Underfloor heating - types of heat insulator and features of its use 06/15/2014 – Published in: Warm floors – Tags: underfloor heating

When installing a film heated floor, it is better to use a substrate made of foamed polymers laminated with a lavsan metallized film. The material reflects up to 30% of the heat that goes down from the structure and is wasted.

The main task performed by the substrate is to reduce heat loss. It reflects heat that moves down from the floor and is thus wasted. The use of insulation can reduce heat loss by up to 30%. In addition, the underlay performs a waterproofing function, protecting the floor from the penetration of moisture and steam. The substrate is also capable of leveling the surface, which is especially important when using film floors. In some cases, thermal insulation performs an acoustic function, reducing the amount of noise from neighbors living below.

The substrate under the film floor should under no circumstances include aluminum, since it conducts electricity well and if the contacts are faulty, a short circuit may occur. Therefore, the use of foil as a heat-reflecting material with film heated floors is strictly prohibited.

More often, for thermal insulation when laying film heated floors, a substrate made of foamed polymers, polypropylene, laminated materials coated with a lavsan metallized film is used. If additional sound insulation is required, then fiberboard is used as a substrate. In addition, it can be used to level the subfloor. Another type of material is technical roll cork 2 mm thick.

Manufacturers and sellers of Korean heated floors recommend the Korean-made DH-HiLon underlay. You can buy it in the same stores that sell heated floors. It is made of polypropylene with a lavsan coating. Markings are applied to the coating in 10 cm increments to facilitate cutting. Price: 160 rub./m2.

"Ekofol" is made from polyethylene foam and is duplicated with lavsan or polypropylene metallized film. It has a low thermal conductivity coefficient, good elasticity and does not absorb moisture. When using Ecofol type C (with a self-adhesive surface), heat loss is reduced by 2-3 times. Price: about 100 rub./m2.

Rolled technical cork Sedacor is made from cork oak. Dimensions 15,000x1,000 and thickness 4 mm are used as a substrate for heated floors. Has excellent soundproofing properties. Price: 83 rub./m2.

“Polifom” is a universal insulation material; it is a chemically cross-linked polyethylene foam with a closed cell structure. Due to its structure, it has good heat-insulating properties (thermal conductivity coefficient 0.037 V/m3 at 10°C and density 30 kg/m3). The material is durable (service life more than 50 years) and effective for sound insulation. Price: 80 rub./m2.

The Thermodom substrate consists of foamed polyethylene with a lavsan coating. This material is ideal for electric heated floors because it does not conduct current. It is also suitable for laying water-heated floors under screed, since it does not interact with aggressive alkaline solutions contained in concrete. The substrate retains its properties throughout its entire service life. Recommended material thickness is 2-5 mm. The reflective layer should face the heat source. To create complete vapor and waterproofing, the butt joints of the panels are glued with tape. The cost of the Thermodom substrate is orders of magnitude lower than its analogues - 45 rubles/m2.

HOW TO CHOOSE

In order to choose a substrate for a heated floor, you must be guided by two main initial data: what kind of finishing coating is planned and how smooth the floor is. If you plan to lay laminate flooring, it is better to choose a soft underlay, as it levels the floor. Some types of Penotherm are soft.

It is recommended to choose solid thermal insulation under linoleum. Linoleum itself is a soft material, and together with a soft backing it forms a structure that is easily pressed through by heavy furniture. For large level differences, a soft substrate is also recommended, as it is more flexible. For small irregularities, it is worth choosing rigid types of thermal insulation.

STYLING FEATURES

The substrate is laid with the reflective side up, as a continuous massive carpet and has the same thickness over the entire area. Separate sheets are joined end-to-end, and the seam must be taped to create additional vapor barrier and waterproofing. If necessary, the substrate can be glued.

What kind of substrate to lay under a film heated floor

Content:
1. Is it necessary to lay underlay under the IR floor?
2. What does a layered “pie” look like?
3. What kind of substrate is laid under a heated floor?
4. What additional thermal insulation is needed?

Warm infrared floors appeared relatively recently and have already gained popularity. This happened due to low cost and the possibility of self-installation. Most operating instructions indicate that a substrate must first be laid under the film heated floor. What is it for?

Is it necessary to lay underlay under the IR floor?

The installation of heated floors is as follows. The heating elements are sealed in durable plastic. When heated, infrared radiation is scattered in all directions. To prevent heating towards neighbors living on the floor below, it is necessary to lay heat-reflecting material for the infrared heated floor.

The substrate simultaneously performs several important functions:

1. Creates a flat plane. Basically, a substrate made of extruded polystyrene foam is used for this purpose. Thanks to a special locking system, it is possible to create a completely level base.
2. Does not allow heat loss. Infrared radiation is strictly directed in one direction, which avoids increased energy costs.
3. Helps with installation of finishing floor coverings. The base for an infrared heated floor may vary depending on what kind of material will be laid on top.

Choosing the type of installation of water systems for flooring laminated boards

It is most rational to install such a warm floor in a private cottage. Water heated floor under laminate –

This is a structure made of pipes laid under a covering of laminated panels. Hot water moving through the system heats the concrete screed and the finishing surface of the floor.

Warm water constantly circulates through the metal-plastic pipes of this system, heating the finishing floor covering

It would not be out of place to add that modern floor heating systems are made from innovative materials. Metal-plastic and polyethylene structures are reliably protected from leaks and serve no worse than traditional copper pipes, and their cost is much lower.

Installation of a water heating system under a laminated coating has certain nuances, since the lamellas do not conduct heat well enough. You should also know that not all methods of laying this thermal system are suitable for such a floor surface. Thus, when installing water heating pipes in a flat manner, the floor heating effect will tend to zero. Therefore, the best option would be to lay the heating system in a layer of cement screed.

Professionals say that it is best to install warm water floors under laminate using the concrete method.

Thus, the layer of solution will protect the pipes from mechanical damage. In addition, the screed will warm up completely, which will allow heat to be transferred evenly.

To install the heating structure correctly, you need to take into account some details. Work begins by dividing the floor surface into segments and determining the location of the heating elements. Next, the plane is leveled, a layer of thermal insulation is laid, and reinforcement for the concrete screed is secured. Afterwards the mounting rail is attached and the underfloor heating pipes are laid. They are fixed with wire to the cells of the already laid metal base. The reinforcement mesh acts as a marking for the installation of a floor heating system.

Pipes can be laid in any of two known ways - parallel or in a spiral, depending on the previously drawn up project.

To lay laminate flooring over a heated floor, experts advise filling the heating system with cement mortar

The next step is to fill the installed system with concrete to form a screed. After final polymerization of the solution, a test run of the system should be carried out. It is necessary to check the pressure in the pipes and adjust the temperature. If the design works effectively, it can be considered ready for use.

What kind of substrate is laid under a heated floor?

Magnesite or fiberboard sheets are traditionally used for this purpose. Another material that has proven itself well is Penofol. Thanks to the use of Penofol, the thickness of the reflective thermal insulation film for IR floors can be minimized. The advantage of Penofol is that it is both an insulating and reflective material and prevents the spread of:

1. Warmth.
2. Convection of air flows.
3. Radiation.

When choosing a substrate, it is necessary to focus not only on economic considerations, but also on the actual technical features of the room.

What additional thermal insulation is needed under the IR floor?

The thermal insulation used when laying film heated floors is designed to achieve two goals:

1. Prevent the entry of cold air from outside the room (basement, basement, etc.).
2. Prevent free movement of heated air from the building.

When choosing an insulating material, you should follow the recommendations of the manufacturers of heated floors. Manufacturers believe that better thermal insulation is made of polyethylene foam with a reflective coating of metallized Mylar film.

It is strictly not recommended to lay material using aluminum foil under heated floors. As recent studies have shown, the use of foil insulation leads to overheating of the infrared heating system and failure of individual elements.

The effectiveness of IR floors is not affected by the type of insulation you plan to use. Therefore, the material can be almost any, based on the wishes and capabilities of the customer. The only limitation is the installation of thermal insulation with aluminum foil.

For thermal insulation, you need to use a material that can stop possible heat loss, protect the floors from overheating and prevent cold from entering the heated room.

The heating system using IR elements effectively heats the room. The choice of substrate and thermal insulation plays a significant role in ensuring performance and effectiveness. When selecting the necessary material, you need to focus on the opinion of the manufacturer, who provides comprehensive recommendations in the operating instructions.

Calculation of power and temperature of a warm water floor

Technical characteristics of lavsan thermal insulation

The universal material meets sanitary requirements and is safe for human health thanks to the use of environmentally friendly substances. PET is used as packaging for products, and aluminum is a natural material. When energy is reflected, the metallized surface maintains room temperature without heating up under the influence of heat. The use of lavsan allows you to reduce the thickness of the main insulation (mineral wool or polystyrene foam) without reducing the level of insulation.

The insulation is produced in rolls 25-50 m long and 1 m wide, thickness is 2-10 mm.

Foamed polyethylene of increased strength, laminated with lavsan, has the following technical characteristics:

• reflective effect - 90%;
• thermal conductivity coefficient - 0.035 W/m*K;
• vapor permeability - 0.001;
• water absorption - 1-2%;
• operating temperature - from −60º to +100º C;
• density - 30-45 kg/cubic. m.

How to choose and install underfloor heating

Heating a home using underfloor heating is becoming increasingly popular. These systems vary in the type of heating elements, allowing you to choose for any home. In order for such a heating system to operate efficiently and reliably, it must be properly insulated. To ensure that the heat does not escape in vain, the underfloor heating is intended. It is made of heat-reflecting materials that will retain heat.

Material selection

Usually the material for lining under the heating elements is polyethylene foam or

polypropylene, which, moreover, are covered with a lavsan film with a layer of metal coating. The metalized coating helps heat to be evenly distributed under the floor covering, and the insulation itself prevents heat from being absorbed by the screed.

The foam underfloor heating has a low degree of thermal conductivity, which prevents heat from escaping into the ceiling and screed. The temperature limit of the material (up to 90 degrees) allows you to lay pipes or heating cables directly on the film. Along with excellent thermal and waterproofing properties, a layer of such material also has excellent sound insulation. It is also worth considering that the markings applied to the substrate will allow you to lay the cable according to the calculated step, this will increase the accuracy of the work and a reliable result.

Lavsan - description and basic properties of the material

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or lavsan) is a thermoplastic from the polyester class. The material is durable, resistant to wear and moisture. Polyester film is used in various industries - from the manufacture of packaging for food and medicine, to the lamination of fabric used for thermal insulation. Wide possibilities of use are due to the properties of polyester: frost resistance, low vapor and gas permeability, wear and tear resistance.

Metallized film is offered for thermal insulation of floors, roofs, walls, pipelines and ventilation systems. It is a composite of aluminum and lavsan. The reflective material is welded with gas-foamed polyethylene, which increases the resistance to heat and sound transmission.

The thickness of the metal layer determines the reflectivity of the insulation; if it is extremely thin, then infrared radiation is weakly reflected. The size and quality of aluminum insulation coating cannot be determined visually, so to protect yourself from counterfeiting, you should buy products from well-known brands: Izolon, Izodom, Penoplus, Thermodom.

Lavsan insulation, soldered to a polyethylene foam base, has several important advantages:

• low thermal conductivity;
• sound insulation effect due to the presence of air layers;
• protection from moisture and steam due to the surface density and resistance of the film to moisture;
• low weight and thickness of the insulation layer do not create a load on the structure and do not take up free space;
• fire safety, the canvas does not burn and does not emit toxic smoke;
• resistance to chemical reagents (acids and alkalis);
• dielectric properties.

Underlay for laminate

Currently, laminate is almost the most popular floor covering: it has a reasonable price, looks very similar to parquet, and its installation is very simple. If you plan to install heating under the laminate, you must make sure that a lining is installed under the heated floor system, which will help protect the wood from overheating. Otherwise, gaps will form in areas of the floor with a gap between the laminate and the base, and the coating itself will knock heavily.

To avoid such problems, a special thin (2-5 mm) part is placed under the laminate, which has increased thermal conductivity.

This move will not only avoid damage to the boards, but will also act as insulation, equalize possible height differences and prevent the laminate from squeaking. This backing is usually foil and is placed under a heated floor, where, in addition to its function of leveling the laminate, it also helps to retain heat.

Adviсe

One of the most modern trends in solving the issue of thermal insulation at home has been the installation of a “warm floor” system. Nowadays, manufacturers have brought to the market three main options for underfloor heating - water, infrared and cable. The water method is used for large areas. This technique involves circulating hot water through pipes built into the floor. Such a system has a number of limitations:

• it cannot be used in multi-storey buildings, as it creates additional pressure on the floors;
• in the event of a breakthrough, there is still a risk of “flooding” the neighbors below, which will lead to large expenses for troubleshooting;
• high cost of materials, as well as installation work.

The infrared floor is a polymer film, which is divided into identical squares, each of which contains special plates responsible for high-quality heating.

It is better to install such a system under laminate or linoleum. If you use it under tiles, it bonds quite quickly with the adhesive solution.

Cable is an electric floor that can function year-round. In order to reduce energy costs, special thermostats are built into the design. The structure itself is assembled from two- or three-core cables or electrical mats.

This method is optimal for tiles, as it helps them heat up quickly and retain heat.

The “floating floor” technology is very popular; Isover coating is used for it.

Under a warm water floor

Water-based heated floors are quite popular due to their cost-effectiveness and ease of installation. When using a water heated floor system, you must take care in advance of the presence of a special layer. It is made of polystyrene foam; a little less often you can find linings made of cork or isoplat.

The correct underfloor heating will ensure that warm air rises upward, thereby making the structure work optimally. Thanks to the high technologies used in production, polystyrene foam substrates have many advantages:

• Provide additional heat and sound insulation;
• Practically do not absorb moisture, are fireproof;
• They help retain heat, which means they are economical and environmentally friendly;
• Maintain structure and integrity even with sudden temperature changes;
• Very durable - the minimum service life is 100 years.

Under film (infrared) heated floor

The best choice for a film floor is a heated floor substrate made of lavsan - foamed polyethylene, which has a metal-like reflective top layer. Lavsan is known for its amazing resistance to aggressive chemicals and microorganisms, as well as resistance to microorganisms.

The substrate is placed directly under the film-type underfloor heating system. which ensures its greater efficiency due to reduced energy losses. A lavsan substrate, which is placed under a heated floor, will not only help to heat the room, but will also save money, thanks to the same low thermal transmittance.

Installation steps

First you need to thoroughly clean the surface that you plan to cover with interlayer material. After this, we put a vapor barrier, which can be used as a construction film made of polyethylene; it should be used to cover the floor with a slight “climbing” of the material onto the walls (2-3 cm). The joints of the film can be sealed with ordinary construction tape. We glue a damper tape to the wall around the perimeter of the entire room, which will prevent the wood from expanding excessively. Next, you need to carefully cut out even strips of lining from the roll, which we place on the floor, trying to ensure that the lining fits snugly between each other and near the walls.

Every year, heated floors are becoming an increasingly popular type of heating. Their demand among the population is due to their high efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Today, several types of heated floors are produced. But for each of them, the substrate is important, which is made from various materials, depending on the type of floor heating.

Substrate for heated floors made of extruded polystyrene foam

Substrate requirements

There are three types of heated floors on the heating equipment market today:

You can find out the price and buy heating equipment and related products from us. Write, call and come to one of the stores in your city. Delivery throughout the Russian Federation and CIS countries.

Each type has its own design and functioning features, advantages and disadvantages, and they are installed using different technologies. In order to choose the most optimal option for heated floors, be sure to take into account all the features of each type.

One of the important conditions that must be observed when installing any type of heated floor is laying the underlying material (substrate).

Thermal reflective lining is placed between the concrete base and the heating system. The purpose of this part is to raise heat straight up. When choosing a substrate, pay attention to its quality and thickness.

Also, materials acting as bedding must meet the following requirements:

• environmental friendliness;
• safety;
• good sound insulation;
• simple installation;
• ability to withstand temperature changes.

Thanks to underfloor heating, you can retain 80-90% of heat and reduce energy costs.

Typically, the substrate is polypropylene or polyethylene foam, which is covered with a Mylar film with a metallized layer. It is thanks to this layer that heat is evenly distributed throughout the room, and foamed polyethylene prevents heat from escaping into the screed.

In addition, the foam backing for heated floors is characterized by low thermal conductivity, which means that heat will not escape into the screed and ceiling.

The substrate not only has high thermal insulation and waterproofing properties, it also has a high level of sound insulation.

What does saving on insulation lead to?

For example, let's take a room with an area of ​​50 square meters.

Usually they use polystyrene foam with bosses, the cost is 1 sq. meter on average 600 rubles, thickness - 2 cm. In most cases, this thickness is not enough for insulation, with the exception of the southern regions. Additional insulation up to 4 cm will cost another 150 rubles per square meter. The total amount will be 7,500 rubles. Saving this amount is what we are talking about when choosing insulation. The owner of the house strives to cut costs and often chooses the cheapest option - underlayment for heated floors, instead of the insulation itself. Ultimately, the thrifty home owner heats the outdoors and spends even more money to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.

Calculation of the cost of water heated floors

We have two rooms in front of us:

1. the first with normal, high-quality insulation of the required thickness;
2. the second - with a substrate for a warm floor under insulation and a “thrifty” owner.

In the first house, with 4 cm of insulation, the heat flow into the room exceeds the heat flow down three times. All the heat that the owner of the house pays for is used to heat the room, not the street! In the house of a “frugal” owner, the heat flow upward (to the room that needs to be heated) is almost equal to the heat flow downward (to the street, to nowhere). Forty watts per square meter go down the drain.

• On 1 square meter with underfloor heating we lose 40 W, on 50 square meters - 2000 W.
• 1 cubic meter of natural gas provides 10 kW of thermal power and costs 4.5 rubles (the price depends on the region, from 4 to 8 rubles).
• 10 00 W/2000 W = 5 hours – this is how much 1 cubic meter of natural gas is enough for heat loss.
• The boiler operates on average 12 hours a day. 12/5=2.4 cubic meters of gas are spent per day on heating the street.
• 2.4 (cubic meters) x 4.5 (rubles) x 30 (days) x 7 (months of the heating period) = 2,268 rubles per year.

They paid 7,500 rubles for the insulation / 2,268 rubles = 3.3 years - the payback period for the insulation. When using underfloor heating, heat losses will increase! These materials are not insulation!

When using insulation materials with insufficient thickness for complete thermal insulation or when using foil insulation, isoline (they are also a substrate for a heated floor), the owner of the house loses a lot of heat in the lower direction. This is either unreasonable savings or a serious misconception of the homeowner. Heat losses in this case are comparable to the heat flow entering the room. The use of high-quality insulation of the required thickness pays off in an average of 3-3.5 years of operation of a heated floor, when using natural gas as an energy source. Natural gas is the cheapest source of energy. If we talk about other sources, then insulation can pay for itself in 1 heating period (i.e. in 7 months).

For warm water floors

The underlay for a warm water floor is a material that is placed between the base and the water floor system itself.

Its main purposes:

• heat preservation;
• increasing the heat transfer coefficient into the room;
• in the event of an emergency, it does not allow leakage to penetrate into the lower structures of the structure.

All these functions are performed due to the fact that the substrate is a material with high thermal insulation.

The basis of the underlying layer is a foil underlay for a warm floor. The metallic lining is an extruded polymer foam that is covered with aluminum foil.

Underlay for heated floors Ecofol 5 mm

Before laying the foil substrate under a warm water floor, you must perform a number of actions:

• Insulation boards (expanded polystyrene, penofol or dense foam) are placed on the clean base of the floor;
• then a vapor barrier made of dense polyethylene film is laid;
• the foil lining is placed on the film, the reflective side should be on top;
• then the reinforced mesh is laid;
• the installed pipelines must be fixed to the mesh with plastic clamps;
• at the next stage the screed is carried out;
• then you need to lay the flooring itself;
• if the foil and vapor barrier protrude beyond the coverage, they need to be cut off;
• install baseboards.

In addition to foil, a floor made of lavsan (a metallized reflective layer on a film base) is used as a substrate for a water heated floor.

Thermal conductivity

The materials on the market meet minimum industry standards for thermal conductivity. But there may be enough cases when the lining under a warm water floor should insulate the surface as much as possible to reduce leaks. It could be:

• when constructing a system on the ground floor of houses built on the ground;
• if there is a damp, cold basement below;
• in houses with thin reinforced concrete floors.

A substrate for increased thermal insulation seems like a rational solution if you want to maximize the efficiency of your heating system. Or - not to give up a single extra thermal calorie to the enemy, that is, to the neighbors below.

For electric heated floors

Speaking about electric floors, it should immediately be noted that for such structures, heat-reflecting metallized substrates are not the best option. This is explained by the fact that the electrical cable and the metallized substrate are a pair of electrodes. The heating wire forms a magnetic field around itself, which induces stray currents on the metallized surface.

Stray currents destroy surrounding structures and can have a negative impact on human health.

Thanks to the markings on the substrate, which is presented in the form of a grid, it is possible to lay the heating cable according to the calculated step.

Just like a warm water floor system, laying a substrate under an electric heated floor requires certain actions:

1. First of all, it is necessary to prepare the base by first cleaning it.
2. Then the slab polymer insulation is laid on the already cleaned base.
3. A vapor barrier is laid over the entire area of ​​the room.
4. Next, a polymer bedding with a laminated coating with aluminum threads is spread.
5. Reinforcing plastic mesh is laid.
6. Using polyethylene clamps, an electrical cable is connected to the mesh.
7. The next stage: the entire area is filled with liquid concrete.
8. And the final touch is laying the flooring.

Polyethylene and penofol are usually chosen as bedding for electric heated floors.

The main purpose of the substrate for an infrared heated floor is to direct the infrared radiation of the film heater into the room.

In order to install an infrared heated floor, you must install it correctly (strictly according to the instructions), lay the substrate with the heat-reflecting surface facing up.

Heat-reflecting substrate Izolon Caleo lavsan - polyethylene foam

The underlay for film heated floors can be made from the following materials and taking into account the recommendations below:

1. Magnesite boards or fiberboard sheets. Before you start laying them, you need to lay aluminum foil on the pre-arranged screed. And the substrate itself is laid on top of it; a foil version can also be used.
2. If you have chosen a metallized polymer film as a substrate, then it must be laid with the reflective side up. The end result is a thin, flexible and environmentally friendly solution.
3. The insulation is laid over the entire area on which you subsequently plan to lay the infrared floor. The backing sheets are laid very tightly to each other, and the seams formed must be taped with metallized tape.

By following all the technology for laying the substrate, the warm floor will work effectively.

Types of insulation

Minvata

Good price, high thermal insulation properties, simple installation, noise absorption, fire resistance (NG class). The best option for electric floors (melting point not lower than 600 degrees), for water floors there are two serious disadvantages: the thickness is greater than that of other heat insulators, and hygroscopicity.

When wet, the material loses more than half of its heat-insulating properties, i.e. If the pipe leaks, the insulation will have to be replaced.

Ecological cleanliness is relative. Some varieties contain phenol. Basalt dust generated during installation is harmful to the respiratory organs of the installer.

When installing (the process of installing a heated water floor with your own hands) mineral wool (if you still choose it), in addition to the waterproofing substrate, you also need a vapor barrier layer on top, because the material has high vapor permeability. The vapor barrier membrane should be laid with the discharge side away from the insulation, i.e. up.

Expanded polystyrene

Many types, from regular foam to dense extruded PPS. To install floors (water heated floors installation technology), choose a material with a density of at least 35 kilograms per cubic meter.

Depending on the features of installation (on the ground, on a warm floor, in the southern region, on permafrost, etc.), the thickness of the insulation for a warm water floor can be 3-20 centimeters. Using EPS, you can perform insulation of the smallest thickness.

The flammability of PPS depends on the brand, from G1 to G4 (a decrease in flammability is achieved through flame retardant impregnations). There are no completely non-flammable types. When burned, the material releases toxic substances. Since in the case of water floors the probability of fire tends to zero, this factor can be neglected.

The advantages of the material are water resistance and vapor tightness. Waterproofing before installation is still required; vapor barrier is not needed. Low thermal conductivity, easy installation.

In addition to conventional slabs, ready-made PPS mats can be used for thermal insulation: their upper surface is profiled and made with ready-made channels for laying pipes. Some mat models do not even require additional fixation of the pipes after installation.

Using mats (about mats for heated water floors), you can make heated floors without a screed (which determines the thickness of the screed for a heated water floor): the profile ribs will take on the entire weight of the coating, furniture, etc., on the load pipes themselves will not be. The slabs are equipped with locks to connect the heat-insulating coating into a single whole, which makes the installation procedure extremely easy.

Cork

All its features speak in favor of this material, except the price.

Excellent heat/sound insulation properties, water resistance, resistance to decay and biological factors, environmental friendliness, easy installation.

The price is significantly higher than other insulation materials.

Foil insulation

Foil covered materials. In addition to the well-known penofol, the foil surface can have any material: basalt wool, EPS, polyurethane foam. The above-mentioned mats can be either with or without a foil coating.

When installing any heated floor, foil is necessary in any case: it is a screen that reflects the heat of the pipes into the room. If you choose insulation without a foil layer, you will have to additionally put foil on top of the heat insulator.

Other options for creating a heat-reflecting effect:

• wrap the pipes themselves with foil;
• place reflective aluminum or brass plates in the channels of profile mats or chipboard flooring;
• a combination of these two methods.

Detailed description

An excellent solution for insulating the floor before laying a heated floor system is Ecofol with a foam layer thickness of 3 mm. For the convenience of working with insulation, special markings are applied to its surface, which greatly facilitates the process of laying the coating, allows you to correctly set the dimensions of the sheet and cut out recesses for the pipes of the centralized heating and sewage system. The installation of insulation does not require the use of special tools.

The insulation has a high degree of flammability, so it can be used for underfloor heating systems with heating elements. It is characterized by high reliability and safety, and has excellent noise insulation qualities. Yellow foam fabric. Layer thickness – 3 mm.

Scope and installation features of reflective insulation

Thermal insulation with a metallized layer is manufactured in accordance with all hygienic standards and is a low-flammability material. Thanks to its small size, it does not cause problems during transportation and installation. The rolls are easy to cut, and for fastening you only need a construction stapler and special tape.

Reflective insulation effectively reduces the heat loss of a building when combined with the main insulation. Installation of the canvas with lavsan film provides protection from steam and moisture. Its use as part of a roofing pie is possible outside and from the attic. Insulation of the roof under the roof covering is carried out while eliminating noise and protecting against moisture penetration. The canvas is attached to the sheathing with a stapler, the joints are taped with tape. The reflective layer is directed upward. The finished insulation is covered with a counter batten for the finishing coating.

When attaching insulation, it is necessary to provide an air gap of at least 20 mm between the insulation and the outer cladding. Reflective ability, resistance to moisture and high temperature allow the material to be used when finishing baths and saunas. When insulating a balcony, polyethylene foam with lavsan is the best choice. A thin layer of insulation does not take up the space of a small room, while it performs the function of vapor and waterproofing and does not require the creation of additional layers.