Is it possible to lay a warm electric floor on an old screed
Hello! Concrete floor, apartment, kitchen. Is it possible to lay a warm electric floor on an old screed without knocking it out to a concrete floor, but just leveling it out? Thank.
Elena
Expert Answer
Hello, Elena!
Yes, for the arrangement of an electric heated floor, there is absolutely no need to knock down a sand-cement screed to a concrete base. It is enough to repair it and carry out the installation of a film or cable system. Here's what you need to do:
Remove loose pieces of the old screed and fill in the gaps with mortar.
Level the surface with a thin layer of sand-cement mixture. If the old screed has significant irregularities, it is recommended to use beacons installed at the level and make capital alignment the rule.
After setting the mortar, the surface is checked for small protruding inclusions, and then covered with a layer of waterproofing (most often a plastic film is used for this).
Roll thermal insulation is laid on the floor. When using a material with a metallized layer, it is oriented so that the heat-reflecting surface is directed to the ceiling of the heated room. If the height of the floor allows, then it is possible to use plates of extruded polystyrene - it will provide the highest efficiency of the electrical system.
Next, temperature sensors are installed and heaters are mounted.
Perform electrical connections and verify the system’s performance under various operating conditions.
Heaters are covered with waterproofing and, depending on the type of coating, install a rough or finish floor.
Finally, I want to remind you that heaters should be installed where the distance from the heated surface to furniture and equipment is more than 10 cm. Otherwise, they may overheat and the floor heating system will fail.
