Electric underfloor heating for the balcony. Underfloor heating on the balcony: ways to insulate the balcony

Heated floors on the balcony are a very comfortable solution. In this article, we will consider in detail what type of underfloor heating is best suited in this case, how to insulate the floor and the balcony, and of course, we will give instructions for installing a do-it-yourself underfloor heating system with photo and video materials.

The area of the balcony / loggia in any apartment is a significant part of the total living space. Leaving her uninhabited is like giving up a tenth of her salary. But to give the balcony the status of a living space, you will need to organize a warm floor there.

Types of warm floors

There are three types of underfloor heating:

Water heated floor. In such a system, the coolant will circulate through pipes located in the screed. Water heated floors have a visible attraction - hot water can be taken from the central heating system. But in fact, there are such "pitfalls", overcoming which is similar to the "Pyrrhic victory":

Lack of autonomy. It is not possible to heat the floor until the heating season starts.
The temperature of the heat carrier in the batteries is ≈90°C, and in water heated floors it should not exceed 27°C. Those. a complex cold water mixing system is required.
Legal aspects. It is legally prohibited to connect water heated floors to the central heating system without special permission from the housing office.

Electric heated floors. There are two options: film(or infrared) and cable. In cable underfloor heating, the heating element is a special cable, which is poured with a screed. This type of floor heating is ideal for tiles.

The film warm floor, due to the specifics of the heating element, manifests itself much more efficiently without a screed. And this option is optimal for soft floor coverings: laminate, linoleum, carpet.

For the above reasons, we will consider the installation on the balcony of only electric underfloor heating on the balcony.

Balcony / loggia insulation

The warm floor on the balcony will work effectively only with good insulation. The realization that it will be necessary to insulate not only the floor, but the walls and ceiling, is the most important component at this stage. Heat must not only be produced, but also stored. And without high-quality thermal insulation, this is impossible to achieve.

Here are some important rules if you are doing this work for yourself:

Do not exchange for mineral heat insulators. They are afraid of water and very fragile. The only representative from this line that will give odds to any other thermal insulator is foamed glass. But its price has overtaken its positive reputation.
From polymer heat insulators, stop at EPS (extruded polystyrene foam). According to its physical indicators and operational characteristics, it has no equal.
Window frames on the balcony should be double glazed.
When mounting the frame on the walls of the balcony / loggia, use a beam. Unlike a metal profile, it does not conduct heat, which will prevent the appearance of cold bridges.

To insulate the walls of the balcony, you will need:

Sheet EPPS, 50 mm thick.
Foil polyethylene foam.
Drywall.
bar 50x50 mm.

The order of work is as follows:

A crate of timber is arranged on the walls 50x50 mm., with a step between elements of 60 cm.
XPS sheets are attached between the bars.
From above everything is closed with foil polyethylene foam. The joints are glued with adhesive tape with their own hands.
The entire structure is sheathed with plasterboard.
The seams are spattered.

IMPORTANT: The walls are insulated only after the floor is insulated.

Floor insulation

Regardless of which heating element will be integrated into the floor, the insulation is carried out in the same way. This will require:

Sheet extruded polystyrene foam, 5 cm thick.
Multifoil.
Special tape.
Several bricks.
Mixture for the preparation of masonry mortar.

Small explanations. Multifoil is a special roll insulation with a thickness of 2-3 mm, with foil glued to it. The top of the foil is covered with a lavsan film.

Bricks will be required in order to create a gap between the front wall of the balcony and the floor. A brick just fits into this gap. For one linear meter of such a gap, 5 bricks are required.

Work progress:

First, the floors are swept, and the masonry mortar is prepared according to the instructions on the package. Then a solution is applied to the bricks, and laid in a slot under the front plate. The remains of the solution are coated with masonry.

The solution sets in about 3-4 hours, and during this time, it is better not to move the bricks.

XPS boards are laid directly on the floor. If necessary, they are cut with a construction knife.

From above, on the EPPS, a multifoil is laid with their own hands. Each strip is laid end to end. The joints of the strips are glued with special adhesive tape. For convenience, plywood or OSB sheets can be laid as subfloors.

At this stage, you can already begin to mount a warm floor on the loggia. And the same work for different types of floor heating ends.

Installation of cable underfloor heating on the balcony

For work you will need:

Heating cable in mats.
Corrugated pipe.
Thermal sensor.
Temperature controller.
Wires.
Damper tape.
Dry screed mix recommended by the cable manufacturer.

The use of heating cable in mats is more preferable in this case. In fact, this is the same cable, only the manufacturer fixed it on a polypropylene mesh. In large rooms, this is not very convenient, since it is required to bypass the locations of stationary furniture and household appliances. And for a balcony, this option is optimal, because to fix the cable you still have to use a mounting tape or buy a mesh.

The power of the heating mats must be at least 200 W/m2.

On sale there are sets "Cable floor heating", in which there are already both a temperature sensor and a thermostat. We recommend choosing one of these sets that suits your heating area.

Work progress:

The mats are rolled out on the insulated floor, starting from the place where the power is connected. Laying mats in length or width is determined by the place, depending on the size of the balcony. For example: the width of the mats is 80 cm, and the dimensions of the balcony are 1.7 x 3 m. Taking into account rule: there must be at least 5 cm between the heating cable and the wall., it turns out that rolling in length is preferable. To change the direction of laying mats, it is necessary to cut the grid.

In the case of cable floors, a screed is required

After placing the cable, it is necessary to integrate the temperature sensor into the floors. To do this, a groove is cut in the wall from the mats to the thermostat, in which the corrugated pipe is hidden. On the floor, it passes equidistantly between the turns of the cable, and is fixed to the grid. The distance from the wall to the end of the corrugated pipe is 50 cm. A temperature sensor is pushed into it. The end of the pipe is sealed with tape.

The power wires are connected to the cable, and the contact point is sealed with a bituminous insulator that comes with the kit. In the groove on the wall, you can also lay the wiring to the thermostat.

The connection of power and wires from the temperature sensor is carried out according to the instructions, to the corresponding terminals. Then set the temperature on the thermostat to 25-26 ° C, and turn on the power. Within 3-5 minutes, check the operation of the system, insulation quality, and turn off the heating.

The final chord is the organization of the screed.

IMPORTANT: For organization, use the mixture recommended by the cable manufacturer (if applicable). Often, propylene fibers are already included in such mixtures. It allows you to do without reinforcement mesh. And besides, such mixtures are quick-drying and self-leveling.

A damper tape is glued along the perimeter of the balcony.

The screed layer above the EPPS should be at least 3 cm. Accordingly, if 15 kg of the mixture falls on 1 m 2 of the screed, with a thickness of 1 cm, then 45 kg will be required per 3 cm. For a balcony with an area of 6 m 2, 270 kg of the mixture is needed.

The diluted mixture is poured, starting from the far corner of the loggia. Having finished pouring the entire volume, they pass the screed surface with their own hands with a roller with spikes. It ensures the release of air bubbles from the surface layer.

After 2-3 days, the floors will be ready for laying the top coat. Until the maturation of the screed, it is forbidden to turn on the floor heating!

Installation of infrared floor heating

We will install film underfloor heating on the balcony using special kits, according to the area of \u200b\u200bthe balcony. It will already include:

Heating film.
Thermostat with temperature sensor.
Wire kit.
bituminous insulation.

Film power must be at least 200W/m2.

When laying the film, observe the following conditions:

The distance to the walls should be 5-7 cm.
Place the busbars on one side.
You can cut the film only in the indicated places.
Matte side should be facing up.
Leave a distance of 1-2 cm between the strips.

The temperature sensor is laid in the same way as in cable floors. Make sure that the end of the corrugated pipe is between the heating elements! Connection of power cables to the film is carried out according to the instructions. First, the layers of the film are separated with a knife, then the contact is pressed in there, and lastly, the wires are connected. Each contact group is closed with a bituminous insulator.

In principle, infrared heating is ideal for underfloor heating on the loggia. In addition, its installation is a little simpler than cable, and there are fewer requirements for coverage.

The wires are led to a grooved groove in the wall. Since there will be no screed, to mask the wires, you can cut a groove in the heat insulator, 4-5 mm deep.

Connection is carried out according to the instructions, to the appropriate connectors. Then they check the performance, by analogy with a cable underfloor heating.

After checking, the floors are covered with a thick plastic film. It serves as a waterproofing barrier against possible water ingress during wet cleaning. The film is laid with an overlap of 15-20 cm, and the joints are glued with tape.

Laminate and parquet can be laid on such floors. And for soft coatings, somehow: linoleum and carpet, you need to put plywood on top, 6-8 mm thick. In this case, plywood sheets are fixed only among themselves, using reinforced tape.

Hello, visitors of my site! Recently I visited a friend of mine.

It turned out that he recently made a warm floor from the central heating on the balcony. He has no counters. I told him that you can't do that, it's illegal.

But he claims that everyone does. I decided to conduct an educational program for him on warm floors, in order to still insulate the balcony as it should be and not get a “cap”. I hope this information will be useful to you too.

Underfloor heating - a heating system that heats the air in a room from below, where a warm floor (flooring) acts as a heating device.

The most common are electric floor heating systems and water systems connected to a central or local heating system.

Among the newest underfloor heating systems, systems based on amorphous metal tape are gaining popularity.

Heated floor on the loggia and balcony. Selection and installation features

In conditions of high cost of housing, we value every meter and approach the planning of the apartment with special responsibility.

For this reason, the decision to install a warm floor on the loggia and balcony has become popular, which can become another full-fledged room - a dining room, an office or a relaxation area.

Insulation of the loggia and balcony is a smart investment that will allow you to expand the possibilities of spending home rest, as well as give the apartment an individuality.

As part of our article, we do not share the concepts of a loggia and a balcony, since the process of their insulation is almost the same.

Installation of electric underfloor heating on the loggia and balcony consists of the following steps:

Strengthening the parapet. Refers mainly to the balcony and is required if the fence is a lattice. You can strengthen the parapet with brickwork.
Glazing. Most often, double-glazed windows are installed, since they are the most airtight and, therefore, retain heat better.
Insulation of the ceiling and walls. At this stage, you will need reflective thermal insulation material (foil-coated), foam boards, or other similar materials. They are attached to the wall and ceiling either with dowels or with a frame made of beams. On top of the plates are covered with drywall, which is suitable for any decorative finish. Please note that at all stages of work it is necessary to carefully seal all joints! Without due diligence at this stage, the idea will lose its meaning.
Installation of a warm floor. Additional heating of the loggia or balcony is necessary, because. thermal insulation only retains air, but does not heat it. The main task of warming is solved by the “warm floor” system. According to the housing code of the Russian Federation, it is forbidden to bring central heating outside the apartment, this threatens to fail the entire system. Underfloor heating is the most logical option for choosing a heating system for a loggia or balcony, because. both in terms of dimensions and energy consumption, it is much more convenient than infrared heaters and radiators.

There are 2 options for turning a loggia into a living space:

combination with a kitchen / room and subsequent insulation;
insulation without overlap.

Warming and combining a loggia (balcony) with a room

If you decide to make a loggia or balcony part of the common living space, you will need to dismantle the balcony door, as well as, possibly, the window sill.

These works will require additional resources, but in return there will be more options for interior and functional solutions.

Attaching a balcony to a room forms a single room with a common microclimate, for which the standard power of a warm floor is sufficient. This makes the choice of underfloor heating for a balcony combined with a room or kitchen similar to the choice of underfloor heating in any other living space.

For example, for a loggia combined with a bedroom or living room, under floor coverings such as laminate, carpet, parquet, CALEO Line infrared film floor is the simplest and most economical model in the infrared film line.

In the case of combining a balcony with a kitchen on the floor of which it is planned to lay tiles, one of the possible options for underfloor heating is a thin heating mat IQ FLOOR Mat.

Insulation of the balcony and loggia (without combining with the room)

If you do not combine a balcony with a room or kitchen, you do not have to dismantle the door, therefore, this option saves time and money.

There are four types of underfloor heating systems for warming a loggia or balcony. The choice depends on the type of floor covering and installation method.

The heating cable is a classic system of electric underfloor heating, reliable and durable. Suitable for any type of floor covering. At the same time, this is the most time-consuming option, since its installation requires pouring a sand-cement screed 3-5 cm thick.

The heating mat is the same cable, but of a smaller diameter, already attached to the mounting grid. Such a warm floor is mounted in a layer of tile adhesive under the tile (1-1.5 cm) or porcelain stoneware.

Due to the fact that the balcony is still an artificially insulated room, a mat of greater power is required to heat it. That is why we recommend the Thermomat 180, which will definitely keep the temperature in your new room comfortable.

The film floor is designed specifically for dry-installed coatings - laminate, parquet, carpet. In addition, a warm film floor can be turned on immediately after installation.

The combination of these two characteristics is the advantage of infrared floor heating.

For more information about installing a film floor, we outlined in this article. It is worth mentioning that it is possible to additionally insulate the walls and ceiling on the loggia with an infrared film.

Rod floor also applies to infrared heating systems. It is mounted in two ways: in a layer of tile adhesive (for tiles or porcelain stoneware) and in a layer of thin screed in the form of a leveler (for laminate, carpet, parquet).

If you chose this underfloor heating system, then pay special attention to the insulation of the walls and ceiling to avoid heat loss. For cold rooms, which are a loggia and a balcony, the UNIMAT Boost infrared floor is intended. Installation of Unimat underfloor heating is shown in our article.

Also, for each of the options for underfloor heating, you will need a thermostat (thermostat). This device is designed to turn on and off the underfloor heating system, and also allows you to adjust the temperature and save energy.

It is possible to connect to one thermostat only the most similar rooms in terms of microclimate. This is important to know if you decide to combine a balcony with a room in which a warm floor is already installed: in this case, you will not need a second thermostat.

If your loggia remains an independent room, a separate thermostat is needed for it.

Source: teplyypol.ru/publikacii/stati-i-obzory/teplyy-pol-na-lodzhii-i-balkone

Electric underfloor heating on the balcony

You will not surprise anyone with the conversion of a balcony into an office or a cozy relaxation area. This idea is increasingly used by the owners of not only new buildings, but also old apartment buildings.

When arranging a new room on the loggia, you will need to independently make heating in it, because. developers, as a rule, do not even conduct electricity here.

Heating cable

The most time-consuming process is laying a heating cable on a balcony or loggia. If you decide to make just such an option for an electric underfloor heating (as in the photo), then please note that the height of the room will be reduced by 12-15 cm (due to the screed and insulation).

You should also understand that installing the heating cable and pouring the screed under it will take a lot of time. If you understand all this and still decide to heat the balcony with a cable, then follow the instructions below:

Dismantle the old flooring and level the surface under the screed.
Insulate the floor and walls with foil-coated polyethylene foam. Be sure to glue the joints with metal tape.
Glue a damper tape along the perimeter of the balcony, which will protect the floor from deformation during the thermal expansion of the screed.
Attach a mesh or mounting tape to the insulation layer for attaching an electric heated floor to the loggia.
Fasten the heating cable with the same pitch, which must be calculated, focusing on the area of the room and the recommended heating power - 250 W / m2.
Install the thermostat and temperature sensor in a suitable location.
Ring the circuit to make sure everything is properly connected and working.
Take a photo of the finished electrical heating system so that if repairs are needed, you will know exactly where everything is.
When the solution hardens completely (in the summer it is enough to wait a few days), you can proceed to laying tiles or linoleum flooring.

If you decide to make an electric underfloor heating on the balcony using a heating cable, please note that laminate and parquet in this case cannot be used as flooring.

Installation of thermomats on the balcony is much easier to carry out, because. for this, it is not necessary to calculate the laying step of the conductor and pour the concrete screed.

The advantage of heating mats is that they do not reduce the height of the ceiling as much.

If you decide to make the heating of the loggia with electric thermomats, proceed according to the following technology:

Prepare a suitable piece of mat to cover the entire area of the room. As a rule, thermomats are produced half a meter wide and up to 30 meters long. You can cut a suitable piece for your conditions. The main thing is not to touch the heating cable on the grid.
Lay the material on the old tile or concrete screed.
Connect the temperature sensor and temperature controller.
Check if the connection is correct.
On top of the mats, paving the tiles on a special tile adhesive.

As you can see, do-it-yourself installation of an electric underfloor heating on a balcony is quite simple in this case. Please note that thermomats are installed without the use of insulation!

Infrared film

Well, if you decide to use a laminate or parquet board as a floor covering on the balcony, then the only option is to install an infrared film underfloor heating. Its advantage is the minimum thickness of the material, which will not affect the height of the ceiling.

So, you can independently make an infrared warm floor on the loggia using the following technology:

Level the surface by making a rough screed (if the old floor has defects and bumps).
Lay down a layer of insulation.
Install infrared film.
Install temperature sensor and thermostat.
Connect the wires to the film, carefully insulate the connection points with bituminous composition.
Cover the finished warm floor on the balcony with laminate or parquet.

This option for heating the loggia with electricity is the most modern and economical. The film has better heat transfer, because. part of the heat will not be spent on heating the concrete screed.

According to reviews on thematic forums, installing a film underfloor heating on a balcony is the most effective option for electric heating.

So we have provided all the existing options for heating a room through flooring. We hope the material provided helped you find out what material to choose for your own conditions and how to make an electric floor heating on the balcony with your own hands!

Source: samelectrik.ru/kak-sdelat-teplyj-pol-na-balkone.html

Installation of a water floor on a balcony

Underfloor heating on the balcony is a great opportunity to make this room more convenient and comfortable, to create the most optimal conditions for the life and hobby of the owners of the house.

This article will consider all the features and nuances of such a process as installing a warm floor on a balcony.

Which underfloor heating option is suitable for a balcony?

The best option, according to experts, is a water floor. A water floor is one of the most popular heating systems, its popularity is due to its high availability and efficiency.

And the installation of such a warm floor on the balcony is not difficult if you follow the instructions below.

What steps does the installation of a warm water floor on a balcony consist of?

Surface preparation. The floor must be free of dirt, dust and debris such as rubble. If there are irregularities visible to the eye, they must be eliminated with a new sand-cement screed. Make a markup on the cleaned surface: mark the areas between which you will draw the so-called expansion joints.
Warming. Before laying the water floor, it is necessary to provide thermal insulation (otherwise the heat will go down). The thickness of the heat insulator material is usually from 30 to 150 mm. Choose the strongest heat insulator for the water floor. Examples of such heat insulators are polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam. If you choose a poor heat insulator, the heating efficiency will be reduced to almost zero. For a water floor, this is especially true, since in most cases it is under this room that there is a layer of cold air and free space.
We put the fastening elements of the pipeline. The next step is to install special fasteners for the pipeline. This design should hold the pipeline, ensure the stability of the system as a whole. Reinforcing mesh can be used as fasteners. In this case, the diameter of the reinforcement should be 4-5 mm, and the cells should be 150 mm in size. Sometimes in practice the technique of double reinforcement is used. Thus, the grid can be placed both under and above the pipes. This guarantees increased reliability of the water floor system, in which the probability of its deformation is reduced to zero.
Collector installation. Before starting the installation of the pipeline, it is necessary to install the collector and the underfloor heating control group. The choice of system control system depends entirely on the type of underfloor heating. The control is mounted on the wall or in a special cabinet.
Pipeline installation. The most optimal options for laying underfloor heating pipes are the “Snake” or “Spiral” scheme. The pitch of the pipes should be smaller closer to the walls and wider at the center of the room. The maximum pipe pitch can be 30 cm, and the loops must be carried out no further than 10 cm. This must be done for high pressure in the system and good heat dissipation of the floor. Installing a warm water floor also involves connecting to a heat source, as well as conducting hydraulic tests. The tightness is checked for at least a day. Otherwise, in the future you can face a lot of trouble.
Screed layer. Next, a concrete screed is made, which must be prepared in advance. The minimum layer thickness is 3 cm. To increase the thermal conductivity, special substances, plasticizers, must be added to the concrete. The screed is poured only at the moment when the system is under pressure. This pressure must be maintained throughout the curing time of the screed. And this is from 28 to 35 days. It is important to maintain pressure so that there is no breakdown when trying to put the water floor system into operation and, as a result, redo all the work performed.
Flooring. After the concrete screed has dried, you can start laying the finishing layer, for example, tiles. Instead of tiles, you can use any other floor covering - the water floor does not impose restrictions on the coverage, the choice of a particular floor covering for a balcony depends only on the preferences of its owner.

A water heated floor is the best solution for heating a balcony. Only thanks to this system it is possible to provide the maximum comfort indoors.

With all this, the installation of a warm water floor on the balcony will not take much time and effort - all the steps from preparing the base to laying the finish layer are quite simple and can be done independently.

And the last straw in the ocean of benefits of a water floor is, perhaps, its cost. A warm water floor is quite affordable in all respects.

Source: do-it-yourself.rf/montazh-vodyanogo-pola-na-balkone

Is it possible to install underfloor heating from central heating in the apartment?

A floor heating system using a heat carrier is one of the best ways to evenly distribute heat throughout the entire volume of the room.

Using modern materials and observing the installation technology, you can achieve optimal temperature conditions.

But this applies only to systems with autonomous heating.

The owners of apartments with a centralized heating system have thought more than once - is it possible to install a water heated floor with a connection to the heating pipes?

It should be immediately warned that, according to current legislation, it is prohibited to modernize and change the piping scheme in apartments with central heating. Nevertheless, there are many masters who are able to do this procedure unnoticed even by the inspection authorities.

However, during the operation of such systems, problems arise not only in a single apartment, but throughout the house as a whole. So this system is recommended for owners of their own houses with central heating, but this is more an exception than a rule.

Possible problems and their causes

The first thing that is encountered when designing this type of underfloor heating connection is the difference in water temperature in the system.

For radiator heating, the temperature of the coolant ranges from 70°C to 90°C. Underfloor heating pipelines are designed for 45-50°C. Therefore, with a direct connection, the failure of the entire system is inevitable.

If this system is detected by the inspection bodies of the ZhEK, penalties and dismantling of all underfloor heating equipment will necessarily follow.

But, if all the same, the desire to increase the efficiency of central heating is great, then there are theoretical schemes for the implementation of such a connection.

Theoretical wiring diagram

To connect underfloor heating to central heating, it is necessary to equip a heat point with a circulation pump. This item will connect the water from the heating system to the plumbing to achieve the optimum temperature.

If the apartment has only one entrance and exit of the heating main, then the connection of a warm floor can be done according to the principle of connecting radiators. With a larger number of risers, a separate calculation is required.

PVC pipes can be used as the pipeline material. However, it is rather problematic to arrange them with a snake for uniform heating of the floor. For this, corner connectors are used, which affects the reliability of the system.

Since the technology requires filling the entire floor area, in the event of a leak, prompt dismantling will be problematic.

There is an option for parallel connection from the return pipe of the radiator. In this case, it is necessary to provide for the installation of shut-off valves (cock) both at the inlet and at the outlet.

The safest, but time-consuming way is to install an autonomous underfloor heating system with closed water circulation. Heating of the coolant can be carried out through a heat exchanger, which is installed on the central heating pipe.

But the efficiency of this system will be low due to large heat losses.

disadvantages

The illegality of the installation of such a system.
High chance of breakage.
Inability to adjust the floor heating temperature.
The occurrence of areas of uneven distribution of the coolant in the entire heating system of the house.
The complexity of the process.

As an alternative, you can consider installing an electrical underfloor heating system. It is easy to install, absolutely legal. In addition, the electric floor heating does not have to be filled with a cement screed.

Of course, this will increase the cost of electricity. But they will be much less than fines for illegal connection to central heating.

One of the difficulties of insulating a balcony is the restrictions regarding the weight load on the slab after work. A small area of the room requires the use of finishing materials that save space.

Infrared underfloor heating on the balcony is the best solution to the issue of insulation. The heating system is easy to install. The thickness of the layer, including the heat-insulating material and the film itself, will be 1.5-2 cm. At the same time, the floors will easily maintain a temperature of 25 ° C that is comfortable for a person on the balcony.

Can infrared underfloor heating heat a balcony or loggia

Film infrared floor heating is an effective heating system that can be installed on a loggia or balcony, even without glazing and additional insulation. The main difference from water or electric heating is the use of infrared rather than thermal radiation, which allows operation even in open spaces.

How does IR heating work? Despite the name, the device of an infrared heating system is quite simple. A special heat-conducting element is sealed in a high-strength film that amplifies and scatters the rays. Connection to the power supply is carried out using a conductive plate located on the side of the film.

Due to the unique principle of operation, laying a film underfloor heating on a balcony is a good alternative to traditional heating systems. The room is heated in the following way:

Infrared radiation affects any solid objects in the immediate vicinity: furniture, opposite walls, people, etc.
When a certain temperature is reached, objects begin to give off excess heat, which is removed from the surface by convection.
Since there is no need to preheat the air masses to heat the balcony, the person in the room feels warm immediately after turning on the film. Practice shows that the most comfortable temperature for a person starts at 19°C, but if necessary, you can increase the mode to 25°C.

If you have building tools and materials, do-it-yourself installation of an infrared film underfloor heating on a balcony can be done within 1-2 hours, depending on the area and the chosen finishing floor covering.

How to install and connect a warm infrared floor

Self-installation of the infrared floor on the loggia or balcony is carried out quickly enough. The speed of work to a greater extent depends on the chosen finishing finishing layer.

Experience shows that laying tiles will take the most time, less linoleum or laminate.

The work is carried out as follows:

Foundation preparation. The floor should be put in order: remove the old coating, remove mold, treat with antifungal agents. Before laying the base must be leveled.
Under the IR warm floor on the balcony, a heat-insulating substrate is laid. For this purpose, you can use any type of insulation, in addition, which has a foil metal layer.
The film unfolds. In this case, it must be taken into account that the width of the working surface is 25 cm. The gap between the rows of the film should be no more than 4 cm. It is strictly forbidden to lay sheets with an overlap. You can cut the film in a specially marked place.
Voltage is applied. If the installation is carried out independently, it is necessary to take into account several important details. It is necessary to start work by installing the thermostat and connecting the power cable to it. Floors are connected strictly on top of the film.
Installation of the finish coat. Laminate and linoleum are laid directly on top of the film. For tiles, you will need to first lay a reinforcing mesh. The adhesive solution used must be intended for facing underfloor heating.

The voltage to the thermostat must be supplied from a separate machine, powered directly from the meter. The installation of an RCD is required.

Requirements for the balcony before laying the film floor

The film that covers the heating elements of underfloor heating is heavy-duty and able to withstand mechanical stress. The device of the infrared heating system is completely safe, therefore, relatively few requirements are imposed on the room where it is planned to carry out installation.

Insulation of the balcony with infrared warm floors can be carried out under the condition:

Lack of moisture on the floor. It is first necessary to lay the hydro-barrier, in the case of making a screed, the solution must dry completely.
Flat base. Effective heating of the loggia with an infrared floor is possible only if the film is laid on a flat plane. Irregularities need to be corrected. The maximum allowable difference is 1-2 mm per 1 m².

Insulating the floor on the loggia with an IR film is a cost-effective solution compared to water or electric floors.

Pros and cons of a film floor for a balcony

Like any other heating system, infrared floors have their drawbacks and advantages that should be considered.

Advantages:

Quick and easy installation.
Low cost.
Versatility, can be used under any type of coating.
Possibility of easy repair.
Beneficial effect on the human body.

Disadvantages:

High power consumption.
The need for careful installation.
Potential for electrical shock. To reduce the danger, the use of grounding and the installation of an RCD is required.

Is it worth it to insulate the floor on the loggia with an IR film? Ultimately, the consumer will have to make the decision. You should choose this option if you need a heating system that does not significantly affect the weight of the balcony, does not reduce the height of the ceiling, as well as when deciding to carry out installation work yourself.

As a source of thermal energy for the loggia, various heating systems are used, which are mounted mainly on the floor. They allow you to maintain optimal temperature conditions, to form the most favorable conditions.

There are several options for arranging underfloor heating. To make the right choice, you need to compare the pros and cons of each decision.

We will tell you which underfloor heating on the balcony is preferable in a given situation, and we will also provide step-by-step instructions for installing the heating system.

There are several types of floor heating systems that are used to insulate balconies and loggias.

heating mats;
heating twin-core cables;
infrared shielded film.

Let's take a closer look at the systems.

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If the floor covering will be a parquet board, laminated flooring, carpet, etc., then you need to install a low-temperature system that heats up to + 27 ° C. For coating in the form of tiles, expanded clay, you can install high-temperature modifications that generate + 45- + 50 ° С

In the loggia, you can install a warm IR film both on the floor, and on the walls and ceiling. Additionally, the panels are mounted on both walls under the windows, opposite the windows. This method of heating is called -.

Often, the owners of apartments with a balcony / loggia really appreciate these useful premises, especially if the apartment is small. The loggia can serve as a bedroom, a small gym or even a personal office. And someone prefers to take a break from the bustle in a cozy mini-greenhouse on the balcony. It is very convenient to equip a workshop on it - an abundance of light, compact dimensions of the room and ease of ventilation - all this creates excellent conditions for creativity. However, for such a “reincarnation” this part of the apartment needs to be prepared: the ceiling, walls should be insulated, and a warm floor should be installed on the balcony. The effort spent will definitely pay off: instead of a dull ledge with a canopy, you will get a comfortable area for relaxing, hobbies or work.

Video tutorial on installing underfloor heating on the balcony

Balcony preparation and insulation

To make the balcony cozy, it must first be insulated. However, for high-quality thermal insulation, it is recommended to follow a certain sequence. First, the walls of the balcony and the building are sheathed with insulation from the outside, then moving on to the inside of the structure. After that, the floor is insulated. Then, in the same sequence, the vapor barrier is laid. At the same time, special attention is paid to the joints of the canvases: they should not be at the corners! Otherwise, "cold bridges" inevitably appear and condensation forms in the room.

You can make your balcony a comfortable seating area

Choosing an electric floor heating system

For arranging a warm floor on the loggia of an apartment building, it is recommended to use only electric heating systems:

heating mats;
thin infrared heat-insulated floors;
single-core/two-core cable.

Electric heating mats

This (already quite common) method is ideal for rooms that are not intended for permanent human stay. For example, some create a dressing room on the balcony. By installing light cabinets, providing plenty of shelves, as well as free space for drying clothes and ironing supplies, you can free up a significant part of your apartment. And although you will not be constantly in the dressing room, it is important to maintain a constant temperature there. Naturally, electric mats are ideal for such purposes. Therefore, it all depends on how you are going to use the balcony and what temperature you need.

It's important to know!Use heating mats only in utility rooms. EM radiation generated as a result of the functioning of the system adversely affects the body. Therefore, if you decide to convert the balcony into an office or workshop, we recommend purchasing an infrared heated floor.

In order for the electric heating system to work for a long time and efficiently, it is necessary to comply with all requirements for its installation.

Advantages of heating mats:

Light weight and easy to transport.
Ease of installation.
Laying the sections directly into the tile adhesive.
In most cases, it is not necessary to specially prepare the base (as for laying a heating cable). Old surfaces can also serve as a substrate.

Heating mats are convenient because the cable is already fixed in them and is completely ready for laying. Of course, their price is much higher than a similar cable in a coil, but you can handle the installation yourself. But it is better to entrust the connection to an experienced electrician.

Disadvantages of electric mats:

Strong EM radiation.
Impossibility of heat accumulation.
The system is not recommended to be turned on and off frequently.
Heating mats must be protected from damage during transport, storage and installation.
Low efficiency when heating closed balconies and insulated loggias. Even if the room is properly insulated and the windows are hermetically sealed, the glass remains cold. Therefore, when the heated air reaches the level of the window, it quickly cools down. Then, sinking to the floor, cools it. Thus, more electricity is consumed, but the room does not warm up.

Features of installation and use of electric cable

For the floor to be really warm, you need to properly prepare the base. For this you will need:

Waterproofing;
insulation;
cement mortar;
One- or two-wire sections.

It is best to make a high-quality cement-sand screed (DSP) with a total thickness of about half a meter. Such a layer is necessary for laying the cable (15-20 cm of screed + cable + another 30 cm of solution). So that the heat does not go down, you need to take care of the waterproofing layer with mandatory insulation. Complete solidification of such a layer occurs a month after the completion of the work. Then ceramic tiles are laid.

However, this method has many disadvantages:

Using it to insulate loggias, you will significantly make the structure heavier - and this is highly undesirable. For some floors (including balconies and loggias), there are maximum allowable load standards. Therefore, it is better to install such a heating system in private houses on the ground floor.
The duration of work due to the long solidification of the solution can also cause inconvenience.
Finishing only with ceramic tiles (preferably).

Glazed balcony, heated floor, a little imagination - and the home office is ready for work!

Infrared heated floors

Of all the possible options for heating systems, “warm floor” based on infrared radiation is best suited for loggias and balconies. It is very easy to install, does not require the dismantling of old surfaces and the special creation of new ones. It does not make structures heavier, it is not afraid of cold glass or “wrong” types of floor coverings. This effective and safe system can be used immediately after laying carpet, linoleum, ceramic tiles or other types of flooring. During operation, the following happens: all surfaces that are in the area of the warm floor are heated, and then they give off heat to the room. It is very important that the air does not lose its humidity (after all, it does not heat up).

Sequence of work:

Preparation of the surface for the installation of infrared film coating. A prerequisite for installing the system is a flat surface. Therefore, if the floors are not perfect, they need to be leveled. If they are even and already covered, for example, with tiles, they just need to be cleaned. Then it should be covered with a special material that reflects heat.
Mounting. If you follow the instructions, installation will take quite a bit of time. However, connecting thermostats is the task of a specialist. The service life of the entire system (and sometimes wiring) depends on the correct connection. Therefore, if you do not have special knowledge, use the services of an experienced electrician who will correctly connect and check the operation of the entire system.

It's important to know ! If your building is many years old, chances are it has old aluminum wiring. Therefore, it will be necessary to lay “individual” copper wiring and connect it directly to the electricity meter.

Connection of infrared underfloor heating should only be carried out by a knowledgeable and experienced electrician

Benefits of infrared floor heating:

Significant energy savings. For example, you usually feel comfortable at 20 degrees. Turning on the system, after a while you feel the usual temperature, although the thermometer shows only +15 °.
The entire heating complex can be moved if necessary.
During the operation of the heating elements in the room, the concentration of negative ions increases by about four times.
Favorably affects the body.
It is convenient to install it: you can cut the canvases into separate modules and distribute one set to several rooms.

Interestingly, thermal film can be used not only for floor heating. Recently, it has been successfully mounted on ceilings, walls and even behind mirrors. This is very convenient, because infrared rays can be directed in the right direction and they will warm up the given area with high quality. This also saves money: if necessary, it is the part of the apartment where the people are located that is connected, and the entire room is not warmed up. Another advantage of thermal film is its moisture resistance. Thanks to this, it can even be used in bathrooms and bathrooms.

Do-it-yourself gym or workshop on the balcony

When installing infrared thermal film, it is important to observe the following precautions:

be sure to insulate sections and contacts;
always make grounding;
use components from the same manufacturer;
do not replace materials recommended by the manufacturer with others;
It is very important to check all cuts and contacts, and to test the entire system immediately after installation.

Installation of a warm floor can be done by yourself, exactly following the enclosed instructions. It's great if you have the right skills and can install everything alone. But often in solving such issues it is better to turn to the masters of their craft. They will quickly and efficiently perform all the work, giving you the opportunity to enjoy the warmth and comfort of your home.

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