Underfloor heating under parquet: which one to choose and what to remember during installation? Is it possible to make a warm floor under a parquet board Warm floors covering a parquet board

Underfloor heating is a floor heating system designed for a comfortable stay indoors at any time of the year.

Parquet board, due to the natural origin and instability of wood against temperature fluctuations, is not the best coating for underfloor heating.Repair and Construction Oil-wax for wood: advantages, the right choice and application technology

However, there is a solution, and parquet is successfully combined with underfloor heating in modern apartments. How to choose the right underfloor heating for parquet, I will tell in the article below.

Underfloor heating requirements


Most repair specialists agree that parquet and parquet boards can be laid on a warm floor, but you must carefully follow the installation rules and select a floor heating system demandingly. The main requirements for a warm floor laid under parquet include:

  • Adjustable temperature is not higher than 26 degrees. It is obligatory to install a control relay with the display of temperature indicators on the display.
  • The heating of the coating area must be uniform so that thermal expansion occurs over the entire surface of the parquet.
  • The choice of parquet for underfloor heating is determined by the type of wood from which the parquet is made. Give preference to breeds that are resistant to high temperatures.
  • An additional layer of plywood with fixation and a concrete screed is required between the warm floor and the coating. Put a heat-insulating layer on the plywood, which will protect the coating from premature wear.

Having studied in detail each type of underfloor heating, the experts came to the conclusion that the best solution for installation under parquet is electric and infrared underfloor heating. A water heated floor cannot guarantee uniform heating, moreover, in the event of an accident, the leaked liquid will irrevocably damage the parquet flooring.

Electric floor heating under parquet


Electric underfloor heating is a system based on heating the surface with an electric cable. To install an electric underfloor heating under parquet, use the step-by-step instructions:

  • Since the combination of electricity and natural wood has an increased fire hazard, you must carefully follow the instructions for installing underfloor heating under parquet.
  • The first step is to prepare the base of the floor. Using putty mixtures, level the base, let the composition dry, apply a waterproofing layer and wait for it to dry.
  • Create a frame from wooden logs in 60 cm increments. Lay a heat-insulating layer between the logs, for example, penofol or mineral wool. Lay rolled waterproofing materials on top of the frame, fastening them together with glue. The next layer is a galvanized mesh over the entire area of ​​​​the room.
  • Lay the electrical cable directly next to the bars from which the logs were made. Secure the cable with mounting tape.
  • Cover the finished masonry of the electrical cable with a waterproofing layer, lay and fix the plywood, on top of which you can start.

Infrared floor heating under parquet


Installation of an infrared warm floor is simple, does not take much time, even an inexperienced person in installation work can handle the installation. The process of laying an infrared heated floor under the parquet begins from a stage similar to the previous method.

  • Clean the floor of dust and dirt, vacuum if necessary. Level the surface with putty or leveling compound. Wait for the base to dry completely.
  • If the warm floor is laid on a wooden base, it is necessary to scrape the wood, simultaneously sweeping away debris from the work surface. But experts advise removing the previous floor to the concrete base so that the new floor lasts longer and without breakage. The concrete floor needs to be sanded.
  • The next layer is a polyethylene film for waterproofing. Place thermal insulation over the film.


  • When the base is ready, start installing the underfloor heating. Lay the infrared film along the length of the room, with the current strip down. To fix the sheets to the thermal insulation, use masking tape.
  • Put plywood on top of the warm floor, attach it with self-tapping screws, after which you can begin installing the parquet.

After studying the article, it becomes clear that installing a warm floor under a parquet board is not as scary as it seems at first glance. However, in order to avoid problems, it is important to strictly follow the instructions, both during installation work and during the further operation of the floor.

Owners of private houses, owners of country guest cottages try not only to equip their homes with the most convenient and practical communication systems, but also to create a high level of comfort inside their living quarters. Fortunately, for this today there is a wide selection of a wide variety of building finishing materials. Having an appropriate financial base, it became possible to create interiors of any level of complexity. For these purposes, both traditional and new, high-tech materials can be used.

Despite the wide technological possibilities, there are a number of controversial issues that have to be resolved on the go, while equipping your own home. You may also have such a problem if you have an underfloor heating system and want to have beautiful parquet floors in your house. At first glance, the situation does not look critical. There is a warm water floor that heats your home, and there is a desire to make a floor covering from parquet. Take it and do it, but in practice it is not so simple. Let's try to disassemble.

Is parquet compatible with warm water floors. What is the essence of the problem?

In the expert community, there are ambiguous opinions about the use of parquet boards in residential premises heated with underfloor heating. Can parquet boards be used with underfloor heating? Some argue that yes, you can. Others, on the contrary, argue that a parquet board is not suitable in such a situation. What is the essence of the problem?

A water heated floor designed for a parquet board is an engineering and technological solution that has the right to life. If you follow clear instructions and do not deviate from the technology, parquet can be used as a floor covering. A house with parquet floors looks rich and luxurious, and underfloor heating adds the necessary comfort and coziness to the homely atmosphere. This is one point of view.

On the other hand, skeptics argue that the parquet board, due to its composition and technological characteristics, is not suitable as a finishing coating. Despite the presence of conflicting opinions, there are a number of general requirements and nuances that must be taken into account in this case:

  • the floor surface should not be excessively warm. The maximum allowable floor surface heating temperature is 26 0 С;
  • the floor covering should warm up evenly, over the entire area of ​​​​the heated room;
  • stringent requirements for the choice of wood used for the manufacture of parquet boards.

For reference: Each bar should be heated equally, no more, no less. For the manufacture of parquet boards, it is not recommended to use maple and beech - wood species that do not like thermal exposure.

In terms of uniform heating, the floor water circuit is just able to give off heat to the floor covering in equal proportions. If in the process of laying a water pipe you have chosen the pipe pitch that is optimally acceptable for this case.

If the step is not chosen correctly, a temperature imbalance will occur. Some planks will heat up more while others will remain cold. Over time, such underfloor heating will cause the parquet floor to become uneven. One plank will dry out and deform, while the other, on the contrary, will remain in a normal state. Hence the gaps between the individual planks, the unpleasant creaking of the floor surface. This, according to skeptics, is the main obstacle to the installation of parquet in houses where heated water floors are installed.

The photo shows a parquet floor, which is laid on a heating water circuit in violation of the technology.

The sight is unsightly. Instead of the expected 30-50 years, your parquet has fallen into disrepair already in the second, third year of service. This is in terms of practicality and aesthetics.

The last argument of critics of the parquet board used for underfloor heating is the difficulty of installation. For parquet, plywood is the basis, which in the usual version is simply glued to a concrete screed. For greater reliability, the base is fixed with self-tapping screws. The larger the plywood sheet, the more holes you will have to make in the screed, screwing the base. Where is the guarantee that your self-tapping screw will not enter the heating circuit pipe?

On a note: for those who nevertheless decided to make a warm floor with parquet flooring in their house, it is recommended to make an exact layout of the water pipes of the heating system. As a result of this step, the risk of mounting fasteners getting into the body of the pipeline is minimized.

Parquet board. Properties and characteristics

The parquet board usually contains formaldehyde, a chemical compound that normally does not show aggressiveness. However, when wood is heated, formaldehyde is released into the air, becoming harmful to the human body. When the water heating circuit is operating at temperatures up to 26 0 C, formaldehyde is not active. The slightest excess of the specified temperature becomes dangerous.

For reference: formaldehyde adversely affects the state of the human body. Vapors of this compound are an irritant of the respiratory tract, becoming the cause of the development of severe respiratory diseases with prolonged exposure. With constant inhalation of formaldehyde vapors, a person feels weakness and malaise. It is not uncommon for residents of new houses with expensive finishes to experience discomfort while at home. The reason for this condition may be a warm water floor, covered with a parquet board.

In order to avoid unpleasant consequences, when choosing a material, you should carefully study its labeling and certification data. On the parquet board there should be indications for which type of floor heating the material is intended for, for water heated floors or for an electrical system.

In accordance with European safety standards, the permissible concentration of formaldehyde vapors in the air of residential premises is 1.2 mg/m 3 . If formaldehyde content is unavoidable in a parquet board, it is up to you to choose whether to use such material for finishing underfloor heating or not.

There is no official ban on the use of finishing materials containing formaldehyde. There are modern finishing technologies, thanks to which the harmful effects of formaldehyde can be minimized. This state of affairs is also the case with parquet boards.

For the manufacture of parquet boards today, almost all known types of wood are used, which have the appropriate technological properties. Oak, beech, ash are the most suitable materials. For parquet, not only aesthetic data are important, but also high performance properties. We have already said that beech does not react well to heating, so it is best to use oak parquet for warm floors.

Installation of parquet boards on underfloor heating. What does it look like?

Having dealt with the material, having decided for yourself that your warm floor will have a beautiful and presentable appearance, proceed with the installation.

Important! Before you start laying parquet boards, you should make sure that your flooring is designed for the possible adjustment of the behavior of the wood. Such a precautionary measure is associated with the physical properties of wood coatings. Wood is sensitive to any fluctuations in temperature and changes in humidity.

To achieve the most acceptable result, refer to the experience of the Scandinavians. In these countries, more than one generation successfully combines heating floors and parquet flooring. Scandinavian technology is based on the method of fastening wooden planks with metal staples. The result is a solid wooden surface, which does not need to be additionally fixed to the base.

The metal brackets that hold the individual planks allow the entire wood surface of the floor to respond naturally to any change in physical conditions, as a result of changes in temperature and fluctuations in humidity inside the room. This method of laying parquet floors is called floating laying, which allows you not to worry about the condition of your floor as a result of the heating system.

The advantages of this technology include the fact that when working with staples, there is no need to use adhesives, primers and plywood as a base. It is enough to have a substrate, a parquet board and the required number of metal brackets. The parquet is laid on a concrete screed, in which the heating water circuit already lies. Pay attention to the thickness of the wooden planks. It is better to opt for slats, the thickness of which does not exceed 15 mm.

On a note: the large thickness of the parquet board is the reason for the high heat transfer coefficient of the floor covering, which will inevitably lead to an increase in heating costs.

To lay parquet you will need:

  • parquet board;
  • metal staples for parquet planks;
  • set of tools.

Works are carried out on a ready-made concrete screed, 30-70 mm thick, which has reached the required maturation. Installation of a concrete screed under wooden coatings is no different from traditional technology. The main condition: a perfectly flat surface.

Conclusion

Parquet and warm water floors are a technology that has the right to exist. Subject to the instructions and the necessary technological parameters, it is possible to make parquet flooring on warm floors, achieving good results. Today there are many successful examples of successful practical implementation of the combination "warm water floors - parquet".

Underfloor heating is a thoughtful system that allows you to create an atmosphere of warmth and comfort in the room, regardless of the season. To what extent is it compatible with the parquet board, is it possible in principle to lay a warm floor under the parquet board, what system will be optimal? About the nuances of choice and installation steps below.

Underfloor heating is well suited for large, poorly heated rooms, as well as for very small ones, for example, for a bathroom.

Most experts, including parquet board manufacturers, tend to believe that the coating can be combined with underfloor heating systems, subject to certain requirements:

  • constant floor temperature - no more than 26 degrees Celsius;
  • uniform heating of all slats;
  • the board must be made of wood species resistant to high temperatures. Unlike parquet, the board will cope with the test in the form of a warm floor, subject to the right choice of system.

Each type of underfloor heating has its own small risks, but with proper installation they are negligible.

Options for floor heating systems: features

Warm floors, presented in abundance on the market, are actually divided into three main groups. Actively used:

  • film warm floor (infrared);
  • water;
  • electric.

Each system has specific performance characteristics, pros and cons. Their analysis with a forecast of interaction with the parquet board will allow you to make the right choice.

An example of a water floor heating device

Features of the infrared floor: structure and principle of operation

Infrared floors appeared relatively recently, but have already earned the trust of consumers and positive feedback from experts in this field. The system is simple. It is based on a polymer film of a certain thickness with graphite strips soldered into it, in turn connected by heating copper and silver elements with a characteristic low level of electrical resistance.

The principle of operation of the system is as simple as the structure. When started, the heating elements transfer energy to the surface of the floor covering and objects standing on it. As a result, the air warms up not only due to the floor, but also due to furniture. It is this feature that distinguishes the "infrared floor" system in comparison with other types of underfloor heating, which initially heat the air and only then pieces of furniture under its influence.

Infrared floors can also be suitable, for example, for heating a sauna

The main advantages of the system include:

  • the ability to use under any floor covering;
  • high level of flexibility, which allows mounting on surfaces at an angle;
  • operability of the system even if one or more elements fail;
  • long service life (several decades);
  • rapid heating of the floor.

Infrared heated floors do not pose a danger to people, pets, and can be used in rooms for various purposes and areas.

Water floors - how they work and how they differ

The "water heated floor" system involves heating the floor surface due to a certain water temperature. Pipes made of modern plastic material are mounted under the coating according to a certain scheme, after which they are poured with a concrete screed. The water circulating through the pipes heats up when the system is turned on and is well suited for heating not only the floor, but the entire room, provided it has a small area.

The advantages of a water floor are obvious:

  • suitable for the installation of the "warm floor" system in large rooms;
  • economically consumes electricity;
  • evenly heats the air in the room.

Installation of water hoses in special gutters

The system also has some shortcomings. A water floor can leak, which as a result will negatively affect the condition of the floor covering. If a board for a warm water floor was used, then only the timely elimination of the accident with the replacement of the affected dies can save it.

In addition, controlling the heat level of the system is not as easy as with other options - infrared and electric flooring. Another disadvantage is that the design will “steal” centimeters from the height of the ceiling (about 10-13 cm).

What you need to know about electric floor systems

Electric underfloor heating under parquet is actively used in rooms, regardless of their purpose. The system is implemented at an affordable price, is characterized by high performance and relative safety.

An electric cable acts as the main heating element. By analogy with plastic pipes mounted as part of a water floor device, the cable is laid under the parquet board in one of the ways: parallel and spiral.

Electric floor heating device

The cable itself can be sealed in a special film or separate. The first option is available for installation in rooms with base height differences.

Installation of the cable without fail implies the installation of an insulating layer with pouring a concrete screed. During operation, the cable converts electricity into heat.

The main advantages of the system are simple installation, as well as the ability to combine with a parquet board without a negative effect on the coating. The electric floor is responsible for the uniform heating of the air in the room, it is environmentally friendly.

What are the requirements for installing underfloor heating under the board

In order for the system to work without affecting the floor covering, in addition to the correct choice from the options presented, it is worth remembering that laying parquet boards in this case implies compliance with certain rules:

  1. Under the coating, a layer of plywood sheets must be laid with its reliable fixation with a concrete screed using a two-component adhesive, self-tapping screws.
  2. Between the plywood substrate and the floor, a heat-insulating layer is arranged to prevent premature wear of the coating;
  3. Think over the system in such a way that each plate of the coating receives the same amount of heat.

Before installation, complex calculations are carried out, not forgetting that the warm floor under the parquet must warm up to a certain temperature: the lower layer - up to 40 degrees Celsius, the upper one - up to no more than 27 degrees Celsius. It would be right to entrust the installation to masters who can achieve the perfect combination of underfloor heating with a heating system to reduce the number of pipes laid on the outside of the floor.

Installation of any type of underfloor heating is a serious task that requires special training.

What "warm floor" to choose under the board

After analyzing the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of all systems, we can conclude which warm floor is better for a parquet board and why.

The option with an electric or infrared floor is considered optimal, since, unlike a water floor, they are not capable of damaging the board during operation. Any emergency with a water floor leak will lead to detrimental consequences for the coating. That is why parquet for a warm water floor is not the most suitable option, just like a parquet board.

Underfloor heating is not just a whim, but an engineering solution that improves the standard of living

Installation of an electric floor under a parquet board: how is it carried out

A simple and affordable option is laying parquet on a warm floor in a base with a heating cable, that is, an electrical system. Yes, in this case, the level of fire safety in the room increases, but subject to the rules of operation and installation, the risk of fire will be minimized.

Work begins, as in all other cases related to the installation of the floor, with the preparation of the base. It is cleaned and leveled with putty leveling mixtures. A layer of waterproofing mixture is applied to the finished dry, clean and even base, and the floor is allowed to dry.

The next step is the frame device. Support logs are constructed at a distance of no more than 60 cm from each other. The voids between them are filled with waterproofing materials, for example, penofol, mineral wool.

Spread mesh with electric cable

Lay the roll materials of the strip using glue for overlapping. A galvanized mesh is mounted on the waterproofing layer. The electric cable is laid next to the bars a centimeter from them. Cuts up to 3 cm wide are prepared in the bars, where the foil and cable are laid. The latter is fixed with mounting tape.

The finished cable layer is re-coated with waterproofing materials, after which they proceed to the installation of a finished floor from a parquet board, using a substrate of plywood sheets or fiberboard, fixed with self-tapping screws.

How to mount an infrared floor under a parquet board

Installation of the film floor under the parquet board is simple, so it does not take much time. The work is carried out in several stages. Just as in the case of an electric floor, the process begins with the preparation of the base and the installation of a layer of thermal insulation.

In order for the floor to turn out to be of high quality, safe and last for many years, the base must be not only even, but also dry and clean. Therefore, it is desirable to completely dismantle the old coating, exposing the concrete (wooden) base of the floor. Using a level, you will need to check the height of the base (differences should not exceed 3 mm).

The next step is sanding in the case of a wooden floor and sanding in the case of a concrete one. The debris generated during the work is removed by thoroughly cleaning the base (an industrial or conventional vacuum cleaner is suitable).

Infrared floor installation

The finished base is used for laying a polyethylene film with a thickness of 50 microns. This will be the waterproofing layer of the warm floor. On top of the film, the next layer of heat-insulating material is attached.

The next step is marking the warm film floor. To do this, determine the place of installation of the temperature sensor, temperature controller and connect the system to the network. IR films are mounted along the length of the room, laying the current-conducting film with the strip down. To keep the strips on the thermal insulation layer, use construction tape. Cut lines in the areas of the conductors and silver-plated contacts connecting the contacts to the tape are additionally treated with bituminous insulation.

A plywood substrate is mounted on the finished infrared floor (fixed with self-tapping screws), which is subsequently used as a base for a parquet board.

The parquet board is made of wood. It in itself is considered an excellent insulator, which is able to effectively protect from the cold without additional heaters. But when there is a need for additional heating with the help of the floor, the question arises, is it possible to use a parquet board as a decorative coating? The answer is ambiguous.

Why is parquet not the best material for underfloor heating?

A warm floor under a parquet board will not always be effective. This incompatibility is due to the following factors:

  • The wood from which parquet is made is considered an excellent insulator. It will prevent the penetration of thermal energy from the heating elements;
  • parquet is highly sensitive to high temperature and humidity. It can be deformed and lose its original appearance;
  • when installing a parquet board, self-tapping screws are often used. With their help, a plywood substrate is installed. These fasteners can damage the pipes with the circulating coolant, the electrical cable or the thermal film, which will disable the entire underfloor heating system.

If you use parquet as a decorative floor covering, you can equip floor heating, subject to several rules. Only in this case will it be possible to prevent a decrease in the efficiency of the warm floor. Key recommendations from experts:

  • Do not use maple or beech parquet under floor heating. These rocks do not tolerate temperature changes and react with deformation;
  • it is best to use parquet with a thickness of 12-15 mm. A thinner material will collapse under the influence of high temperature, and a thick one will not let the generated thermal energy into the room;
  • the laying of the structure should be carried out in a floating way. This will allow the flooring elements to move due to thermal fluctuations. This approach will prevent premature destruction of materials;
  • The plywood underlay should be attached to the concrete base with a two-component polyurethane adhesive. For additional fixation, self-tapping screws are also used, which must be installed in pre-marked places;
  • under the parquet board on the surface of the plywood, a heat-insulating substrate of insignificant thickness is laid. It helps to prevent the negative effects of high temperatures on the parquet. But it should also be understood that such an action reduces the productivity of underfloor heating;
  • the bottom layer of the parquet board must be heated to a temperature not exceeding +40°C. This will allow you to get a comfortable environment for a person to stay. The temperature on the floor surface will be + 27 ... + 28 ° С;
  • it is best to install wooden planks using special metal brackets. They allow you to connect them together without additional fixing to the base. Also, this laying method allows you to naturally adjust the contraction and expansion of materials during temperature changes;
  • surface heating should be carried out evenly, which will prevent the destruction of the materials used.

Underfloor heating options for parquet board

Laying a warm floor under parquet involves the use of pipelines with a circulating coolant, thermal film or cable as heating elements. Each design has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages.

The right parquet for underfloor heating

Water floor heating

Water heated floor involves the use of pipelines with a circulating coolant. Thermal energy in this case is produced from existing heating or boilers of various types.

The water circuit is arranged using several schemes - a snake, in a spiral, and others. To fix the pipelines, plastic puffs are used, which allow them to be fixed to a previously installed reinforcing mesh (used to reinforce the screed).

Also, more modern options for underfloor heating devices involve the use of special heat-insulating substrates. They are equipped with grooves in which pipelines are laid.

Water heated floor has a significant drawback. Pipelines with coolant must be laid in a thick layer of cement-sand screed. Given this feature, it is impossible to repair the system if a leak occurs.

Therefore, before pouring the screed, pipelines are tested, which allows you to check their performance under the operating load. You also need to remember that the water circuit must be formed from one section of the pipeline without the use of fittings.

Film heating elements

Infrared floor heating has many advantages over other systems. Its laying is carried out without the use of a cement-sand screed. This allows you to get a thin design with minimal labor.


For the device of the system, film-type heating elements are installed on a heat-insulating substrate with a foil surface. Individual elements are interconnected in parallel. The system is connected to a thermostat, which controls its operating parameters.

Underfloor heating cable system

In this case, the heating elements in the form of a single-core or twin-core cable are installed on a heat-insulating substrate.

They are fixed with special fasteners according to a certain pattern, where the distance between the turns depends on the required operating parameters of the underfloor heating.

The use of heating mats is also acceptable. They consist of a grid-like base on which the cable is mounted.

The use of such mats facilitates the installation of the system, since there is no need to calculate the distance between the cable turns. Also, as part of the electric cable underfloor heating, a thermostat is mandatory.

It is used to control and adjust the parameters of the system. Heating elements of this type are enclosed in a layer of screed. Only after its device can you start laying the parquet board.

Video: Parquet board Wood Bee Oak Expression 3

Parquet or solid board and underfloor heating? Will the parquet withstand the constant temperature fluctuations that occur when the heating is turned on and off?

In Russia, as you know, nine months of winter and three months just cold. The unpredictable climate of the middle lane will not allow you to relax. And nothing warms the cold northern blood like a comfortable beautiful house, insulated according to all the rules of modern construction. Everything can be insulated - walls, roof, floor. A hot topic in city apartments is the installation of underfloor heating.

The main types of underfloor heating systems

There are two types of underfloor heating devices - water circulating and electric.

In the first case, the heating system is powered by central heating, a boiler or a mini-boiler room. On a concrete base, metal-plastic pipes are laid on a layer of foam plastic with a thermoreflecting foil. A screed of approximately 50mm is poured on top. After drying (a month), the main floor can be laid. The pipe spacing is selected in such a way as to maintain the most optimal temperature distribution in the room. The heat is evenly dispersed over the area of ​​the room, while the temperature of the coolant is +55°C. At the floor level, the temperature will be + 22-24°C, at chest level + 18-20°C. The maximum heat transfer rate is 1m/s.

The electric floor heating system consists in mounting a multilayer cable with insulation made of a material resistant to heating above +100°C on a concrete base. The heating element is laid in parallel lines with an interval of 100-200mm. A layer of thermal insulation is laid under the cable, preventing the possibility of heat leakage so as not to heat the ceiling to neighbors. From above, everything is poured with a layer of cement mortar 20-50 mm thick, which accumulates heat in itself. The power cable leads to the thermostat, which is the only visible part of the system. The maximum media operating temperature is +65°C. The average floor temperature does not exceed +30°C. Electric floor heating today prevails over water, which is very difficult to install and technically less reliable.

Features of laying floor coverings on a warm floor

When is the best time to have floor heating? When your underlying floor is cold, such as tile, laminate, vinyl, but not stucco or solid wood.

The first reason is semantic. Wood, as you know, does not have thermal conductivity, and by laying parquet or board on a "warm" floor, you reduce the efficiency of the heating system. "Warm" floor and wooden floor - mutually exclusive concepts. Having parquet in the apartment, you do not need a floor heating system, and vice versa. Parquet, laid correctly, is an excellent heat-saving element of the apartment.

The second reason is aesthetic. Parquet on a "warm" floor will dry out. Cracks will appear; the floor will begin to creak, as if it had already celebrated its 100th anniversary. Are all these problems worth the money spent on floor heating, if you have to constantly repair, putty, touch up? Tiles and only tiles! Mount the "warm" floor under the tiles only in the kitchen, loggia, bathroom; and lay parquet in the rest of the apartment. So you get double pleasure - cost savings and a warm apartment.

The third reason is technical. Suppose you have water heating, and you, in spite of everything, want to lay parquet. The correct base for parquet means plywood, which is glued to the screed and secured with self-tapping screws. A sheet of plywood cut into 4 parts, for example, 50cm x 50cm, must be fixed with self-tapping screws in at least 8 places. Can you point out the exact location of the pipes under the screed? Are you sure that they will not be damaged when installing plywood? The same applies to the electric floor heating system. It is only approximately possible to indicate the location of the power cable under the cement layer. As not the best option, but still possible, is the installation of plywood on a two-component polyurethane adhesive. When using it, you can do without self-tapping screws and not pierce the screed. But this will not save your floor from drying out. It is possible to protect the parquet from the destructive influence with the help of heat-insulating material, which is laid under the plywood. But why then arrange a “warm” floor in order to isolate it later? The meaning of the whole structure is lost and many problems are acquired.

As an alternative to parquet flooring, it is better to consider laminate. Laminate floor coverings from well-known manufacturers perfectly imitate the texture and color of different types of wood and can replace parquet when laying on "warm" floors.

Why laminate? First, no glue, no plywood mounting; those. plain underlay + laminated panel with locking connection.

Secondly, this material is not a tree, it will not dry out, and is the best suited for “warm” floors. The main thing is that the laminate brand should be well-known and well-established.

Parquet board for underfloor heating

The closest coating to parquet is a parquet board, which can also be considered as an option. The method of assembling a parquet board is the same as that of a laminate: substrate + panels with a locking connection. Not all manufacturers of parquet docks advise laying it on “warm” floors, but if you still decide to do this, then take into account that the temperature at the floor surface should not exceed +26 ° C, while heating should be uniform everywhere. But even in this case, there is no guarantee that the wood will not dry out. And such breeds as beech and maple are not recommended for heated floors in principle.

In conclusion, I would like to say a few words in favor of the naturalness and safety of an ordinary parquet floor. A natural heat insulator, parquet will never cause any harm to your health, which cannot be said about the still insufficiently studied effect of electromagnetic fields that are formed during electric floor heating.