Installation Tips for Heated Tiles

In-floor heating system, also known as radiant heat can turn the chilly space in your home into a warm, comfortable place. It’s an often requested upgrade for new properties, so it can help you close a deal if you intend to flip or resell homes in a market with demanding clients. Here are tips on where, when and how you should use a radiant floor heater.

The Warmup’s DMC-PRO Floor Heating equipment combines the advantage of an anti-fracture membrane with the luxury of heated tiles. You can install it over concrete and wood subfloors as a safer way to install heating cables or as an anti-fracture membrane. The DCM-PRO cable should also be installed in the areas where heat is needed.

Modified Or Unmodified Thin-Set

Below:

Flooring experts strongly recommend the use of modified sets as they work well with heated floor installations. Both unmodified and modified adhesives are believed to be appropriate by professionals and industry’s leading firms. It’s also important that you follow all the manufacturer’s instructions when mixing and applying a thin-set.

Trowel size:

Use a ¼ “ x 14 “ V-notched trowel to install the DCM-PRO membrane. Press the membrane into the motor and lift it periodically to check and ensure full transfer of the mortar to the back of the DCM-PRO membrane.

Above:

The DCM-PRO membrane allows unmodified, modified and self-leveling motors over its membrane. This is an advantage to the end user as all format tiles can be installed easily. The use of self-leveling over the DCM-PRO membrane makes it possible for you to lay other floor covers such as LTVs, wood, or carpets. In some cases, installers opt for a ‘two-step’ installation where they level the cable over the membrane and tile the upper area with their preferred thin-set.

It’s important to apply some adhesive to the membrane if you intend to use the ‘one-step’ approach and tiling directly over the membrane and cable. This is necessary to fill all the voids and gaps and achieve a full contact of the right cable for optimum heating. Your choice of trowel over the cable, thin-set, and membrane will depend on your flooring choice and the tile size and thickness. Therefore, consider consulting with a flooring professional or read the thin-set manufacturer’s guidelines to understand what needs to be done.

More Tips

• Use a cement board or insulation board to kneel an exert weight to the membrane. This can help you achieve a uniform adhesion to the subfloor and eliminate potential cable damage.
• In case the thin-set hasn’t cured under the membrane, make a 12” long by 1” channel to install the Factory Slice on the heating wires power cord. This makes it easier for you to level it using tile.
• When installing a non-tile floor covering or using the two-step approach, use a piece of wood (2 to 3 feet) to level out the leveler.

The tips discussed here will help you understand and install radiant floor heaters seamlessly.