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Electric underfloor heating for your wooden floor
In addition to water-based underfloor heating systems, electric underfloor heating is on the rise. More and more homes want to get rid of gas. This is possible if you opt for underfloor heating on electricity. Electric underfloor heating is usually used as additional heating.
Electric underfloor heating can be divided into three systems:
- Electric underfloor heating mats
- Electric underfloor heating cables
- Heating foil (infrared)
Disadvantage of electric heating as main heating is the high costs involved in comparison to other underfloor heating systems. The only reasons to choose for electric floor heating is when there is no room / building height available or when no heating tubes can be installed in the underfloor. Therefore, we recommend electric underfloor heating only as an additional heating system.
Electric / infrared underfloor heating applications
Electric underfloor heating is often used in rooms that do not need to be heated continuously. The power consumption increases with this system. This makes it economically unattractive when no solar panels are present. For larger spaces, it is better to opt for traditional water-based underfloor heating.
In addition, electric underfloor heating is often chosen when there is little construction height or when it is not possible to mill into the subfloor.
How does electric underfloor heating work?
Electric floor heating mats: electric cables are placed on fiber optic cables. The system is easy to install and has a low construction height. The mats can be placed directly on the screed. The mats have a fast heating time. One of the commonly used underfloor heating mats are the mats from Magnum Heating.
Electric underfloor heating cables: cables in a loop pattern that are laid in the floor. Usually finished with a screed floor. The system is therefore actually a wet construction. The system takes a little longer to heat up, but the floor stays warm longer.
Heating foil (infrared): very thin foil in which copper heating pipes are incorporated. An insulating material is often used under the foil. The foil is provided with a moisture barrier where the final floor can be installed on. Foil heats up quickly. The temperature can be regulated separately for each heat zone.
Electric underfloor heating in combination with wooden floor
Wooden floors have been a natural combination with underfloor heating for decades. The same goes for electric underfloor heating. Wooden floors are often glued to the subfloor if underfloor heating is used. The reason for this is that this creates less resistance for the heating-up time.
A wooden floor cannot be glued directly to a wooden floor with patterned floors such as chevron and herringbone floors. An intermediate floor must be created that can absorb the stresses of a wooden floor. Get good advice from the supplier. A floor that is suitable for this is the Fermacell 2e22. In addition, a plank floor can be placed floating on a conductive foil. There is no need to create a mezzanine floor.
Points of attention infrared / electric underfloor heating
- Mainly floating installation of the wooden floor
- Make sure that the subfloor is suitable for a wooden floor if the wooden floor has to be glued
- Power consumption is many times higher with electric underfloor heating
- Be careful with plates and milling in the floors because of the current
INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING WOODEN FLOORS OVER ELECTRIC UNDERFLOOR HEATING
For the installation of the electrical underfloor heating, follow the manufacturer's instructions. After being professionally fitted and covered with a mortar approved for wooden floors, the floor should be treated like a wet underfloor heating system.
- Before you start gluing the wooden floors, you must perform the heating protocol. As a rule, this protocol takes 2 to 3 weeks and may not start before the floor is 28 days old.
- The maximum residual moisture content in the floor may not exceed 2.0%.
- Machine sand or brush the surface to remove any sludges present. Then clean thoroughly with an industrial vacuum cleaner.
- Prime the mortar with a primer, apply with the foam roller, lambskin roller or spatula. Use about 80-200 g / m². Drying time approximately 1 hour at 20 ° C and max 65% RV. Avoid ponding!
- Then glue the wooden floor. Use about 1000-1200 g / m². Apply with toothed B11.
