-quality mineral wool 5 cm thick, you will have to pay around 250 rubles;
• Low moisture resistance. The material must be carefully protected from water, otherwise a fungus may occur over time.

The workflow looks like this:

Illustration	Stage description
	The surface is waterproofed. A polyethylene film can be laid on the surface. If you have a wooden base, then it is better to put a vapor-permeable membrane. The material should go on the walls by 10-15 cm, the joints must be glued with adhesive tape.
	Mineral wool is laid. The material is tightly packed on the surface. When cutting pieces, make them a little larger than necessary, this will allow the elements to fit tightly. Lay a damper tape along the walls immediately to create a deformation gap.
	If you have a wooden structure, mineral wool is laid between the beams. The material may be below the crate or be flush with it. Subsequently, the surface is covered with moisture-resistant slabs and the underfloor heating system is already laid on them.
	Foil is laid on top of the mineral wool. The material is placed with laps of 10 cm at the joints and the obligatory gluing of the joints with foil tape. This results in a continuous reflective surface that is suitable for both water and electric underfloor heating.

Option 4 - Penofol

This material is different from all the previous ones. Its main advantages are:

• Cheapness. For a square meter of material with a thickness of 5 mm, you will pay about 50 rubles;
• Ease. 40 square meters of Penofol weigh only 8 kg. It can be laid on any structures without weighting them;
• Efficiency. Foamed polyethylene has high thermal insulation characteristics. The reflector on the front side ensures the preservation of heat inside the room. That is, it turns out that the foil on the warm floor is combined with a heater;

Penofol - material based on polyethylene foam with a reflector on the front side

• Choice of options. The material may have a thickness of 3 to 10 mm.

The cons are:

• It is not worth using this option as a full-fledged heat insulator in the private sector;
• It is better to combine two materials, for example, extruded polystyrene foam 3 cm thick and Penofol 5 mm thick. This is quite enough to create a very high-quality insulation;
• Before laying this material, it is necessary to prepare the surface.

The workflow looks like this:

Illustration	Stage description
	Waterproofing material is laid on the floor. The film is glued at the seams and put on the walls to a height of about 10 cm, the excess is easily cut off later.
	Penofol is laid on top of the film. It is positioned in the same way as the film. It is important to carefully straighten the material so that it lies without folds, and adjacent panels do not overlap each other. If you already have insulation installed and you need foil under a warm floor to create a reflective effect, then I recommend using Penofol instead. Due to the polyethylene layer, it is stronger and more durable.
	Joints are glued with special tape. This is a metallized adhesive tape with foil, which allows you not only to fasten Penofol, but also to create a continuous reflective surface throughout the room.
	An underfloor heating system is laid on top of the insulation. It all depends on the option you choose. Next, the screed device is made.

Beacons are placed on top of the structure and a screed is poured. The minimum thickness of the solution layer above the insulation elements is 30 mm, the maximum is 60 mm. This allows you to make the floor reliable and efficiently transfer heat from the system to the room.

Option 5 - special heat-insulating mats for underfloor heating

This option has the following advantages:

• Convenience. The product is a sheet of extruded polystyrene foam, in the upper part of which there is a profile with grooves or bosses for laying underfloor heating pipes. The size of the recesses is made for a standard metal-plastic pipe with a diameter of 16 mm, so the laying work is carried out very quickly;

• Choice of options. The thickness of the insulating layer can be from 20 to 70 mm. The configuration of the upper part may also differ, although this is not a fundamental point;
• Fast installation process. The work takes a little time due to the fact that you quickly and efficiently lay pipes, and then you can lay tiles or lay flooring without additional preparation. If desired, you can pour the screed, this also happens quickly and easily.

The disadvantage is the high cost, you will have to pay 300 rubles per square meter. But when you consider how much easier the process is, the costs are worth it.

The working process:

Illustration	Stage description
	The floor surface is leveled. For this, cement mortar is most often used. The fewer flaws there are, the easier it is to lay a flat floor with minimal time. If plywood or OSB boards (oriented strand board) will be laid over the mats, then pay special attention to leveling.
	Preparing damper tape. The roll is unwound, the protective layer on the adhesive strip is removed from the back, you don’t need to remove a lot, separate about a meter, then the film is removed as it is laid.
	The tape is glued to the walls around the perimeter. The material is gently pressed to the surface, pay special attention to the corners. The tape is cut with an ordinary construction knife.
	The first row is laid along the wall. The photo clearly shows that there is a special protrusion at the junction that tightly connects the elements and prevents them from moving, providing a reliable and even base for the underfloor heating system. Docking is carried out carefully so as not to damage the connection.
	Laying is done over the entire surface. If a strip needs to be cut somewhere, it can be used on the other side, thanks to the connections, when using these mats, there is almost no waste left.
	The pipe is laid. It is simply guided along the line, it is most convenient to push it with a light step of the foot.
	The pipe is laid over the entire area. Thanks to the bosses, you can easily place the warm floor correctly and do not bend the pipe. Next, the floor covering is laid or the screed is poured.

If it is not necessary to insulate the floor under the heating system, you can use mats without a layer of insulation. With their help, installation will be much faster than on an unprepared surface.

Conclusion

Using the review as an instruction, you can easily select the insulation under the warm floor and lay it correctly. The video in this article will help you better understand the important points of the workflow. If something still remains unclear, ask in the comments.

"...Heat-insulating layer
The main purpose is to prevent downward heat loss. The heat must go up into the heated room. It can be made from any materials allowed in construction as a heat-insulating layer for use in floor construction.

Whatever material the thermal insulation layer is made of, the following condition must be met:

The thermal resistance of the thermal insulation layer must be greater than the total thermal resistance of the heating layers (including the finishing coating) at the maximum thermal load on the water-heated floor.

The greater the heating load, the thicker the thermal insulation layer.

The higher the thermal resistance of the finishing coating, the thicker the thermal insulation layer.
Polystyrene is the most common heat-insulating material in modern construction. It is recommended to use polystyrene with a density of at least 35 kg/m3. Lower-density polystyrene is not resistant to mechanical stress, collapses with careless use and loses its mechanical and thermal insulation properties, especially when, against the background of ongoing general construction work, a long time passes from the end of the installation of pipes of the water-heated floor circuits to filling them with a screed. Polystyrene with a density of 50 kg / m3, as well as extrusion, is used in systems with high mechanical loads (car centers, warehouse complexes with heavy loaders, heating roads, etc.).

ATTENTION! Russian manufacturers (for the most part) produce polystyrene according to TU, and not according to GOST: the numbers in the product name (for example, PSBS-25, PSB-35) do not indicate the density of polystyrene. The actual density, as a rule, is "one step" lower than the figure appearing in the brand. Be careful when choosing materials. ..."

On the ground from 8-10 cm of polystyrene foam. Interfloor ceilings - 2-3 cm of expanded polystyrene.

Everything else you can safely FORGET.

Pro foamed polyethylene 2 mm )]) with foil incl.

Foil saves only a few percent.

Foil, not protected by a film, collapses in concrete in 2 weeks.

Those. in the basement, you can use Extruded polystyrene foam URSA XPS, 50x600x1250mm, pl. 35kg/m3

And on the floors of floors with a thickness of 3 cm?

Or is it worth just in case in the basement put thicker? and put 5 cm 35 kg / m3 on the floors?

And give advice which screed is better to lay down 3 or 5 cm? and lay down a tile or a laminate on top with what will be warmer? I just read a person's tile floor is very hot and the laminate floor is not even warm.

Advise more pipes, otherwise the company offered me prices from 0.45 euros to 1.25 euros per 1 meter of pipes, so which ones are better to buy, so that they heat up warmly and are durable?

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 several 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 thermal insulation, the price of which depends on its thickness and its quality, makes it possible to reduce heat losses 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 it is this material that 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 up to 30% of heat on average, 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

In this article we will talk about the insulation for a warm water floor, its thickness and styling features. Now very often in houses you can see such a heating system as underfloor heating, because it works efficiently and creates comfort.

A very important component is thermal insulation, which performs many functions, so it must be given special attention. The main task of each floor is the uniform distribution of heat over the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room. Incorrect distribution of temperature can even lead to colds.

In order to avoid problems, and your heating system worked efficiently, we will review the thermal insulation materials.

The need for thermal insulation

Thermal insulation is a structural element that reduces the transfer of heat. Also, the term can mean materials for the implementation of such elements or a set of measures for their arrangement.

With the development of civilization, when the struggle for heat ceased to be so acute, massive hearths and Russian stoves were replaced by central heating batteries, and turf, moss, felt and tow were replaced by new heat-insulating materials. However, even now the problem of saving heat remains acute.

There are several reasons:
• To heat hundreds of millions of square meters of poorly insulated dwellings, it is necessary to spend a lot of money on fuel, and its fossil reserves are not endless.
• Secondly, in recent years, the anthropogenic impact on the environment has increased, the progressive development of the "greenhouse effect", not least caused by emissions from the combustion of coal, oil and other energy carriers. Therefore, it is necessary to look for new effective materials and methods of thermal insulation.

After the introduction of new building codes that tightened the requirements for thermal protection, the correct use of high-quality thermal insulation has become an urgent need. In construction today, modern heat-reflecting materials and technologies are used to save heat more efficiently.

It is on it that the energy consumption of the floor in operating mode and the reduction of heat loss to a minimum depend.

The main function of thermal insulation is:
1. Prevention of heat loss through the subfloor.
2. Thermal insulation under electric floor heating provides uniform heating of all elements, with further heat transfer to the floor covering over the entire surface.
3. Since there is a qualitative distribution of heat, this significantly reduces energy costs.
4. It creates additional sound insulation, which is especially important in an apartment building.
5. If there is an unheated room or soil under the floor, then thermal insulation eliminates the penetration of moisture and cold from below.
6. If the electric insulation under the warm floor is selected and laid correctly, then the entire underfloor heating pie turns into a closed thermal zone in which heat spreads in the right direction and in a uniform flow.

Reducing heat loss, saving energy, preventing the appearance of mold or fungus are important tasks that are solved by a floor insulation device. In an ordinary house, up to twenty percent of heat can escape through the floor, since heat goes into the ground through insufficiently insulated floors.

The thermal insulation device allows not only to reduce these heat losses, but also to use the heat capacity of the floor more efficiently. If the floor has a low temperature, then moisture may condense on its surface, at the interface between floors and walls.

And this can lead to the appearance of mold and fungi, which adversely affect building structures, as well as the health of people in the room.

By properly designing the structure and performing thermal insulation of the floor, these phenomena can be prevented. Maximum efficiency can be achieved by additionally insulating both the ring beam, the plinth, and the basement wall.

In other words, good thermal insulation of floors should be organized in rooms whose floors are close to the ground or in contact with outside air. Also, thermal insulation is recommended for the floors of those rooms that separate heated rooms from unheated ones.

So you can solve three problems at once. The first is to reduce heating costs, the second is to reduce environmental pollution, and the third is to create comfortable conditions for people to live in the room.

The modern market for heating systems offers ready-made heaters designed specifically for electric floors. Currently, there is a huge range of heat insulators on the market. But not all of them are suitable for underfloor heating.

Although, if you add some protective films or membranes to their use, then there will be much less problems with the choice. Manufacturers approached this issue from a professional side. They make heaters specially designed for laying under a warm floor.

There are still few of them, but they meet all quality and safety standards:

• Penofol

This is a type of polyethylene foam coated with a foil layer. The reflective surface is the main requirement when choosing thermal insulation, since it is it that directs heat waves towards the ceiling.

The material is devoid of any pores, dense enough to withstand heavy loads, and there are 4 types:
1. The foil surface is only on one side.
2. The reflector covers both sides of the material.
3. Self-adhesive has foil on one side and special glue on the other.
4. One side of the material is covered with polyethylene film, and the other side with foil.

• Extruded polystyrene foam (foam)

It is the most popular insulation for underfloor heating. This is due to its high strength and heat-insulating properties. Its structure does not change under the influence of high temperatures and does not emit harmful substances.

• Leaf cork

This is the highest quality, natural, durable, environmentally friendly heat-insulating material. He:
1. not subject to decay;
2. fireproof;
3. does not change its structure and volume when heated.

The only disadvantage of cork sheets is their high cost.

These are the main types of thermal insulation that can be laid even under the screed. Choosing one of them, you need to focus on indicators such as strength, sheet thickness, durability and heat-insulating properties.

Extruded polystyrene is one of the best options for modern thermal insulation. Its structure is uniform and consists of small closed-type cells 0.1-0.2 mm in size.

Extruded polystyrene foam is one of the derivatives of polystyrene, obtained by mixing under high pressure, at high temperatures, polystyrene granules and a foaming agent (carbon dioxide and freon mixtures).

Externally extruded polystyrene is a rigid board with a high level of strength and excellent thermal insulation properties.

The material began to be produced more than sixty years ago. And, despite this, today it can be called a universal insulation of all times and peoples.

One of its first advantages is a wide range of applications, both in civil and private construction.

The second advantage of this material is its unique technical parameters:
1. the lowest thermal conductivity among thermal insulations;
2. high compressive strength;
3. chemical resistance
4. waterproof and vapor tight;
5. resistance to the formation of mold and fungi;
6. environmentally friendly material.

As a result of ongoing tests, it has been proven that the characteristic properties of extruded polystyrene do not change as a result of repeated freezing and thawing. This makes this material almost ideal for the territory of Russia.

Today, the construction market offers a wide range of this product. The choice will be yours. Here are just some of the popular brands: Penoplex, Europlex, Technoplex and many others.

For the basic basis of our knowledge about extruded polystyrene, the following rule will come in handy:
• for insulation of the 1st floor, the thickness of the plate must be at least 50 mm;
• everything above the first floor is in the range of 20-30 mm.

So, given this information about extruded polystyrene, you will be able to choose the right insulation for your floor.

Extruded polystyrene foam mats with shaped molded channels are, of course, cool and very convenient to install, but, unfortunately, they cost like an airplane wing.

Penoplex is one of the best floor insulation due to its technical characteristics. The installation technology of such material is quite simple and does not have any nuances, so laying foam on the floor is possible even with your own hands.

This type of insulation is produced in plates with different thicknesses. The most common width is 600 mm, with a length of 1200 and 2400 mm. Thickness starts at 20mm and ends at 100mm. One package contains from 4 to 20 sheets, depending on their thickness.

The most important advantages include the following:
1. does not absorb moisture at all;
2. low thermal conductivity and vapor permeability;
3. does not emit harmful substances;
4. not afraid of microorganisms;
5. high strength characteristics.

Properly laid penoplex on the floor under the screed will not allow cold, moisture, excessive noise to enter the room, it will be an excellent shield even in the frosty season. However, penoplex is afraid of solvents and high temperatures, and its price is quite high.

But, even despite this, the material is gaining more and more popularity among other heaters, replacing mineral wool and polystyrene.

Penofol is a material made of foamed polyethylene, which simultaneously performs the function of heat and vapor barrier. In addition, the foil layer welded on top of the polyethylene reflects thermal radiation. The material has no pores - this means that it does not let air through and, therefore, communicates the properties of a thermos to the insulated structure.

Where can it be useful? When warming baths and saunas, which should be a repository of hot and humid air for as long as possible. Also cold floors, for example, a concrete base on the ground floor of the building and a warm floor system device.

Roll material made of foamed polyethylene, on top of which a foil layer is applied. This is a reflective surface that repels heat rays from itself, thereby providing better heat transfer from the underfloor heating system.

The most important thing is that this insulation is quite dense and does not have pores in its body. This is a material that works on the principle of a thermos.

Currently, manufacturers offer four types of it:
• Type "A". The reflective foil surface is located on one side of the material.
• Type "B". The foil layer is glued on both sides.
• Type "C". On the one hand, a reflective foil surface, on the other, an adhesive solution. This type is called self-adhesive.
• ALP type. Foil on one side, plastic film on the other.

Any of these types can be used as thermal insulation for water or electric underfloor heating. Here it is important to choose the right thickness of the material, which varies between 3-10 mm. The foil layer itself has a standard thickness of 100 microns.

Important. Please note that this insulation must be laid on floors with the foil side up.

Now to the question of choice. The type and thickness of the heat insulator for underfloor heating is determined depending on the finishing material that will cover the floor base. For example, if it is decided to lay ceramic tiles on the floors, then cement-based tile adhesive will be used.

Everyone knows that cement is a chemically active material, under the influence of which some metals begin to corrode. Our aluminum foil is no exception.

But it was not in vain that manufacturers trimmed heaters for underfloor heating with a layer of 100 microns. This thickness allows you to withstand the reaction of the cement mortar, leaving part of the layer in its full form.

Thick insulation on underfloor heating is usually used in areas such as attached balconies and loggias, on terraces, in showers and bathrooms. Heaters of smaller thickness can be laid in other residential and office premises.

But in any case, the thickness of the heaters is selected based on whether the screed on the floors has already been poured or not. If it is already flooded, then in order not to raise the surface too much and lower the ceilings, a thinner insulation is used.

Thermal insulation for a warm floor of this type withstands loads of 200 kg / m² and at the same time increases heat transfer up to 15%. Both are excellent results. We also note that foil insulation for water and electric floors is the cheapest option. And this is another big plus.

In rooms where the ceiling height reaches 260 centimeters and above, you can safely give preference to heaters on a rigid polymer base.
The basis for the manufacture of heat-insulating plates can be foam or expanded polystyrene.

The first option was created in a non-extrusion way, there are channels between its polymer cells for the passage of air and steam. Polyfoam is characterized by low specific gravity, as well as high vapor permeability. In the manufacture of expanded polystyrene, the extrusion method is used, due to which the cells of the material are firmly sintered by the walls with each other.

The vapor permeability of the insulation because of this is practically zero. But it has high strength and the ability to withstand significant mechanical loads. The specific heat capacity of expanded polystyrene is slightly higher than that of polystyrene. In the first case, it is equal to 1.34 kJ / (kg ° C), in the second, 1.26 kJ / (kg ° C) is calculated.

The difference is small, but in the calculations it can significantly affect the overall thickness of the floor heating system. The standard size of Penoplex heat-insulating sheets, for example, is 120 cm × 240 cm. GOST number 15588-86 regulates the width from 50 cm to 130 cm, the length from 90 cm to 500 cm.

The density of foamed polystyrene is 150 kg/m³, the same characteristic of foam plastic is 125 kg/m³. Depending on the specifics of production and the properties invested by manufacturers in products, the characteristics of materials may vary.

If we compare both types of material, then the foam is disadvantageous in that it is inferior to the extrusion counterpart in terms of density. Due to this, it is less resistant to deformation under the action of mechanical loads.

From this, its thermal insulation properties are significantly reduced. Styrofoam is recommended to be laid in the structures of flooring systems between the joists.

The most important step in finishing any room is the insulation of floors. Many people underestimate the amount of heat loss through the floor, but a properly selected insulation allows you to save up to 30% of energy on heating.

Especially large savings are achieved when using a floor heating system, which simply needs to be insulated from below so that it does not heat the floors or the ground.

Choosing the type of insulation that best suits your space is only half the battle.

It is important that the insulation layer be of sufficient thickness, because even the best insulation will not provide sufficient thermal insulation if it is laid too thin. On the other hand, an excessively thick layer of insulation reduces the height of the ceilings in the room and is an unjustified waste of money.

Basic coefficients of thermal conductivity of insulating materials	λ, W/mK
Ecowool	0,040
Mineral wool URSA	0.052
Mineral wool ISOVER	0.048
Stone wool Rockwool	0.045
Stone wool Ragos	0.045
Hard min. cotton slabs	0.085
Styrofoam	0.041
Foam glass	0.12
Styrofoam	0.05
Expanded clay gravel 800	0.21
Expanded clay gravel 200	0.11

What should be the thickness of the floor insulation? It is important to understand that the required thickness of insulation depends on the climatic conditions in your area. Obviously, when using the same insulation in houses of the same type in Sochi and Norilsk, completely different layer thicknesses will be required.

If you live in a milder or more severe climate, then the recommendations need to be adjusted up or down. Consider the main types of thermal insulation and the required layer thickness when used in various types of floors.

Factors (TP - warm floor)	Insulation thickness
TP above a heated room in which the air temperature is not lower than 18 degrees	30 mm
TP above a heated room with an air temperature of 10-17 degrees	50 mm
TP above a heated room with a temperature of 0-10 degrees	70 mm
TP over an unheated room	100 mm
TS on the ground in the basement or basement floor with a depth of less than 1.5 m	120 mm
TS on the ground in the basement or basement floor with a depth of 1.5 m or more	60 mm

The substrate mounting scheme depends on the type of materials used. But in any case, it must be placed on the most even surface.

• No. 1 - slab laying technology

The substrate, constructed from boards with mounting chamfer, is assembled easily - according to the principle of the designer. Plates are easy to fit and measure. You can cut the plates to the appropriate dimensions with an ordinary knife.

The ease of laying the substrate is convenient because during installation at any time you can change the configuration of the contours and the length of the pipelines. So that the plates of the material do not move relative to each other during installation and operation, their joints are glued with construction tape.

The sequence of actions when laying insulating boards:
1. Styrofoam plates are laid on a cleaned and leveled base, fixing them with special plastic brackets, anchor dowels or planting them on an adhesive composition.
2. A foil layer is laid on top of the stacked and docked plates.
3. The top layer is lined with a reinforcing mesh, on which pipes are subsequently mounted.

If the concrete screed of the base floor is poured with significant deviations from the level, or has gross cracks and irregularities, or the concrete slabs are laid with violations, it is better to build a frame before laying the substrate. For this, wooden logs are assembled from a dry and even beam with a section of 50x50, 50x100 or 100x100 mm.

Logs are placed at an equidistant distance of 60 cm, cuts of mineral wool or foam boards are laid between them

A distance of 60 cm between the lags is considered the best option, since this “step” does not require the creation of an additional crate. The main thing is that the logs are located in the same plane and lie strictly in level.

Thermal insulation boards must be tightly packed between wooden joists. If there are gaps - they must be blown out with mounting foam.

• No. 2 - installation of roll materials

The laying of the roll material is carried out on a carefully leveled base and fixed to the base base using tile adhesive or double-sided tape.

Cutting strips of the required size is performed with ordinary clerical scissors. To compensate for the thermal expansion of the screed, it is recommended to place the foil layer with a slight overhang on the wall.

The foil material is placed with the metal side up so that the metallized surface best reflects heat.

When laying rolled materials, they are guided by the marking of printed mounting markings. It defines the distance between the contours. Usually, rolled materials at the edges have allowances for a foil polymer film to allow the connection of adjacent sheets.

When laying cuts, special attention is paid to expansion joints. To do this, the joints of the laid strips are glued with one-sided construction or metallized adhesive tape.

If a cork coating is used as a substrate, then before laying it, it is necessary to take care of reliable vapor and waterproofing.

• No. 3 - mat mounting scheme

The stage preceding the laying of mats is the arrangement of film waterproofing. After laying it around the perimeter of the room, strips of damper tape are glued along the bottom of each of the walls.

Mats are laid on the prepared base, fastening the plates together by means of a locking system. To securely fasten plates of small thickness and light weight, an adhesive method is used and plastic harpoon brackets are used.

Some manufacturers, for ease of installation, complete with mats, apply edge strips, with which it is convenient to mark the exit areas from the heating zone

An important point: when laying mats, it is not allowed to use metal fasteners, since it can damage the integrity of not only the heat insulator, but also the waterproofing.

The choice of the optimal base for the thermal insulation substrate depends on your capabilities. Yes, a good underlay is not cheap. But it will significantly increase the functionality of the equipped water floor system.

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, °C	-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	Parameters	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.