Following this period of curing, the screed may be commissioned by being heated slowly at a maximum rate of 5°C per day, up to the maximum operating temperature as recommended by the heating manufacturer. The temperature of the screed should be maintained at this level for a minimum of three days, before allowing it to cool to room temperature.
You should ensure that the heating system has been turned off, or on in cold temperatures, to ensure the screed is at 15°C before tiling commences. Before tiling, the surface should be scarified to remove any laitance which can form a barrier to adhesion.
When using cable systems, check with the manufacturer to ensure the system is compatible with the intended substrate and application areas i.e. kitchen, bathroom etc.
The cables should be bedded into a layer of self-smoothing compound, such as BAL Level Max. Developed with innovative Fibre Strand Technology (FST), BAL Level Max can be used for bed depths of up to 80mm thick. Superior performance is achieved thanks to its key features including added flexibility and strength, self-smoothing capability, low shrinkage and a protein-free formula.
“For any tiling project, particularly those with underfloor heating, it is crucial to ensure that the subfloor is adequately prepared and that the right products are selected for fixing.”
When using an uncoupling system, such as BAL Rapid Mat, the heating cables should be below the membrane and encased within the levelling compound.
Where heating mats are being used, we would always recommend checking with the manufacturer that the chosen system is compatible with the substrate and to the environment it is being used in.
Before tiling, the surface of the mat should be primed using a contact adhesive, prior to the installation of tiles using the correct adhesive – which we will come onto.
When tiling onto concrete or cement: sand screeds or plywood overlaid floors (min thickness 15mm), a suitable flexible tile adhesive is required such as BAL Single Part Flexible, BAL Rapidset Flexible Fibre, BAL Stone and Tile PTB or BAL Max Flex Fibre.
For single layers of timber, or where plywood overlay is less than 15mm, consider the use of BAL Rapid Mat uncoupling mat and a flexible adhesive, or BAL Single Part Fastflex– a specialist rubber-crumb adhesive with elastomeric properties.
As with your adhesive choice, your chosen grout should also be flexible to allow for thermal movement. Recommended BAL grouts include: BAL Superflex Wide Joint Grout, BAL Micromax2 (with BAL Admix GT1 diluted 1:2 by volume with water when tiling onto single layers of timber of where plywood overlay is less then 15mm).
Due to the large number of heating systems on the market, we would also recommend to contact BAL Technical Advisory Service (TAS) for advice before any work is carried out!
www.bal-adhesives.com 50 | UNDERFLOOR HEATING
www.tomorrowscontractfloors.com
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