Underfloor heating is an ingenious and efficient solution for creating a pleasant thermal environment in homes or offices. This option is enjoying increasing popularity among property owners, with underfloor heating systems offering important benefits.
Underfloor heating systems are of two types: electric and through pipes. The electric ones are easier to install, they involve a significant electricity consumption, which is why it is indicated to be installed in small spaces (eg in the bathroom).
Pipe heating involves a higher initial investment, but the consumption of heat is lower than in the case of conventional heating, which makes the investment pay off quickly.
Regardless of the option you opt for, it is very important to know the advantages and disadvantages of underfloor heating.
What are the advantages of underfloor heating systems
Underfloor heating ensures superior thermal comfort compared to classic heating systems. Among its biggest advantages is increased efficiency, which means that such a system will reduce bill costs.
Next, we can mention the health benefits that underfloor heating offers. This is a much safer alternative from this point of view, because it does not cause allergies and stimulates blood circulation.
Beyond all these advantages, we must also mention the advantages that this system offers from an aesthetic point of view. The pipes and radiators needed for the classic thermal systems will disappear, the design of the house being much more airy and spacious.
What are the disadvantages of a underfloor heating system
Although underfloor heating systems are a modern and efficient option, they also have some disadvantages. For example, it is very important that it be provided from the design phase of the space, because it is not indicated that the area in which it is positioned be covered by furniture.
Underfloor heating systems make it harder to heat certain types of flooring, such as natural stone or ceramic tiles.
The increased initial costs can also be considered a disadvantage of these heating systems.
How to install underfloor heating systems
To properly install a underfloor heating system, we need to go through several steps:
A thermal insulation layer is installed on the concrete floor, in order to prevent heat loss. A very useful product at this stage is basalt wool for flooring .
A film and a layer of extruded polystyrene are mounted over the cotton wool. Then, the pipes of the heating system will be installed in the floor.
The screed is poured, a step that can be taken as soon as the heating system has been tested under pressure.
The screed can be either lime-cement or plaster. Cement lime screeds contain special additives that give them resistance to shrinkage and expansion caused by the thermal agent in the floor, but they are cold screeds.
It is recommended that the screed be allowed to dry naturally, without the process being stimulated by drafts, just to avoid cracking. It is also recommended that the finishing of the finishes take place only after the screed has dried very well.
It is very important that the products used after installing the underfloor heating are compatible with it. For tiling with natural stone it is important to choose the right adhesives .
