What kind of warm floor to choose for the loggia. Choosing a warm floor on the balcony

Every year, the number of apartment owners, characterized by the presence of balconies, whose plans include the year-round use of free space, is increasing exponentially. In most cases, they are faced with the question: "How to create comfortable microclimatic conditions not only in residential premises, but also where developers have not provided heating radiators in the winter and autumn-spring periods?" In this case, we are talking about balconies and loggias. They are especially appreciated by homeowners if the apartment is characterized by a small area. In this case, the loggia can be converted into a bedroom, a private office, a winter greenhouse, or even a small gym. Another quite justified solution - equipment on the workshop loggia - ease of airing, compact size and a large amount of light - all this contributes to the creation of favorable conditions for creativity. However, the whole atmosphere will quickly disappear if, in order to go to the balcony, you need to look for slippers for a long time, and dust from the balcony constantly gets into the room. In cities where typical apartments are small, homeowners prefer to convert them into living space, which becomes their favorite lounge. But, in order to turn a balcony or loggia into a full-fledged room, it is necessary to determine its intended purpose. In the event that you intend to use the balcony for domestic needs, in order to carry out its optimal insulation, you have to carry out only glazing and partial laying of the heat-insulating material. But if you plan to re-equip the balcony for a separate living space or its continuation, experts recommend equipping a warm floor on the balcony. Next, we will consider the main types of underfloor heating and installation methods for the most popular options.

Warm floor on the balcony: ways to insulate a balcony

There are several ways to insulate a balcony, and before deciding on the most optimal one, you must clearly understand for yourself the difference between a balcony and a loggia. Having dealt with this, you will understand that it is impractical to insulate the floor on an unglazed balcony. If you plan to turn the balcony into an additional room, first of all, take care of installing the walls, and, in the case of the location of the apartment on the top floor, installing the roof. Only after carrying out all the above measures, you can proceed to the insulation of the internal space, including the floor. If we are talking about a loggia, it is necessary to ensure that there are no cracks and gaps in the windows through which heat will escape.

There are several ways to heat a balcony or loggia:

Use of central heating radiators. Despite the fact that this method is effective, in the process of its application it is necessary not to forget about the legislative prohibition of bringing central heating to the balcony, neglect of which can lead to serious consequences;

Another popular way to insulate a balcony is to install electric heating devices. Currently, the modern construction market offers the consumer electric radiators, electric convectors, electric fireplaces, as well as combined heating devices. The safest in terms of operation are oil coolers.

Important! Despite the variety of ways to insulate a balcony, in modern conditions, the most popular is the arrangement of a warm floor on a balcony, which can be carried out in several ways, each of which is characterized by its own advantages and disadvantages.

Popular solutions for floor insulation on the balcony: how to choose the right option?

There are several ways of arranging a warm floor on a loggia, the main ones of which are:

• Electric underfloor heating, the installation of which involves the use of heating mats or cables. In accordance with this principle, the eponymous varieties of the electric floor are distinguished;
• Warm water floor on the balcony, the principle of operation of which is based on the use of a special water circuit system;
• Infrared (film) underfloor heating, the installation of which is based on the use of infrared film.

Electric underfloor heating and its varieties: advantages and disadvantages

To ensure the optimal microclimate and full use of the loggia as a living space, experts recommend installing an electric floor heating on the balcony. There are several types of electric underfloor heating: underfloor heating using heating mats and an electric cable.

Heating cable system. This method involves the use of a cable heating system, which can be used as the main or additional circuit. The main elements of this system are the heating cable and the thermoregulation system, represented by a compact wall-mounted device. Due to the fact that the thermostat allows you to regulate the intensity of heating of the heated room, taking into account weather conditions, it is one of the most important elements of the system. Most often, for arranging an electric underfloor heating in conditions of thermally insulated balconies, cable systems are used, equipped with one- and two-core heating sections. The power of the system is a variable parameter and can be adjusted, amounting to approximately 160-180 W / sq. meter. During the installation of the cable heating system, it is necessary to equip the floor cement screed, as well as the installation of a heat and waterproofing layer. In this case, the thickness of the cement screed is 4-5 cm, and the heating cable is laid at a depth of 3 cm relative to the surface layer of the cement screed. As for the topcoat, it must be made of a material with good thermal conductivity, such as tile or ceramic tiles, concrete or porcelain stoneware.

Advantages of the cable heating system:

• Ensuring uniform heating of the entire area of ​​the heated room;
• Ease of temperature regulation;
• Affordable pricing policy of manufacturers;
• Possibility of timely detection of faults in the system and ease of their elimination;
• Possibility of installation in any apartment, including standard buildings without the additional use of specialized equipment.

Disadvantages of a cable heating system:

• Increase in the cost of paying electricity bills in the process of the subsequent use of the cable heating system;
• The presence of electromagnetic radiation, although in smaller volumes than when using heating mats.

Important! When installing an electric cable heating system, it must be remembered that pouring even a thin concrete screed increases the load on the supporting plates of the balcony, which in the future can cause unpleasant consequences.

Installation of heating mats. When an increase in the load on the supporting plates of the balcony is not possible, experts recommend giving preference to an alternative option - laying heating mats, designed specifically for additional heating of the room. Heating mats are most preferable if you do not plan to use the insulated balcony as a permanent residence. For example, if you want to convert a balcony into a dressing room or a room for drying clothes and installing ironing boards. Despite the fact that such premises are not intended for permanent residence, it is necessary to maintain optimal microclimatic conditions in them. A distinctive feature of heating mats is their ease of installation, and therefore, they can be laid directly on the old coating, as well as concrete and leveling screed. In the case of installation on an old flooring, it is necessary to use a tile adhesive. Almost any material can be used as a finishing coating for the floor: ceramic tiles, porcelain stoneware, tiles or linoleum.

Advantages of heating mats:

• Convenience of transportation, which is ensured due to the low weight of the structure;
• Ease of installation and the ability to lay heating sections directly into a layer of tile adhesive;
• There is no need to prepare the base, in contrast to the cable system, and therefore, in most cases, heating mats are laid on old surfaces;
• The design features of the heating mats are in themselves an advantage of the material. The cable is already fixed in the structure of the heating mats and is completely ready for further installation. Despite the fact that their price is slightly higher than traditional cable in reels, inexperienced craftsmen often prefer them to traditional cable, since they can cope with the installation of heating mats on their own.

Disadvantages of heating mats:

• The presence of strong electromagnetic radiation;
• It is not recommended to turn on and off the heating system often;
• The possibility of damage during transportation, stacking and storage, in connection with which, it is necessary to constantly monitor their operational condition;
• High energy consumption and low efficiency in the process of heating insulated loggias and closed balconies. Even insulation in accordance with all the rules and the tightness of the room does not guarantee the creation of an optimal microclimate. In the process of using heating mats for heating a glazed balcony, you can notice that the glass always remains cold, and therefore, the air, reaching the window, quickly cools down and falls down, contributing to the cooling of the floor.

Water heated floor on the balcony: the main features

A water floor on a balcony is the most effective way to heat a room intended for permanent residence. The use of a water heated floor is most rational if you plan to heat a room with a large area. Its popularity is due to its energy efficiency, reliability and relative ease of installation. By giving preference to this option, you will provide the most efficient and budgetary way to heat a glazed balcony or loggia. The basis of this system is represented by a pipeline laid under the floor in a special way, through which hot water is constantly circulated.

Advantages of the water floor system:

• Uniform heating of the floor over the entire area of ​​the heated room;
• Unit costs only in the process of installing the system and subsequent savings in paying electricity bills;
• Visual absence of heating radiators and other heating devices, which contributes to significant space savings;
• Guaranteed high-quality heating of the premises, subject to relatively low costs.

Disadvantages of a water floor system:

• Difficulties arising in the process of regulating the temperature regime of the floor surface;
• If you plan to install a warm floor on a loggia, during the installation process you may encounter certain difficulties;
• Installation of warm water floors helps to reduce the pressure in the riser, to compensate for which it is necessary to install a riser;
• The likelihood of an intractable leak associated with the installation of a warm floor. In this regard, many craftsmen often refuse to install a water-heated floor on the balcony in the conditions of apartment buildings, which is associated with the difficulties of installation and subsequent operation. However, in apartments with a separate heating circuit or private houses, the installation of a water-heated floor is a perfectly acceptable option.

Infrared floor heating: what you need to know about the system?

Of all the previously mentioned methods of installing a warm floor on a balcony, an infrared or so-called film warm floor is the most suitable way to heat a floor on a balcony. It is represented by a flexible ultra-thin film made of non-metallic heating elements, the thickness of which does not exceed 0.3 mm. It emits infrared waves over the entire surface, the length of which is 5-20 mm. In terms of frequency of use, an infrared warm floor is not inferior to cable heating systems, which is due to the possibility of laying under linoleum or laminate. Of all the existing options for heating systems, infrared underfloor heating is the only system that does not lead to cracking and drying of wooden floor coverings. The power of the infrared warm floor is 180-220 W / sq. meter, which is an ideal indicator of power in a balcony. Installation of an infrared underfloor heating is characterized by simplicity and does not involve dismantling the old coating. The use of this structure does not contribute to the weighting of the floor and is effectively combined with all types of floor coverings.

Advantages of infrared film coating:

• Significant energy savings. If you usually feel comfortable at a temperature of +20 degrees, then by installing an infrared film coating, you will feel the usual temperature even when the thermometer scale rises to +15 degrees;
• Infrared heating complex mobility;
• In the process of direct operation of heating elements, the concentration of negative ions in the air increases by about 3-4 times, which contributes to a beneficial effect on the body;
• Ease of installation: if desired, the infrared film canvases can be cut into several separate modules, distributing the set over several rooms.

Heating element selection rules: what to look for?

The first thing to look for when choosing a heating element is concrete screed thickness... To effectively carry out the installation of a cable underfloor heating, the thickness of the concrete screed must be at least 5 cm. If the thickness of the concrete screed is less than 5 cm, an infrared underfloor heating or a heating system using heating mats will be the best choice for you. It should be borne in mind that in the case of installing heating mats, the floor height will increase by one centimeter, while the infrared heating film is mounted directly under the floor covering.

Floor covering material is another factor that you need to pay attention to when choosing a heating element. If you have chosen porcelain stoneware, concrete, tile or stone as your flooring, experts recommend giving preference to a cable heating system. Carpet, laminate, linoleum or PVC flooring is best combined with a warm floor equipped with heating mats. Another suitable option for flooring using linoleum, laminate or carpet is an infrared underfloor heating.

In addition to the above options, there are other methods of installing a warm floor, which must be taken into account depending on certain conditions. When arranging wooden floor coverings, it is important to remember that its thermal conductivity will be significantly reduced compared to floor coverings made of other materials.

How to make a warm floor on a balcony?

Installation of cable heating system

Speaking about the insulation of the balcony, the warm floor in the structure of which performs one of the most important functions, we will consider how to make a warm floor based on the cable system. In the process of installation work, most likely, you will encounter difficulties associated with the limited space and design features of the room. Laying an electric cable, which is the main heating element, is one of the most acceptable solutions when arranging a warm floor. The installation of the cable is carried out under the finished floor covering, while the thermostat must be left in sight - another important element of the electric underfloor heating, designed to regulate the intensity of heating. The setting of the most optimal level is done manually and is determined by weather conditions and individual preferences of the owners.

Important! Laying of single and double-core cable elements is carried out during the installation of the concrete screed. At the same time, it is important to remember about the need to lay heat and waterproofing materials, which helps to reduce heat loss.

In short, the installation of an electric underfloor heating is as follows:

• Leveling the base floor surface;
• Laying of heat-insulating material, which is the basis for further fastening of the mounting tape;
• Fastening the mounting tape, over which the heating cable is laid;
• Installing a thermostat in a place accessible to you;
• Pouring the entire floor area with a cement-concrete screed;
• Laying ceramic tiles.

Installation of a water-heated floor: a brief instruction

• Prepare the floor surface. Preparatory measures include leveling the surface with subsequent marking of the room for expansion joints and cleaning the working surface from debris;
• Install heat-insulating material, the thickness of which does not exceed 30-140 mm;
• Install the reinforcement mesh designed to secure the pipeline. To exclude deformation of the material, it is mounted on both sides;
• Install the control group and manifold in a cabinet located on the wall;
• Perform a zigzag fastening of the pipeline, which implies an increase in the spacing between the pipes as you move from the wall to the center;
• Connect the pipeline to the control system and carry out a hydraulic test of the heating system during the day;
• Pour the concrete screed, adding plasticizers to the solution, which increase the thermal conductivity of the coating;
• Install the topcoat.

DIY infrared floor heating

Installation of an electric infrared floor is not difficult. It is based on film elements that warm up the floor covering and do not accumulate heat. At the same time, for the installation of the floor covering, it is not required to pour a concrete screed. Installation of an infrared warm floor necessitates the arrangement of high-quality steam and waterproofing, and in the case of laminate laying, the use of a substrate under the laminate. The floor must be covered with Penoplex, on top of which a special thermal film is laid, capable of emitting infrared waves, under the influence of which furniture and flooring heats up. In this regard, it is important to remember that the installation of thermal foil is not carried out under furniture.

Warm floor on the loggia video

The insulated balcony is another mini-room in the apartment. Its value increases if there are very few square meters. On a warm balcony or loggia, you can make an office, a recreation area, a small pantry, a small dining room and even a dressing room. A modern solution for creating comfortable conditions on the balcony is a warm floor. It distributes heat better than a radiator system. In addition, the radiators take up too much space.

What is a warm floor?

Electric underfloor heating cable system

Today, underfloor heating is considered an excellent alternative to the usual method of heating a dwelling. It evenly distributes heat throughout the room, and for the balcony it is considered the only reasonable solution due to the limited space. Thanks to such a heating system, the air is heated from below, since the heating device here is the flooring. The most popular and widespread systems are electrical and water, connected to the main heating system. One of the latest underfloor heating systems is considered to be heating based on an amorphous metal tape.

Warm floors provide a comfortable environment in cold weather. Cold air heats up below and is evenly distributed throughout the room. Thus, the bottom is always warmer, and the top, under the ceiling, the air temperature is much lower. This creates a feeling of warmth and comfort and does not allow the person to freeze. Underfloor heating has a high heat transfer, which is directly dependent on the heating element. Unlike a radiator, the floor area is much larger. The construction of a warm floor was first used in ancient Rome, heating baths in this way. It consisted of channels that were located under marble slabs. Hot air from the stoves moved along them. Today the system has become more perfect, but its essence has not changed.

Hot water floor heating from central heating

Features and Benefits

The construction of a warm floor has many advantages over conventional radiators. Firstly, it is great for small spaces as well as large rooms. By distributing evenly warm air that does not cool over time, the most comfortable living conditions are created. The main advantages of underfloor heating include:

• The newest heating system is much more efficient than others. It generates more heat for a high level of comfort.
• Despite the huge amount of radiated heat, the heating element has a low temperature.
• Underfloor heating is a modern and aesthetic heating system. Radiators take up a lot of space and are often unattractive. In addition, the floor does not need to be decorated and maintained, since all elements are hidden under the flooring.
• The temperature regime can be regulated using the installed sensors. The system is automated and functional.
• The main feature of a warm floor is long-term operation. Most of all, the water structure serves.
• The system can be installed independently without skills and experience. No special equipment is required for installation.
• It is pleasant to walk barefoot on a warm floor, your feet will not freeze, even if it is minus degrees outside.

Kinds

Underfloor heating is a structure that consists of many heating elements - cables or pipes. The system can be of three types: water, film and electric. In the latter case, a cable, film or heating mats are used. The heat source for underfloor heating is water, cable or infrared film. Each design has its own advantages and features, as well as common features. The operation of the two types of floors can be different. Common to them is the installation on a special thermal insulation, which is a heat-saving layer. After thermal insulation, it is necessary to make a cement screed and lay the floor covering.

On the balcony, a warm floor can replace full heating. It is economical, lightweight, safe, aesthetic and durable.

Selection rules

When choosing a warm floor, consider the structural features of the balcony. It is a reinforced concrete slab, which is taken out behind the facade of the house. The balcony is highly durable. A typical design is approximately three square meters, so the load should not exceed six hundred kilograms. That is why it is forbidden to install water heating on the balcony. The weight of the finished warm floor will be large, and taking into account the window frames, insulation, furniture, the balcony will become a dangerous place. Experts advise installing a film or electrical system. Unlike a balcony, any type of underfloor heating can be installed on the loggia.

Film infrared warm floor

The best option is the installation of infrared film. It does not affect the load of the structure, is easy to install and conveniently operated. It can be used regardless of the flooring. Installation is carried out in stages, carried out by a master or independently.

• Prepare the base, lay insulating material with a layer that will reflect heat. For these purposes, use a special foil.
• The next step is the installation of the infrared film and the connection of the structure to the power supply. Do not forget to check the underfloor heating for functionality.

Plus the film floor - you can use it immediately after installation, as well as make further repairs to the room.

Video on installation of infrared film:

How to make a warm floor on a balcony?

For heating the balcony, either an electric or a film warm floor is suitable. The water one is too heavy for the balcony structure. Before installation, it is necessary to purchase materials taking into account the size of the balcony. The installation should be entrusted to a professional, or you should do the installation yourself. In the second case, you can save a lot. If you decide to install an electric floor, try to follow the recommendations of experts.

Electric floor heating system

1. Select the location where the thermostat will be located. Prepare it, create a power line.
2. Take care of the base. Remove the old covering, thoroughly clean the floor from debris. If the surface is uneven, make a rough screed.
3. Install a heat-insulating and waterproofing layer.
4. Unfold and attach the snake-shaped heating element.
5. Check network integrity. This needs to be done by simply measuring the resistance with a multimeter.
6. Connect the structure network to the sensor.
7. Fill the screed.
8. The last stage is laying the finishing layer.
9. You can use the floor for its intended purpose after the screed is completely dry.

If heating mats are used, install porcelain stoneware tiles immediately after installation. In this case, the installation is done with a special glue. The peculiarity is that the mats are thin and do not affect the floor height. They heat the balcony, emitting heat, absolutely safe for humans. The film floor saves heat and has a high efficiency. In order to make its installation you will need:

• Foil backing that does not conduct electricity.
• Wires.
• Insulating tape.
• Perforated film.
• Masking tape.
• Tools.

Installation is carried out in several stages, like a water and an electric floor:

1. Clean the surface, make markings, prime the floor.
2. The foil backing should be laid in strips. They must match the length and width of the film construction. Make cuts on the film where there is no graphite layer.
3. The cut film is placed so that the copper contacts are at the bottom. The contacts must be turned to the wall on which the thermostat will be located.
4. During work, you need to be very careful, try not to damage the integrity of the film and the ferrite layer.
5. The film floor does not require pouring, but its installation should be carried out only on an ideal flat surface.

Heating mats are sold in rolls

The best solution for heating balconies and loggias is the laying of heating mats. They are made of fiberglass with heating sections. Before mounting, draw a diagram of their location on paper. It is not recommended to lay the mats under furniture, otherwise they will quickly break. Before laying work, it is necessary to prepare the floor surface - remove debris and level it. After that, lay the heat-insulating material. It is needed to create comfort in the room, avoiding heat loss. Then a cement screed is made - it is the basis for installing the tiles. After the cement has hardened, you can start laying the mats according to the selected scheme, connect the system to the electrical network and install a thermostat. Lay the tiles on the heating mats using glue. It is recommended to use the floor after two to three weeks.

Installation of heating mats under tiles

A short video on installation:

Of course, in order to create a cozy, comfortable environment on the balcony, you need to competently think over its insulation. Firstly, you should install warm frames with double-glazed windows, and secondly, lay insulation along the walls, on the parapet, and thirdly, a warm floor acts as an additional heating element. As a result, if everything is done correctly, the balcony will turn into an office or become a place for relaxation, for sports activities. In this publication, we will pay attention to the third point, having considered the question of how and from what to make a warm floor on a balcony?

The first good option is heating mats.

First, you need to say a few words about the mats themselves. It is a unique system consisting of single, double-core heating cables attached to a special snake mesh.

This is important to know: the cable spacing is approximately 5 cm, and the heating conductors are made of materials with a high degree of resistance.

As for the advantages of the system, these include the following properties:

• • high-quality mats are safe for human health;
  • an insignificant increase in the thickness of the floor - together with the tiles, this figure is no more than 1.7 cm;

if the room has a complex shape, the mat is cut into fragments, but without violating the integrity of the cable.

Heating mat - almost ready-made construction that does not require attachment to the base

As for the installation, the warm floor on the loggia can be done on your own, without resorting to the services of hired workers. To do this, first of all, it is necessary to pay attention to the preliminary processes:

• as a substrate, a concrete base is used, thoroughly cleaned of dust and dirt. For the best grip, the base is primed;
• before starting laying, it is advisable to check the working resistance of the mat using an ohmmeter;
• determine a place for a rational location of the thermostat, for supplying wires. Then you need to equip the corresponding grooves in the floor, in the wall;
• installation of the sensor - this element is mounted inside a special channel, that is, in a recess in the floor. It is strictly forbidden to place it near a heating cable.

When all of the above manipulations have been carried out, you can proceed with the installation. It consists in placing heating mats in an adhesive paste to fix the tiles.

This is important to know: after completing the work, you need to check the functionality of the system. This means checking the resistance, as well as visual inspection for the absence of kinks.

Film infrared floor - an alternative solution to the problem

This type of underfloor heating works well with many floor coverings, from tiles to woolen carpet. The principle of its operation is based on the long-wave radiation of heating elements, when both the floor and the surrounding objects are warming up. They give off secondary heat, thereby creating a comfortable temperature on the balcony. The heating elements in the film heater are carbon paste strips sealed between polyester layers.

Infrared film floor is ideal for heating small areas

A few words must be said about the significant advantages of the film floor. So, we are talking about such characteristics:

• low energy consumption;
• quick installation and commissioning;
• the floor warms up in 10-30 minutes;
• minimum electromagnetic field;
• a slight decrease in the height of the room;
• reliability, safety.

But how does the film floor fit? Let's give an answer to this question, considering the traditional installation scheme:

• leveling the base;
• laying a heat-reflecting material - for example, it can be Izolon;
• the film is cut along the lines, and then neatly placed on the equipped thermal insulation;
• installation of a thermostat;
• installation of electrical contacts;
• insulation of connection points with bitumen insulation.

It is worth paying attention: it is best to attach the film strips to the reflective material with masking tape in order to maintain their position when installing the finished floor.

The infrared floor kit includes instructions, which you should definitely familiarize yourself with. In addition, the floor area should be taken into account when choosing the most suitable kit. And so that an ideal microclimate reigned on the balcony, the film is additionally mounted on the ceiling, on the walls. As a result, comfort is provided in any weather.

Cabling is the most common technology

Everyone knows that carrying out a set of works on laying a warm floor on a balcony is complicated due to the limited space of the room. For this reason, the use of a cable system is very advisable.

The cable is installed under the finished floor covering, and only the thermostat remains in sight, with the help of which the intensity of heating is regulated. It is impossible not to mention the significant advantages of the cable system, because this is a fundamental point. These include:

• • economic benefit - electricity consumption is quite acceptable;
  • reliability and durability - the heating conductor is in a layer of insulation, so it does not oxidize. The cable is protected with a cement-sand screed, as well as a floor covering;
  • warm floor is easy to adjust;

comfortable conditions are created in the room - this moment is especially relevant when combining a loggia with a room.

The cable system can be installed in a special metal assembly

Installation of a cable heating system is a responsible process, so we want to give useful recommendations.

Guided by them, you can do everything yourself:

• an obligatory element when laying the cable is the presence of a waterproofing layer and a good insulation. If this moment is ignored, a large amount of heat generated by the system will go down, that is, to the ceiling of the apartment on the lower floor;
• a cement-sand screed is laid without air gaps: it must have a thickness of 4.5 cm;
• the heating cable is laid in a zigzag manner (the interval between parallel lines is 2.5 cm, 10 cm);
• the cable is protected with a thin tie;
• the thermostat is installed in an accessible place;
• you can start using the floor after about 3 weeks, after the screed is completely dry.

A loggia is needed if a person wants to create a good microclimate and make full use of this room. Although there are few options for arranging a warm floor, on reflection, you can choose the right solution.

The owners of residential buildings or apartments with a balcony always want to use it as efficiently as possible. After all, this additional space at home can be adapted to suit different needs. A glazed balcony can be made into a greenhouse, a study, or just a place to relax. If you wish, you can remove the interior windows of the room leading to the balcony and increase its area.

Balcony upgrade lvl 80: installation of underfloor heating on the balcony

To feel more comfortable in this room, you need to take care of several things: insert soundproof and sealed windows, and also think over a way to heat the new interior of the house in winter or cold season. Do you need a warm floor on a loggia or balcony, or can you do without it? Let's answer this way: underfloor heating on a heated balcony remains one of the best ways to insulate a balcony.

Sectional version of a warm floor on a loggia

There are several ways to create a warm balcony. Usually one of three options is used, but which one is better is up to the consumer to decide:

• Water heating;
• Electric underfloor heating;
• Infrared floor heating.

The device on the balcony of a water heated floor: pros and cons, installation features

The water method of heating the balcony floor is the most efficient and at the same time the most expensive type of insulation. It is characterized by the following advantages:

• Saving space on the balcony. Usually this room is quite small in size: by installing water heating, you can save space, which was planned to be left under the side radiators;
• One-off installation and maintenance costs. After installing a water heated floor, there is no need to spend extra money on its maintenance;
• Savings in money. This type of coverage does not require an increase in energy costs;
• Effective heating. With the correct layout, the floor will warm up evenly over the entire area.

Schematic diagram of a water underfloor heating with a collector system

Unfortunately, the heated floor has several significant disadvantages on the balcony:

• The complexity of the initial installation. This process is long, costly and requires truly professional knowledge from the master in this area;
• The problem is in the elimination of breakdowns. If the hydraulic system breaks down and water leaks from the radiator pipes, it is likely that a complete opening of the coating will be required, since it is virtually impossible to pinpoint the location of the leak;
• Slow regulation of heating temperature;
• The need to install additional equipment. Since the pressure in the water riser is not stable everywhere, it may be necessary to install a water pump.

How to install a water floor?

The process of creating a warm balcony with your own hands with water heating is carried out in several stages. First, preparatory work is carried out, cleaning from dust, debris, primary treatment of the floor before installation. To do this, dismantle the old screed and carry out the horizontal alignment of the coating. Then, an insulating material capable of absorbing water is laid on the cleaned layer - this will facilitate the solution of problems in the event of a liquid leak from the heating system.

In the photo: the main pipe is being laid for the warm floor

After installing the waterproofing, it is necessary to install coatings that provide floor insulation. The types of the second layer of insulating coating depend on which heating method is planned to be used: connecting to a common water heating system or installing a separate collector. In the first case, ordinary foamed polyethylene and expanded polystyrene are used, in the second - a combined one covered with expanded clay and expanded polystyrene.

The choice of pipes (their size and diameter) and additional equipment (collector, boiler and other additional devices) depends on the area of ​​the balcony and the way of connecting the hydraulic heating system.

Electric underfloor heating: benefits and general installation information

The second type of floor heating in balcony rooms has a number of undeniable advantages:

• Fast installation of the coating;
• Convenient temperature level adjustment;
• Affordable installation price;
• Rapid identification and elimination of problems;
• Possibility of using in ordinary apartment conditions without the need to obtain additional permits for installation.

Schematic diagram of an electric underfloor heating device

Installing an electrically heated floor is characterized by only one drawback, which in today's realities may seem very significant to many - it is a large volume of electricity consumption from the public network, which will lead to an increase in expenses for paying electricity bills.

Important! For electric surface heating to be really effective, you need to attend to the installation of a reliable heat-insulating layer.

For typical apartments, expanded polystyrene will be used, for balconies standing on the ground or above basements, it is worth using a combined two-layer expanded clay gasket with the addition of expanded polyethylene and expanded polystyrene. The insulating layer must be at least 10 cm thick in order to obtain effective thermal insulation.

Option for an electric heating device on the balcony using wooden logs

Warm floor on the balcony, what you need to pay attention to:

• It is necessary to correctly calculate the heat dissipation of the cable. If there are places in the system with less heat transfer, this will lead to cable burnout and, accordingly, to reinstall the system in this area;
• Correct choice of cable tie. The first condition: the cable tie in which the cable will be located must conduct heat well. The second is the uniformity of the selected screed material: this will help to avoid premature damage to the cable;
• Also, in order not to damage the cable wiring, it must not be bent into arcs with a diameter of less than 4-5 cm;
• The cable must not come into contact with the heat-insulating layer: it must be laid on a special reinforced mesh;
• The area of ​​the floor, on which people will walk, requires additional processing: the screed with the conducted cable is fenced off from the rest of the floor with additional seams.

An innovative way to insulate a balcony covering: infrared floor insulation

Recently, a new material has appeared on the market that provides floor heating - this is a special infrared film. It provides heating using infrared radiation, which completely goes into the room, while this method of raising the temperature by almost 100% is ideal, because the heat is not dissipated in the air.

Schematic diagram of a floor device on a loggia with infrared heating

In addition to this significant plus, this heating system has several more advantages:

• Infrared floor insulation is more economical than electric heating;
• Installation of infrared coating is quite simple: even amateurs can cope with this task.

Installation of infrared panels for underfloor heating is carried out in several stages, which are much easier than identical processes when installing a water or electric heating system. First you need to lead the initial preparation of the floor. This is an elementary procedure, during which it is enough to level the surface a little and remove small construction debris. Then an insulating layer is installed. This layer takes up very little space - its thickness can be only a few millimeters. A special material is used as an insulating material - izolon. It is ideal for use with infrared panels, since it completely reflects the heat coming to it in the opposite direction, that is, in our case, all the heat will go up from the floor. An additional plus of the material is that it has moisture-repellent characteristics.

This is what infrared mats look like on a loggia.

The type of infrared panels used depends on what material will be used for the outer surface of the floor. If the film is planned to be laid under the tiles, then you need to install panels of the rod type: holes are provided in them, which provide a screed of the concrete covering under the panels with tile adhesive. When installing a thermal coating under an ordinary floor surface, for example, under a laminate, you can use a film version of the coating.

Connection diagram for underfloor heating infra-frame mats

The main advantage of installing a warm floor on a balcony by installing a new system is that there is no need to carry out accurate construction measurements: for example, to choose the thickness and diameter of pipes, without which water heating cannot be done or to measure the heat transfer of the floor, without which it is normal to make electrical insulation of the floor will be ineffective. Infrared floor insulation for a balcony is a simple, economical and affordable way of insulation, ideal for apartments and detached houses.

Therefore, before proceeding with the installation of a warm floor, you need to study the information on each type of heating. And only after choosing the appropriate options, making measurements, start to work.

Video: step-by-step instructions for installing a warm floor from an expert Alexei Zemskov

Already you will surprise no one by re-equipping a balcony into a study or a cozy seating 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 do it yourself in it, because developers, as a rule, do not even conduct electricity here. Next, we will tell you how to make an electric warm floor on a balcony with your own hands, providing a few small instructions with video examples!

Heating cable

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

Also, you should understand that the installation of the heating cable and the pouring of 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 proceed according to the following instructions:

1. Remove the old floor covering and level the surface under the screed.
2. Insulate the floor and walls with foamed polyethylene foam. Be sure to glue the joints with metal tape.
3. Glue a damper tape around the perimeter of the balcony, which will protect the floor from deformation during thermal expansion of the screed.
4. On the layer of insulation, fix the mesh or mounting tape for attaching the electric underfloor heating to the loggia.
5. Fix the heating cable with the same pitch, which must be calculated based on the area of ​​the room and the recommended heating power is 250 W / m2.
6. Install the thermostat and temperature sensor in a suitable location.
7. Ring the circuit to make sure everything is properly connected and working.
8. Take a picture of the finished electrical heating system so that if repairs are needed, you know exactly where everything is.
9. Prepare a cement-sand mortar and fill in a screed with a thickness of 4-5 cm.
10. 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 warm floor on the balcony using a heating cable, please note that laminate and parquet board in this case cannot be used as a floor covering.

You can see the process on the loggia in this video example:

How to lay the heating cable correctly

Heating mats

Installation of thermomats on the balcony is much easier, because this does not require the calculation of the conductor spacing and the pouring of 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 heat the loggia with electric thermomats, proceed according to the following technology:

1. Prepare a suitable piece of mat to cover the entire area of ​​the room. As a rule, thermomats are produced with a width of half a meter and a length of up to 30 meters. You can cut a suitable piece for your conditions. The main thing is not to touch the heating cable on the mesh.
2. Lay the material on old tiles or concrete screed.
3. Connect the temperature sensor and temperature controller.
4. Check if the connection is correct.
5. Pave the tiles on top of the mats with special tile adhesive.

As you can see, the installation of an electric underfloor heating on the balcony with your own hands in this case is quite simple. Please note that thermomats are installed without the use of insulation!

You can see the installation process in more detail in the video tutorial below:

How to put the thermomat

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. Its advantage is the minimum thickness of the material, which will not affect the height of the ceiling in any way.

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

1. Level the surface by making a rough screed (if the old floor has defects and irregularities).
2. Spread a layer of insulation.
3. Install the infrared film.
4. Install the temperature sensor and thermostat.
5. Connect the wires to the film, carefully insulate the connection points with a bitumen compound.
6. 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 dissipation, because some of the heat will not be spent on heating the concrete screed. As evidenced by reviews on thematic forums, the installation of a film underfloor heating on the balcony is the most effective option for electric heating.