Tiles & underfloor heating

[Smacker]

Hi!

Does anyone know how long tiles need to cure before you can turn on the underfloor heating?? Our contractor says it should cure for 28 days before the heat is turned on. We are running a very low-temperature system that, according to the manufacturer, should only need to send out 2-3 degrees warmer in the loops than the desired room temperature. So you can settle for sending out 18-20 degrees at the beginning and light the fireplace a bit for extra heat. It sounds strange that you can't turn on the heat a little bit because the adhesive hardens too quickly. What do you do when tiling in the summer at 25-30 degrees???

Regards, Matte

 

[Smacker]

no one knows???

 

[Smacker]

ok ok.... so you don't dare to turn on the heating at all imo? it feels frustrating to wait an entire month to move in when the house is otherwise ready for occupancy....

 

[kimpo]

Your contractor is correct. Turn on the underfloor heating after about a month and gradually start the heating.

 

[Smacker]

Thanks for the answers. What happens/can happen if you turn on the heat a little gently after 1-2 weeks??

/matte

 

[kimpo]

Fix and joint compound can burn too quickly and thus become too "porous" and lose their binding ability. Leading to tiles detaching and fragile joints...

 

[Smacker]

Oh no, you definitely don't want to experience that..... But shouldn't you get a similar effect when klinkar in the middle of summer in 20-25 degree heat?

 

[kimpo]

Yes, if you put tiles on a sun-heated surface, you need to make sure to add some water at regular intervals. The concrete usually doesn't have the same temperature as the outside temperature since it stores heat or cold. If you have the underfloor heating turned on, the concrete will consistently stay between 20 and 30 degrees.