Warm floor in the garage: is it easy to do it yourself? Warm floor in the garage - water or electric? Warm floor for garage.

Whether a warm floor is needed in a garage is decided by each car owner based on specific conditions. If the room, in addition to storing equipment, serves as a home workshop, then heating equipment will be a rational option. All that remains is to choose which type of underfloor heating - water or electric - will be the most reliable and profitable.

Advantages, possible disadvantages

The key motive for installing heated floors in the garage are its following advantages:

Among the disadvantages is the need to install a water heating source if it is not possible to connect the water circuit to the home system. Electric flooring turns out to be more expensive to operate due to increased energy costs.

Operating conditions

Before making a heated floor in the garage, it is necessary to study the conditions in which it will be used. Usually in such a situation the floor is subjected to serious mechanical stress. Aggressive liquids, such as fuels and lubricants, acids, can be spilled on it. The flooring must be moisture-resistant and non-flammable.

Do-it-yourself warm floor in the garage

Features of laying the water circuit

If a local water floor is installed in the garage, then you will need to think about which water heater will supply hot coolant.

1. Supply

Such a heating device functions only when electricity is supplied and connected to the water supply system.

1. Cumulative

It differs in that the water that is collected in the container is subject to heating. Such devices have a mode for maintaining the set temperature, which turns on automatically. Therefore, even if there is a power outage, the heating system will function.

Gas water heaters powered by cylinders are less safe, and when using a centralized gas pipeline, you must obtain the appropriate permit.

Wood boilers are quite economical to operate, but they will require a separate room, and fuel will have to be added manually.

When selecting and installing the optimal water heater option, it will be difficult to do without the advice of professionals, since the heating efficiency will depend on this in the future.

You can equip a water floor with your own hands, following a certain sequence of operations:

Next, the water circuit is installed in accordance with the previously developed diagram. The pipes are fixed to the reinforcing mesh using plastic clamps. During the day, a test test of the laid structure is carried out.

If the heated floor is functioning and no leaks are detected, you can fill the screed with your own hands. Its thickness varies from 30 to 150 mm.

You should start using the heated floor in about a month, after waiting for the concrete to completely harden. It is advisable not to immediately provide full power, increasing the temperature to the nominal value gradually. Porcelain stoneware can be used as a finishing coating if desired.

Installation of heated floors in the garage

Electric floor

If the design solution for the water circuit seems difficult to implement on your own, you can install an electric cable heated floor in the garage.

At the preliminary stage, the subfloor is prepared, which in the garage is usually made of concrete. If the screed has already been carried out previously, then it is enough to clean the base from dirt.

Next, a layer of thermal insulation is made of polystyrene foam, on which a reinforced mesh is spread. To lay the heating cable with your own hands in accordance with the diagram, it is convenient to use mounting tape with clamps.

The thermostat is mounted on the side wall, protected from drafts and sunlight. After checking the functionality of the heated floor during the control switch-on, a screed is installed, the thickness of which is recommended to be at least 50 mm. After the concrete has completely hardened, a non-combustible coating can be laid.

Installation is greatly simplified if you purchase a heating mat. It consists of a cable already laid with the required pitch, fixed on a special heat-resistant film. It is enough to roll out strips cut to the size of the garage onto a prepared, level base and connect the cable to the thermostat.

The mat under the tile is filled with heat-resistant tile adhesive made on the basis of epoxy resin. When this protective layer dries, the tile itself is laid - ceramic or porcelain stoneware.

It is advisable not to place heating elements in the place where the car will be located, but to make a concrete floor there.

Infrared film can also be laid on a base previously covered with a waterproofing and insulating layer, in places where a car will not stand or drive through.

After testing, polyethylene film is laid over the film, and then sheets of plywood and ceramic tiles are laid. In order for an electric heated floor to effectively heat a garage, it is advisable to additionally insulate its ceiling and walls.

Which system to choose

The main criteria when choosing a heating system for a garage floor are:

Equipment for water heated floors in the garage

Water and electric types of heated floors have their pros and cons, which allow you to more accurately navigate when choosing them for specific conditions.

If the issue of installing a water heater is easily resolved, then the water circuit, which is more expensive and labor-intensive at the installation stage, will turn out to be more economical in operation. But it can fail if a leak occurs in the pipes, leading to a complete replacement of the structure.

If the garage is not used for a long time during cold periods, it will be necessary to drain the water from the system to prevent pipes from bursting.

An electric floor is easier to install and causes less trouble during operation. The increased cost of electricity may not be so significant if the building has good insulation on all surfaces, including doors.

By choosing infrared systems as a heating device, you will have to significantly reduce the heated area, since significant loads from a car or work racks are contraindicated for them.

Video: Do-it-yourself warm floors

For most citizens, a warm floor in a garage is an unnecessary luxury when it is difficult to ensure a comfortable temperature in the apartment itself. However, those who love and appreciate their iron horse know that a warm floor for his friend is a necessity that will allow the car to remain in excellent condition and function properly for quite a long time.

When the garage is cold, it is not surprising that the car’s mechanisms freeze, and this can lead to the failure of some part. In addition, problems may arise with its launch. And if you are doing repairs in the garage or using it for some purpose, then you cannot do without heating. Warm floors will help keep the garage warm and save on heating costs.

Types of heated floors for the garage

There are restrictions that must be taken into account when creating a heated floor:

1. the floor in the garage may be exposed to chemical attack;
2. the floor will be subject to mechanical damage;
3. the floor must withstand high humidity and be immune to fire.

Currently, various types of coatings are used as garage floors:

1. earthen;
2. wooden;
3. aspic;
4. ceramic tiles.

The garage floor is tiled

Naturally, the best options for creating a warm floor will be concrete and ceramic tiles.

Warm floors will solve the following problems:

1. comfortable operating conditions of the garage, which will be ideal for storing the car;
2. will allow you to effectively heat the room.

A warm garage is everyone's dream

Features of installing heated floors will depend on the type of floor chosen.

There are two types of heated floors that are installed in the floor covering:

1. Water heated floor. In this case, the system is a closed system of metal-plastic pipes that are immured in a screed. The boiler acts as a heat source.
2. Electric heated floor. To create it, special cables are used, they are also immured in a screed.
   A distinctive feature when installing heated floors is strict adherence to the instructions prescribed by the manufacturer, which may vary. However, for both cases of heated floors, it is necessary to make a layer that will protect the coating from mechanical and other damage. One of the popular materials for the protective layer is porcelain stoneware and fifth-class ceramic tiles.

To perform the cladding, the surface is leveled, primed, then glue is applied and installation is carried out. Grouting is done after 3 days, and operation is possible after several weeks.

Warm water floors in the garage

Advantages:

1. Uniform heating of the entire garage.
2. Saving on electricity.

Flaws:

1. Some difficulties during installation.
2. The use of a water pump is required.
3. There is a possibility of a leak; it will be difficult to find it later - dismantling will be required.

Installation technology

Electric heated floor in garage

This floor is simpler in design, but it requires a significant amount of electricity to function.

Advantages of electric heated floors:

1. it does not require any communications, other than electricity;
2. The system also includes a heating cable;
3. The system does not require maintenance, and its service life is calculated for 60 years.

Flaws:

1. high price of electricity;
2. To reduce energy costs, thermal insulation of both the floor and the entire room will be required.

Electric floor installation technology:

1. First, you need to insulate the garage floor so that groundwater cannot penetrate from below. To do this, it is made of the required thickness.
2. Next, heat-reflecting material is laid, but the use of foil is prohibited here.
3. It is laid out on the thermal insulation material. Then you need to insulate all contacts and install a temperature sensor.
4. Next, a polyethylene film is laid and a test switch is carried out.
5. If the test is successful, then the screed is poured, but the thickness is much less. In places where car wheels will pass, you can install a regular floor.

A thin screed over gypsum fiber boards, parquet boards, and so on, but the main thing is that the car does not drive through this place.

The costs of underfloor heating systems will depend on the size of the garage and the cost of the basic kit. The feasibility of these costs is undeniable, since a warm floor will be one of the main guarantees of the excellent condition of the car for a long time, as well as health and convenience for the driver if he spends his time in the garage.

Every vehicle owner has experienced the loss of time to warm it up during the cold season. Car repairs in winter also do not give motorists much pleasure. These problems can be solved much easier if you organize a competent heating system (HC) in the garage. Among the many options, most motorists consider the “warm floor” system to be the optimal way to heat a garage space, the creation of which will be discussed in this publication.

What you need to pay attention to

Before you start choosing a heating element and installing a heated floor yourself, you should think about good insulation of the room.

1. Seal all cracks.
2. Insulate the walls and ceiling of the garage with a sufficient layer of thermal insulation material, which can be used as stone or basalt wool, polyethylene foam, polystyrene foam, etc.

Pay attention to the floor in the garage. During the operation of the vehicle, it will be subject to heavy mechanical stress and exposure to chemical agents. The pressure of the car on the screed is distributed over 4 points, each of which, on average, accounts for 0.5 tons. If the floor in the garage is wooden, then it should be reinforced.

The period of operation of the garage heating should be determined. In other words, can you organize continuous operation of the CO during the winter period? If yes, then you can pay attention to the water type of heated floor, which will require installing boiler equipment in the garage or connecting the circuit to an existing CO. If you do not guarantee uninterrupted operation of the heating system, or are not ready for a large initial investment, then it is better to create an electric heated floor in the garage with your own hands based on a heating cable. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages, design features, which will be discussed further.

Important! Since there is high pressure on the floor in the garage, which can lead to mechanical damage to the protective polymer layer, the option of IR film heated floors will not be considered.

Water circuit for heating a garage space

The design of a warm water floor consists of a closed pipeline system laid in a screed, a source of thermal energy (coolant) that circulates through the water circuit, a heat generator, a circulation pump and control valves.

Main advantages:

• Reliability.
• Economical during operation.
• Uniform heating of the room over its entire area.

Flaws:

• The need to carry out complex calculations.
• Difficult installation.
• Large financial investments (at the initial stage).
• Poor maintainability.

By and large, water heated floors are rarely used by car enthusiasts due to the fact that this type of garage heating requires a lot of time and money. Such a system has the right to life if there are no other options.

Advice: Before creating a water-heated floor in the garage, even at the design stage, you should consider a scheme for connecting the circuit to the CO of the house (or provide for the installation of boiler equipment), choose a place to place the distribution unit, circulation pump and other structural elements. In addition, it is necessary to calculate the diameter of the pipeline, pump performance, select the pipe material for the circuit, and select the necessary elements of the system. You can do this yourself, but we recommend entrusting this work to professionals. Proper calculation and selection of equipment will be the key to reliable and efficient operation of the heated floor.

The figure below shows a typical connection diagram for the water circuit of a heated floor in CO.

Important! If you plan to insert the circuit into the central heating system, then a mixing unit should be provided to lower the temperature of the coolant in the heated floor circuit.

The stages of installation work include:

Important! You should know that the time for complete hardening of the cement-sand mortar is 28-30 days, depending on the temperature and humidity in the room.

In order to understand how to lay heated floors in a garage, we recommend watching a video on the topic:

Cable underfloor heating elements

To create electric heated floors in a garage, no operating CO is required: only the presence of electricity. Heat generation occurs in an insulated, flexible, high-resistance conductor through which electric current flows. The heating element (cable) is placed in the screed. Due to the tight contact, thermal energy is transferred between the heating cable and the floor screed, which, in turn, evenly heats the air in the garage along its entire perimeter.

Advantages:

• Easy to install.
• Relatively low cost of equipment.
• Does not require maintenance.
• Not afraid of defrosting.

Flaws:

• High operating costs.
• The need for good thermal insulation of all surfaces of the garage (floor, walls, ceiling, gate).

So, how to make an electric heated floor in a garage with your own hands? The system will require the purchase of the required quantity of heating cable, thermostat and temperature sensor. If you install heating mats (another type of cable heated floor, in which the cable is already laid out on a polymer substrate), then all the necessary elements are supplied complete.

Important! At the planning stage, you should find out whether the electrical wiring will withstand the load created by an electric heated floor. We should proceed from a power of 160 W/m2 of garage space.

Technology for creating an electric “warm floor” based on a heating cable.

1. Preparing the base.

   Advice! To insulate and level the floor surface for cable systems, experts recommend using special building mixtures with heat-insulating additives.

2. Waterproofing. This stage ensures that there is no contact of groundwater with the heating element.
3. Thermal insulation of the base with polystyrene or penoplex, at least 30 mm thick.
4. Laying the mounting tape, which is necessary for fastening the cable to the heat-insulating layer. (if heating mats are used, this step is not required).
5. Laying the heating conductor with a pitch between turns of 30 cm. The figure below shows the moment of fastening the cable to the mounting tape.
   

   Important! To prevent overheating of the cable, it is not recommended to lay it under cabinets, shelving or a workbench.

6. To lay the cable, use a “snail” or “snake” pattern.

   Important! Please note that the distance from the wall to the heating element should not be less than 50 mm; between turns - less than 80 mm; between the heating element and the power supply wire - 500 mm.

7. Mounting the thermostat on the wall and laying the temperature sensor between the turns of the heating cable.
8. Connecting the system to control equipment and the garage electrical network.
9. Functionality check.

The last stage is pouring the screed with a self-leveling or sand-cement mixture. The thickness of the screed varies from 30 to 50 mm.

Important! Do not turn on the heated floor until the solution has completely hardened (28-30 days).

As a conclusion: now that the design and installation principles of various heating systems are more clear, you can choose the best heated floor for your garage based on your capabilities, financial condition and operating conditions.

If you have an idea to make a heated water floor in the garage with your own hands, then to implement it you will need to take into account several subtleties. It will be necessary to calculate the maximum load on the floor covering and the heating circuit, to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the heating system. Anticipate difficulties and problems that may arise during the use of heated floors.

Is it permissible to use water heated floors in a garage?

Laying a water-heated floor in a car service garage is one of the most effective ways to warm up a building. The principle of operation of the heating system is that warm air flows will rise from bottom to top. As a result, the most comfortable conditions for carrying out repair work and servicing the vehicle will be provided.

However, the owner of the car service center will need to resolve several important issues:

You will also need to plan where exactly it would be more appropriate to draw the contour. This way there is no need for the heating system to be laid under furniture, tool cabinets, etc.

Step-by-step installation instructions

It’s quite easy to make water heated floors in your garage yourself. The construction of the pie is not complicated, but you will have to take certain points into account.

The step-by-step installation plan looks approximately as follows:

You must first draw up a scheme for heating the garage with a warm water floor, calculate the required amount of pipes and component materials. All this will allow you to complete all the work quickly and without additional material costs.

What kind of covering to lay for better heat transfer?

Floors in a car service center or personal garage must not only withstand heavy weight, but also provide high heat transfer rates. Some types of flooring, although durable, cannot be used due to low thermal conductivity. So you should avoid porcelain tiles and natural stone products.

The optimal solution when heating a garage floor with water heating would be to lay ordinary ceramic tiles or make a self-leveling coating. The layer thickness in self-leveling floors is about 3-5 mm. The top coating can be opened with protective water-based paint.

If you decide to tile the floors, you should use special adhesive and grout for installation. Seams can be grouted no earlier than 2-3 days after installation. Full load on the tile is allowed after 6-7 days.

Modern warm water floor heating systems can also be installed under porcelain stoneware. But for greater efficiency, it is best to opt for other types of coating.

Installation and operation problems

As already noted, there are several main problems associated with the installation and subsequent operation of heated floors. – when pouring a concrete base, it is necessary to use plasticizers and additives to increase strength. It is best to fill floors using ready-made mixtures. The thickness of the slab should not be less than 10 cm. To prevent the slab from cracking, it is necessary to prevent the solution from drying quickly. To do this, you will need to cover the concrete with a film and constantly water the base for 7 days.

Calculation of the efficiency of heated floors– a certain amount of heat is taken away by the cement screed, and a little more is spent on heating the floor covering. To calculate the most effective installation scheme, as well as the optimal material for the finishing coating, you can use special computer programs.

Seasonal changes– it is important to ensure the functionality of the system even if it will not be used for some time. For this purpose, a valve must be provided to discharge the coolant. In winter, this avoids freezing of the heating system.

Warm floors in a garage or car service center will help create favorable and comfortable conditions for working and storing a car.

In the cold season, the issue of heating in the garage becomes an issue. There are many ways to insulate a garage, but which ones are the most effective and economical? Many do not heat the premises, limiting themselves only to insulating the walls and gates. Some people heat only when necessary, for example, when they have to spend a lot of time in the garage. But a true car enthusiast has at least once in his life thought about installing a heated floor in his garage.

A warm floor is a heating system installed under the screed and coating. Most often, heated floors are installed in residential premises, and many consider installing such a system in a garage impractical. This is a rather controversial issue, but if you look at it not from the financial side, but think about comfort, then everything falls into place. In this article we will answer several main questions about installing heated floors:

1. What subtleties do you need to know about heating in a garage?
2. What types of underfloor heating are there?
3. How to make a heated floor in a garage with your own hands?

A garage space does not require the same heating intensity as a living space. The optimal temperature for storing a vehicle is 15˚C. This is the most comfortable temperature, which ensures the safety of the car, even during long periods of inactivity. In addition, it is much more pleasant and safer for the owner to work in a warm garage. Especially if the garage also serves as a workshop. Maintaining a higher temperature even in severe frosts is impractical.

It is important to understand that the garage room must be carefully insulated in order for heating to be effective. If there are gaps in the gates and the walls are bare stone, then such a room will be quite difficult to heat. Therefore, it is very important, without waiting for frost: to blow out all the cracks and provide at least minimal thermal insulation to the walls and ceiling.

Types of heated floors

Compared to wall insulation, installing a heated floor is quite a labor-intensive task, but the result justifies the cost. If the garage has been pre-prepared for winter, you will appreciate all the advantages of a heated floor.

Installing heated floors in a garage has a number of features. For example, you should not use infrared heating film for a garage space. In theory, this is possible, but it will not bring the desired effect. The floor in the room must be durable, so the heating element is placed under a thick layer of concrete screed, through which the infrared film cannot penetrate efficiently. This film, although it has its advantages, is suitable exclusively for residential premises. So let's figure out which heated floor options are suitable for a garage.

Water heated floor

A water heated floor is a closed pipe system that is filled with screed. The heat source is the boiler, so you will need to either install a separate unit in the garage or connect to an existing heating circuit. Thus, if you are making a water-heated floor in the garage of a private house, where it is possible to connect to an existing boiler, then this is an excellent choice. But installing a separate boiler is not very popular due to the high cost.

Advantages:

• uniform heating of the entire garage;
• saving on electricity;
• simple installation system.

Flaws:

Electric heated floor

Electric underfloor heating consists of special cables embedded in a screed. Heating of such a floor occurs due to the release of heat in the conductor under the influence of current (i.e. connected to the electrical network). The conductor heats the concrete screed, through which the room is heated. A special feature of an electric floor is strict adherence to the installation rules prescribed by the manufacturer (the rules may differ for different manufacturers).

Advantages:

• high level of protection (built-in sensors turn off the system in case of an emergency);
• ease of installation;
• there is no need for maintenance and constant monitoring;
• long service life.

Flaws:

Installation of water heated floor

Installing a heated floor with your own hands is not an easy task, but it does not require any specific skills. Let's look at the stages of laying a water-heated floor and the key features of each of them.

1. Preparation

At this stage, it is necessary to dismantle the old one (if present) and install the new one. The so-called “rough screed” consists of several layers:

• crushed stone;
• sand;
• waterproofing (roofing felt or thick polyethylene film)
• thin concrete screed.

Despite the fact that this is not a face screed, the surface should be as smooth as possible.

2. Laying insulation

Thermal insulation of the floor ensures heating efficiency, reduces heat loss and makes heating more uniform.

The following materials are most often used for insulation:

• cork backing (with an additional reflective layer);
• expanded polystyrene;
• polypropylene;
• lavsan film.

Installation of any of these insulation is not difficult. As a rule, they are sold in rolls, which are very convenient to stack.

3. Laying the reinforcing layer

The reinforcing layer is part of the preparation of the flange for the second screed, which must withstand heavy loads and be resistant to cracking. To do this, a reinforcing mesh (most often 15x15 cm) is laid on the subfloor. The mesh should be located slightly below the middle of the final screed, so it is raised slightly.

4. Installation of the water circuit.

Pipes can be laid on top of the reinforcing layer. They are mounted according to a strict pattern with the same pitch: snake, spiral, snail. This ensures correct and even heat distribution. The pipes are fixed to the reinforcing mesh with clamps.

5. Testing

This stage is difficult to underestimate. Before final filling, it is imperative to connect the pipes and test the system. Hydraulic tests must be carried out for at least 24 hours, this will help ensure the reliability of the system.

6. Face tie.

The final stage of installation of a water-heated floor is concrete screed. This coating should be 5-10 cm higher than the pipes. The work is carried out with the floor heating system turned off. The final drying time for such a screed is at least 28 days. Therefore, it is better not to use the garage space for about a month.

Installation of electric heated floor

Compared to a water floor heating system, installation of an electric heated floor is much simpler. But as already mentioned, such a floor consumes a large amount of electricity.

As with the installation of a water floor, the first step is to make a rough screed; its installation is carried out in the same order. After the screed has dried, heat-insulating material is placed. The main condition for the heat-reflecting layer is the absence of foil in the composition.

• there should be more than 5 cm from the wall to the cable;
• the distance between the turns of the cable should not be less than 8 cm;
• It is most convenient to attach the wire to a pre-fixed mounting tape;
• The thermostat is installed at a height of more than 30 cm from the floor.

Caution should be exercised, as installation details may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Monitor the process carefully to avoid short circuits.

After installation and connection, the system must be tested. Only after this can the face screed be poured. It is recommended not to use concrete, but a specialized material for pouring an electric heated floor. The height of the screed above such a floor is usually 3-5 cm.

Making a heated floor in a garage is not an easy task, but without a doubt it is necessary. With such a floor, your car will be warm even in the most severe frosts, and you won’t have to wear a lot of uncomfortable warm clothes to work in the garage.