When you think about heated floors, you probably associate it with heated tile, particularly on bathroom floors. Not all people may be aware of this, but electric floor heating can be installed in almost any flooring type, not just tiles. It also brings benefits that go beyond conventionally tiled rooms such as the kitchen or bathroom. One of the most popular choices for homeowners who wish to have underfloor heating is laminate flooring. Most laminate flooring can handle up to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, which is just enough since anything above that temperature can make the wood warped or discolored.
So how do you install heated floors under laminate? Laminate flooring is usually installed as a floating system. It’s not designed to be fastened to the subfloor. Electric floor systems have two types, those that need adhesive and those that don’t require it. A floating floor system just like laminates has to be paired with a floor-heating product that doesn’t require adhesives. These products are usually in the form of rolled mats that are spread out on the floor and carefully cut in order to be shaped to fit the room for installment. Fortunately, it’s easiest to install this type of floor heating since it doesn’t need a thinset or self-leveling compound.
First, it will help to understand how electric floor heating works. Compared to traditional home heating systems, which rely on forcing heated air throughout a structure in order to warm it, electric floor heating makes use of wires that heat themselves up via electric resistance. It makes use of radiant floor heating. The wires radiate heat upwards into the flooring material, which then radiates heat to the solid objects in the room. It’s like an electric blanket for your flooring.
Each room installed with electric floor heating usually has its own thermostat, unlike furnaces and other forced-air heating systems. This radiant floor heating system makes it easier for you to customize the levels of heat per room. You can install floor heating in every room in your home, but most people would do so only in rooms that would benefit from extra heating.
The benefits actually go beyond extra heating. The air located in a duct system is a poor heat conductor. In comparison, solid objects are much better at conducting heat, making electric floor heating more energy-efficient for your home. Also, forced-air systems blow contaminants and allergens around your home, which can have a negative effect on your health. This isn’t a problem with electric floor heating since it doesn’t rely on blowing air. If you’re suffering from allergies, you’re better off working with a heated floor system.
There are three ways to install electric heating as an underfloor heating system — via cables, mats, or film. A heating cable system involves separate wires configured to a separate membrane. This allows you to customize the location of the heat. The wires have to be strategically placed close together without overlapping since you can’t cut the wires.
When it comes to mats, which are cables and membrane in one combination, you can lay down the floor heat without having to worry about placement. You can’t cut the cable here either, but the membrane can be used for L-shaped rooms.
As for radiant floor heat film, it’s the same as a pre-built electric mat sans the mesh. The system is contained in a plastic membrane that can be cut to length. This means you can roll out the film and install it in straight directions.
Installing electric floor heating under your laminate flooring involves six stages:
Do you want to heat up your laminate wooden floor using radiant heating? Do you know how to handle related tools and equipment such as hydronic system, vapor barrier, junction box, and floor sensor? Let Zothex Flooring help you with this and your other wood flooring needs. It pays to have a trusted partner to help you choose the right laminate floor and radiant heat system for your home and all the other work that comes with electric underfloor heating.
Zothex Flooring deals with other floor types as well, including vinyl flooring (vinyl floors or vinyl plank), hardwood floor, bamboo flooring, ceramic tile floor, and engineered wood floor. Call now and let Zothex Flooring lend you a hand in remodeling and redesigning your home.