Vinyl laminate - varieties, advantages, installation. Underfloor heating under vinyl tiles Underfloor heating under quartz vinyl

I conducted a thermal imaging survey of some private houses in the Moscow region and found significant heat leaks at absolutely all objects along the line adjoining the blind area to the basement. I will give a fragment of the facade of one of them. In the photo, the yellow frame shows the part of the facade that falls into the field of view of the thermal imaging camera:

The combined image looks like this:

The "colder" surfaces in the infrared part of the image are purple fading to dark blue, while the "warmer" ones are orange fading to yellow. As you can see, the blind area junction line has the highest temperature. The heating of the blind area is carried out due to the heat leaving the house.

Let us consider in more detail a thermogram with a temperature scale corresponding to the colors and temperature values ​​at some points:

As you can see, the coldest temperature (-7.7 ° C) is on the surface of a shower tray standing at a distance from the house. This structure, which accidentally fell into the frame, stands near the extension and does not receive heat from the house. Therefore, it is logical to assume that the temperature of its surface is not lower or approximately equal to the temperature of the outdoor air. In other words, at the time of shooting, the air temperature was no higher than -8 ° C, and maybe even lower.
The most “hot” surface is the area where the blind area adjoins the foundation: -0.8 ° C. This is 7°C higher than the ambient temperature. Can you imagine how well this place is heated by the house heating system?
And finally, look at the surface of the blind area. The temperature of its surface is kept within the range from -2oC to -3oC, also due to the heat received from the house and does not cool down to the ambient temperature.

I repeat once again that such heat leaks are typical for all houses that I examined. I believe that your house also heats the blind area. And if you add heat due to TP or by adding radiators, your blind area will be even warmer. Do you need it?
Maybe something else to offer you?

Can I lay tiles on IR floor heating (infrared floor heating)?

Infrared film underfloor heating can be laid under the quartz-vinyl Fine Floor, provided that soft foam substrates are not used, which decrease in thickness under the action of a vertical local load (parimer from cabinet legs). Here we take into account that the quartz-vinyl flooring does not distribute the load, and transfers it completely to the base. Underfloor heating manufacturers recommend laying a thick soft foil substrate in order to avoid excessive heat losses on an uninsulated screed and to hide wires and terminals in it without gating.
Application is possible if the thick substrate is replaced:

1. On a thin cork technical substrate with an additional layer of foil membrane and deepen the wires and terminals.
2. Without the use of a substrate, on an insulated screed with a recess for wires and terminals. In this case, heat losses increase, but the "warm floor" is protected from overheating and burnout.
3. On the foil membrane, in this case, infrared radiation will be reflected inside the room.

What is the thermal conductivity of fine floor quartz vinyl tiles?

The thermal conductivity of the tile is R = 0.25 W / m * K, this indicator characterizes the thermal insulation properties, for us the thermal conductivity indicator is more important, which shows how quickly the material conducts heat through itself, and the thermal conductivity of quartz-vinyl corresponds to such wood as ash, which is why when touched to the surface of the tile we feel thermal comfort.

How soon after laying the Fine Floor tiles can you turn on "warm floors"?

Not earlier than 24 hours when installing adhesive quartz-vinyl.
Immediately field installation of free-lying castle quartz-vinyl.

How to put underfloor heating film under FineFloor and what should be used?

Base: concrete screed.
1. Lay out the underfloor heating carpets on the screed and mark with a marker the places where their docking falls. In the marked areas, we make recesses to hide all the wires and terminals in them.
2. We drill recesses, remove debris.
3 Lay the film floor. Wires and terminals must be hidden in pre-prepared recesses in the screed and puttied with one-component polyurethane sealant to create a smooth surface.
4. Lay the Fine Floor according to the instructions.

You can arrange the furniture immediately after laying, avoiding the installation of furniture over floor heating mats.

Which underfloor heating systems are suitable for FineFloor vinyl tiles?

Fine Floor is suitable for any underfloor heating systems that do not require a thick foam underlay. The temperature on the floor surface is regulated by SanPiN standards and is 27-28 about C. Heating tiles to higher temperatures is possible, but it should be taken into account that the tile becomes more plastic and its technical parameters change, that the adhesive tile, while thermally expanding, does not move into thermal gaps, and the lock free-lying one shifts, therefore thermal gaps near the walls in in this case must be observed.

In the range of floor coverings, vinyl laminate has appeared relatively recently, but has already declared itself as a presentable, practical material with interesting decorative solutions.

Characteristic features of vinyl laminate

Vinyl laminate is made in separate panels. Its structure is based on the use of polyvinyl chloride - a material better known as vinyl.

Panels of various thicknesses are produced, consisting of several layers, among which, in addition to pressed vinyl, there may be a layer of quartz sand, a reinforcing mesh, a decorative layer with an image, and a protective polyurethane varnish.

The composition of polyurethane, which acts as a surface protection, often contains additives that improve its properties. It could be aluminum oxide. The main performance qualities are provided by vinyl products, which have a stable structure, resistance to many external influences.

Advantages

The popularity of vinyl laminate is due to its quality characteristics. In some respects, it is significantly ahead of traditional laminated panels.

• High degree of water resistance. Even with a long stay of spilled water on the surface, the flooring will not receive deformations.
• Strength. In terms of wear resistance, vinyl laminate belongs to class 34 or 43. It is able to withstand significant dynamic loads without damage.
• Long service life of ≥ 25 years due to abrasion resistance.
• Good thermal insulation characteristics.

• Wide scope of use. Due to its strength and moisture resistance, this innovative material is approved for use in rooms for various purposes. It will not warp if laid on a bathroom or pool floor.
• Pleasant tactile sensations. Since laminated vinyl flooring has low thermal conductivity, its surface remains warm and comfortable to move on. For living rooms, you can choose options with a softened surface.
• Easy care. Vinyl laminate, thanks to the protective film, does not absorb dirt, so they can be easily removed with conventional detergents that do not contain abrasive particles.
• Available mounting. The well-thought-out design allows you to quickly assemble a flat surface without visible joints.
• Resistance to temperature fluctuations, which makes it possible to use vinyl laminate as a topcoat when arranging underfloor heating. When heated, there is no release of substances that adversely affect health.
• Providing good sound insulation. When using this material, there is no need to equip an additional noise barrier.
• Fire resistance.

Consumers are attracted by the diverse decor of vinyl laminate, the advantages of which are enhanced by its non-slip surface. From the assortment offered by manufacturers, you can choose options that are suitable for a specific interior style solution. It presents a variety of colors, ornamental motifs, as well as imitation of natural textures - stone, wood.

Possible disadvantages

Before choosing an innovative floor covering - vinyl laminate, it is advisable to carefully study the disadvantages of this material, which experts warn about.

• Since polyvinyl chloride is a rather soft material, careful leveling of the rough base is required at the preparatory stage in order to avoid damage in the future.
• The polyurethane coating can change the original color of the coating when interacting with rubber objects, since an irreversible reaction begins.
• When purchasing budget varieties, minor defects and scratches may appear. It is also noted that after laying such a coating for several days there is an unpleasant smell in the room. Some develop tearing, sore throat, and asthmatic attacks intensify.

• If the room has a window oriented to the south, then from direct sunlight the polyurethane surface gradually turns yellow, losing its original decor.
• Although vinyl does not support direct combustion, it will melt when in contact with a flame, releasing hazardous toxic fumes.
• With good moisture resistance of the surface of vinyl panels, there is a danger of water penetration into the joints, which is possible if products with a locking connection are used.
• When exposed to strong aggressive household chemicals, solvents, the coating can get unaesthetic stains.

Environmentalists are concerned about the lack of an efficient system to safely dispose of many long-lived wastes, including vinyl products.

To neutralize a number of negative impacts of this material will allow the purchase of high-quality products with the obligatory requirement to present a license, certificates, passport in order to study all the technical characteristics and make a competent choice. It is worth noting that the price of such flooring is quite high.

Classification

In the classification, flexible and resilient vinyl laminate, depending on the manufacturing method, is represented by three types.

• Quartz vinyl tile, in the structure of which there is a central layer of quartz chips, which has a positive effect on strengthening the strength characteristics and increasing the durability of the material.
• PVC laminate, which is a panel made of vinyl and special natural resins using pressing technology.
• Vinyl self-adhesive tiles.

New products include mirrored laminate, which creates a sense of depth by producing a transparent floor surface.

By appointment, the material has three classes.

• 23 - 31. Household laminate, recommended for flooring in residential areas with little traffic;
• 32 - 42. Commercial analogue, oriented for use in buildings characterized by medium and high traffic.
• 43. Vinyl special laminate for sports, trading floors, industrial shops with heavy load on the floor surface.

Based on the elasticity index, it is possible to distinguish between rigid and flexible vinyl tiles. The rigid variety requires the most careful leveling of the base, since it can crack during elevation changes during operation.

The laminate also differs in configuration. Depending on the design project, you can choose square tiles. Also, a wide variety is represented by rectangular panels, which can be not only classic sizes, resembling ceramic tiles, but also imitate a long floorboard. There is an assortment of roll material of various widths.

A variety of sizes allows you to choose the type of flooring for specific conditions. If preference is given to analogues of the board, then panels with dimensions of 1251x187 mm, 1213 x 171 mm, 1219 x 184 mm, 1220 x 180 mm, 1212 x 185 mm can be used. Tiles with smaller dimensions are conveniently mounted - 914 x 305 mm, 610 x 305 mm, 813 x 406 mm, 655 x 324 mm. The thickness also has a fairly wide range from 3.2 mm to 12 mm.

Mounting methods

Having decided to use vinyl laminate flooring, it is advisable to study the features of the two connection methods and choose the most suitable for specific conditions.

1. Castle way. You can assemble a laminate equipped with a locking joint system yourself, creating a continuous coating on which the joints are not visually distinguishable. The panels have a smart tape on the indents, which contributes to a reliable connection of the lamellas. The lock can be collapsible click or with latches - lock.

1. Adhesive reception. For laying self-adhesive tiles, an adhesive outer layer is provided under the protective film on the underside. Before installation, it is enough to remove the protection and glue the panel on the prepared floor, which must be even. It is not necessary to remove the old coating of ceramic tiles or linoleum that does not have defects. Manufacturers provide for laying a vinyl laminate on a similar finished base. If a model is purchased without an adhesive layer, then a special mastic will be required for gluing. Rolled laminate is the most difficult to carry out such an operation.

Attention! If the installation is carried out on a screed made above the floor heating system, then the heating is turned off at the time the laminate is delivered to the room. After completion of all work, the heating circuit is turned on after a week. It is advisable to use a quartz vinyl variety.

What can vinyl laminate be installed on?

Innovative vinyl laminate, despite its elasticity and strength, requires serious preliminary preparation of the floor. The priority requirement is almost one hundred percent evenness of the horizontal plane.

For panels with a locking system, it is easiest to level the floor by making a thin screed. In exceptional cases, if there are minor defects without height differences, it is permissible to apply putty in problem areas.

The wooden floor will serve as the basis, securely attached to the logs, without cracks and chips. A thorough inspection is carried out before starting work. All nail heads are hammered flush with the surface, minor cracks are covered with putty intended for wood.

If it is decided to use panels with an adhesive layer, then it is advisable to lay a layer of thin plywood on a wooden base. As already noted, tiles without a relief surface texture with restored seams, as well as linoleum, are suitable as a base.

Advice! The substrate is laid only when using interlocking panels. No additional layers are required for self-adhesive and laid on a layer of special mastic material.

Subtleties of laminate installation

The optimum temperature for laying vinyl laminate flooring is 18°C. After delivery from the store, the material does not need to be immediately unpacked so that dust or dirt does not get on the smart tape, which can compromise the reliability of the connection. Panels should lie down in the room for at least two days.

On an already prepared basis, the algorithm for working with a laminate with a lock connection involves the performance of several sequential operations.

1. Laying should begin from the far corner, if you look at the room from the doorway.
2. For the first row, the adhesive tape on one side of the panels is cut off, and they are laid against the wall, taking into account the thermal gap of 4 - 5 mm.
3. The film is removed from the smart tape and the element of the second row is laid with an offset so that the joints do not match. It is placed at an angle and carefully lowered to the floor so that the lock connection closes. To achieve reliability, glue seams are ironed with a rubber roller.

Under the planks with an adhesive layer, the floor, freed from contamination, is pre-primed and thoroughly dried. For tiled flooring, this operation is not required. The film is simply removed from the slats, and they are glued with the displacement of each subsequent row. In this case, no compensation gap is left.

To make the coating perfect, you should carefully mark the first row, which should represent a strictly even line. It is advisable to control this indicator in the process of execution and the next rows in order to prevent a shift of even a few millimeters.

The tiles are cut on the wrong side with a construction knife. First, a cut is made, and then the panel is broken. If it is necessary to make holes or curved lines, a drawing is first made according to which a template is prepared that allows you to accurately cut the desired lines.

Rolled vinyl laminate, not equipped with an adhesive layer, is laid on a special adhesive. The technique is identical to wallpapering. First, the length of the strip rolled up into a roll is measured, which is unwound as it is glued from one wall to another. Joints are made minimal by adjusting the strips with hand movements, which is easy to do, since the glue does not immediately set.

During the operation of the coating, made by the floating method using the interlock, it is necessary to maintain a uniform temperature in the room. This is due to the fact that with sharp and significant thermal fluctuations, end gaps appear, since under such conditions the strips are compressed in length. Dust gets into the resulting micro-slit, preventing the panel from returning to its original position in the future.

In the hallway, corridor, bathroom, it is advisable to choose the adhesive method of installing vinyl laminate. In areas subject to intense traffic or high humidity, a floor covering with sealed joints will last for a sufficiently long period.

Do-it-yourself vinyl laminate flooring

According to a number of experts, quartz vinyl tiles and underfloor heating are not a very rational combination. Continuous thermal stress on the material can lead to accelerated wear. In addition, it is quite warm on its own. Such arguments should be taken into account, but if you think that the house needs additional heating, feel free to proceed with the choice of heating system. When the installation is made taking into account all the requirements of the manufacturer, this will not significantly affect the service life of the quartz vinyl coating. But the level of comfort will increase significantly.

What is this coverage

The basis of this relatively new PVC material on the domestic market is quartz sand, from which 60 to 80% of the product is formed. Quartz vinyl tile for underfloor heating boasts the highest strength and durability, is not afraid of moisture, fire and is practically not erased. Outwardly, it can look like any modern coating, from laminate to granite or marble. The product is multilayered and consists of the following components:

1. Transparent polyurethane that protects the surface from deformations and scratches.
2. Decorative film that gives the material texture.
3. The main layer of quartz vinyl, providing proper strength and stability.
4. Fiberglass reinforcement.
5. Vinyl layer responsible for balance.

Underfloor heating installation

Underfloor heating under quartz vinyl tiles can be either electric (cable, film) or water. The main thing is that the operating temperature does not exceed the level specified by the coating manufacturer. When it comes to installing heating for a private house, a pipe system is often installed.

Installation of a water structure

The easiest way is to lay pipes on a concrete screed. If the old surface is sufficiently even, you can not fill in a new layer, but limit yourself to eliminating defects with building materials. Insulating material is spread over the entire heated area. The pipes are pulled through the room with a “snail” or “snake”, following the step indicated in the laying diagram, after which they are fixed to the base. The system is tested and filled with a finishing screed. As soon as the concrete grabs completely, you can proceed to the flooring of the material.

If it is not possible to lay a warm floor under a vinyl laminate on a cement base, there is an option to fix the pipes on a wooden surface. The contour is placed in channels specially made on the boards and covered with plywood boards on top. For electric cable, this option is not suitable due to fire safety requirements. When it comes to heating an apartment, water equipment is already contraindicated here.

Installation of electrical systems

Getting permission to install floor pipes in a multi-storey building with central heating is almost impossible. You will have to choose between a cable (“naked” or mounted in mats) and an infrared film. In the first case, the installation is carried out according to the “pipe” scheme: the base is leveled, the insulation is spread, the cable is unfolded, fixed and connected to the thermostat, tested, covered with a screed.

If you have chosen a film underfloor heating under a vinyl floor, you only need to carefully lay the material and connect it to the thermostat correctly. The tile can be mounted without any "intermediaries", directly on the surface. For such an installation, products with a locking connection should be used. In other cases, it is easier and cheaper to fix with glue. More useful information on this topic can be found on our website.

Quartz vinyl tile is a facing material, in the manufacture of which several layers are used. The finished material has a reinforced layer, to which fiberglass is used. Thanks to him, it is possible to obtain a single whole canvas. During production, hot pressing is used, there are no harmful components.

The composition of quartz vinyl tiles can be called unique. This is a floor covering, for the manufacture of which river sand and shell rock are used. In the composition they are present up to 70%. The composition also contains PVC, which does not harm the environment and human health.

Description

Before you buy a quartz vinyl slab, you need to familiarize yourself with the structure of this material. In its manufacture, several layers are used:

The fastening of all presented layers is carried out according to a special technology using PVC. It is an adhesive component, while completely harmless. Its presence in the composition of the finishing material improves performance. The thickness of the tiles can reach 1.6-4 mm. To select the best material for the floor, you should familiarize yourself with.

On the video - quartz vinyl floor tiles:

Pros and cons

Quartz vinyl tile is one of the most popular finishing materials today. And this demand is associated with the following advantages:

1. Layered structure. The tile belongs to environmentally friendly floor materials. Under the influence of moisture and high temperatures, it does not emit components harmful to the human body. Also, the material has 100% resistance to moisture, so you can use tiles when laying in the kitchen and bathroom.
2. When comparing quartz vinyl tiles with laminate, it has a wear resistance class of 32.
3. Ease of installation and practicability of cladding. It is very easy to take care of the tiles using liquid household detergents.
4. Quartz vinyl tiles- It is a combustible and fireproof material. It does not have static electricity, so it is completely anti-static.
5. If under the tile to mount the substrate, then the resulting finish will have excellent thermal conductivity. In addition, vinyl material has high thermal conductivity. Therefore, tiles can be used for facing the base on which the warm floor was installed.
6. Long service life. He is 25 years old. Since the composition of the material does not contain plasticizers and foaming agents, it does not deform under the influence of high temperatures and humidity. Consequently, air spaces will not appear between the cladding elements, which is extremely important. Laying tiles can occur end-to-end to walls or plumbing fixtures.
7. Quartz vinyl tiles- This is a finishing material that belongs to the category of soundproofing. It is able to muffle shocks and noises up to 19 dB.
8. Tiles can be repaired. It is very easy to dismantle one tile and install a new one; each person can do all the work on their own without the involvement of outside help.

On the video locking quartz vinyl floor tiles:

The disadvantages of quartz vinyl tiles include:

1. The installation of tiles takes place on a cement base. For fasteners, special adhesives are used, thanks to which the material holds for a long time and firmly.
2. Quartz vinyl tiles will be cool in a room where concrete acts as a base.
3. After laying the slab, gaps may occur, which cannot be said about rolled materials. In addition, these gaps will brighten and become more noticeable over time.
4. Before applying quartz vinyl tiles, the floor surface should be leveled. If this is not done, then all defects will be noticeable, especially if the tile has a small thickness.

But how long the cement floor screed dries under the tile and how to determine the correct time frame is described in this

Mounting

The installation process begins with the fact that you need to properly prepare the base. It must be strong and even. To achieve this result, it is necessary to screed using cement or self-levelling polymer-based compounds.

If the base is wooden, then the leveling process will have to be performed from sheets or chipboard boards. A flat surface must be treated with a primer and checked for moisture. The last criterion should not be higher than 5%. For fixing the plates, a special glue is used. If this is not the case, then installation can be performed using a dispersion adhesive composition. But what and how to calculate it yourself is indicated here in the article.

On the video, quartz vinyl tiles on a warm water floor:

Prepare the glue following the instructions. Apply to the surface with a notched trowel. At the same time, make sure that the layer is uniform. After applying the adhesive, wait for some time so that it can acquire adhesive strength. As a rule, this will take 10 minutes. Plates are produced in two types: squares and rectangles. Sizes may vary.

The laying process can be carried out along the room, in the case of laminate. And if you use square tiles, then they will have to be placed along a line that is parallel to the length of the wall.