If
you like the idea of doing your bit for the environment,
whilst enjoying the benefits, then pick up the
phone or fill out the form on the contact page.
All our details
along with a web form can be found
on the contact page click
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Tel:
0114 287 0723
Floor Construction Methods
Underfloor
Heating - Floating Floor
This
is an ideal system for retrofitting underfloor
heating, or as an alternative to screeded floors.
The system comprises of pre-grooved 30, 50
or 70mm polystyrene insulation floor panels
and end returns designed to be used with heat
emission plates.
The floating floor panels can be laid on almost
any existing floor surface. It is essential that
the floor is clean and level as any imperfections
in the slab will be projected through to the finished
floor.
If self levelling compound is being used
to level the slab it must be allowed to dry before
laying the floating panels.
Most
floor finishes can be laid on top of this system
apart from tiles.
Floating Floor underfloor heating systems, have
been designed to be incorporated into a floor construction
that consist of sheets of flooring insulation that
has a structural floor board floated straight over
the top with no additional fixing to the insulation.
These systems have very similar properties to the
suspended and batten floor constructions types,
and will operate in exactly the same way once they
are installed.
Floating floor underfloor heating can be one of
the quickest to install.
Because
you do not have to wait for screeds to harden
and there is no need for additional battens or
joists to be fitted, the installation time is
reduced dramatically. If you have a project where
speed is of the essence, then a floating floor
may be the best option.
However, it is worth remembering floating floors
have a limited output compared to the screed
systems, although this output should be more
than enough heat for modern well insulated buildings.
Although their outputs are lower, the water
temperature required to run the underfloor
heating system
may need to be higher, and could be as high
as 55 – 60c depending on your building
insulation. This could affect the performance
of your heat
pump and is worth remembering.
Floating
floors are designed to overlay on an existing
floor, and consist of a routed sheet of insulation
with grooves set at pre determined spacing
which give the system its specific heat output.
Once the routed boards have been laid according
to the design plans, an aluminium heat transfer
clip is pushed into the grooves within the
insulation. When all the clips are in place,
the pipe can be installed into these clips.
All of the clips and pipe will finish flush
within the thickness of the insulation.
When the pipe work has been installed into the
insulation and the floor deck is ready to go down,
the aluminium conducting plates are placed across
the top of insulation and pipe work. This plate
connects all of the heat transfer clips and draws
the heat away from the pipe work dispersing it
across the floor to provide an even floor temperature.
The final stage, before the floor deck is fixed
down, is to lay a lightweight polythene sheet across
the top of the aluminium plate; this is referred
to as a vapour barrier.
