Why rod flooring is great for ceramic tiles

The lineup

The model range is represented by a large number of types of heated floors. Some of the most popular models are Rail, Boost, Cord, Aqua.

Installation of Unimat Rail and Boost underfloor heating under tiles

Model Unimat Rail

The rod infrared floor is connected to a system of flexible thermomats with a step width of 10 cm. The rods are painted brown. The system is connected in a parallel sequence, which allows you to automatically adjust the surface heating when blocking heat transfer.

It is recommended to install it in a layer of screed or tile adhesive. Characteristics: Maximum power consumption - 130 W/sq. m, average - 116 W/sq. m, width of thermomats - 83 cm, maximum connection of mats - length up to 25 meters. The service life declared by the manufacturer is up to 20 years.

The rod floor is positioned as energy-saving, with energy savings of up to 60%. It's designed to comfortably heat a variety of surfaces, but may not be as powerful as the Boost model in very cold or damp environments.

Buying rod-based warm mats in Moscow

Brands of rod-based heated floors can be purchased in stores and online stores in Moscow at affordable prices. Let's consider the most popular and accessible:

The brand of underfloor heating called "Caleo" combines several popular core mats.

UnimatBoost. Mat power 160 W per sq. meter. The sheet's components are made of graphite, carbon and silver to help save energy. But this is a rather expensive option compared to other heating systems. The average cost starts from 3,000 rubles per square meter of material.
UnimatRail. Power 130 W per sq. meter. The mat elements also consist of graphite, silver and carbon and prevent loss of electricity. They are also endowed with the ability to self-regulate temperature. The mats cost approximately the same as “UnimatBoost”; the price starts from 2900-3000 rubles per square meter of material.

We recommend: How to connect heated floors in an apartment?

These particular brands of mats can be laid under heavy furniture and used with all types of finishing coatings.

It is worth noting that, despite the promised ease of installation of the system, it can be problematic to connect it or even design its location in the room.

If you do not have the necessary skills and abilities, you need to contact the appropriate services, which are scattered throughout the city, online and in the online stores themselves.

Keep in mind that it is better to invest in the long term once than to constantly overpay for repairs when faced with malfunctions in the system.

Modifications

The Unimat Rail heated floor has several varieties under the general code HR; they differ from each other in the fixed area of the thermomats and heating power:

The heating power consumption of the rods varies in the following order: at the minimum heating temperature of the rod it increases to the maximum power consumption; at maximum heating of the rod (60°C) it drops to 77 W per linear meter. In general, these figures constitute the average power consumption of thermomats per linear meter.

Energy consumption of heated floors

Model Unimat Boost

The more powerful Boost infrared floor heating rod is made up of flexible carbon rods connected in parallel sequence to form a thermomat. This allows the system to operate if one of the rods fails. The system is self-regulating, that is, heating can decrease if heat transfer is blocked.

Installation is carried out under any floor covering; it is recommended to fix it with a thin layer of screed or adhesive base. The system can be installed in rooms with high humidity.

Characteristics of Unimat Boost: maximum power consumption - 160 W/sq. m, average - 138 W/sq. m, thermomat width - 83 cm. A maximum connection length of up to 25 meters is allowed, step width between rods is 9 cm, rod color is dark grey.

The Boost core floor is positioned as being designed specifically for cold and damp areas. The warranty on it is up to 20 years.

The Boost floor model also has several modifications, which are characterized by different areas of thermomats and power. Modifications are produced under the general code from Unimat Boost-0100 to 2500, the number indicates the number of linear meters in the package (from a meter to 25 m).

Model Unimat Cord

Warm floor Unimat Cord is a warm cable floor, its basis is an electrical two-core cable with resistive properties.

It can be in two types: with a step fixed on the grid, and in coils. Additionally insulated with a heavy-duty Teflon coating, which ensures long service life and increases the melting point.

Characteristics: designed for installation in cold and ordinary rooms, has a protective screen made of aluminum foil or with copper braiding, a special adhesive layer is applied to the mesh, which ensures primary fixation of the mats before pouring. Installation in a self-leveling screed or a layer of adhesive mixture is recommended.

The thickness of the resistive cable is from 2.8 to 4 mm, in different models. Warranty - up to 15 years. The power of the models is from 200 W/sq. m for use in cold rooms, to 130 W/sq. m for ordinary rooms. The price exceeds infrared by an average of 15%.

Unimat Aqua water floors

It is a type of water floor with a closed system. The liquid circulates through thin tubes under low pressure using the system control unit. One of the obvious bonuses is that the system does not require connection to centralized heating; it functions autonomously.

Characteristics: designed for heating an area of 10-20 sq m, programmable heating power - from 100 to 2400 W. Mounted into a screed. The power supply contains a large number of settings that allow you to adjust the water heating temperature from 30 to 70 degrees, and it also has a power-on timer that is programmable for 12 hours. Power is supplied from the network. The block also contains holes for filling and draining water from the system, indicators: water control, errors, water filling, ambient temperature.

The system has no analogues on the domestic market. These are the characteristics of the most popular models of underfloor heating from the Unimat brand. At the moment, the company is actively fighting against counterfeits that discredit the quality of products. The official website offers a number of measures to determine the originality of products.

Operating principle

In we have already written how a semiconductor can change resistance depending on the ambient temperature. In Unimat heated floors, the same principle is used, only instead of a cable, parallel carbon rods are used, connected into a “ladder” by an appropriate cable.

Unimat in a centerfold

Thus, it turns out that colder areas of the room (for example, near the entrance or window) consume more electricity, while warmer areas, on the contrary, consume a minimum or do not heat up at all. The economic effect of such reasonable use is very large and allows you to significantly save on electric heating.

Positive aspects of Unimat

Easy to install. The floors can be installed into the screed or directly under the tiles without any problems - just read the instructions
High level of efficiency - ensured by self-regulation of carbon rods
Possibility of flexible configuration of on/off modes (although this plus applies more to thermostats)
The distance between the rods can be changed at your discretion depending on the geometry of the room
Not afraid of overheating - carbon rods that are in heat simply will not turn on, so overheating is impossible
Even heat distribution over the entire floor

Scope of application

Thanks to their excellent performance characteristics, these devices can be used in all rooms of residential premises, on loggias, in bathrooms, in winter greenhouses, gyms, public places, warehouses and as de-icing systems.

The great advantage of the device is the ability to use it with any type of coating. It goes well with natural wood finishes, parquet and laminate. Since the heating elements are mounted on a small layer of cement screed, it is optimal to lay a rod-based heated floor under tiles and porcelain stoneware. It is also possible to install mats using glue used for laying tiles, which allows you to significantly save on repair work.

Disadvantages identified during operation

During the operation of Unimat heated floors, very serious shortcomings were identified, which managers, sellers and the manufacturer try not to talk about, talking about the ultra-reliability of their product, the 20-year warranty, etc.

After installing the heated floor, you will, of course, check whether it heats or not by turning it on. But after pouring the screed, you will have to wait at least 28 days before turning it on for the first time. The period is quite significant if you made repairs in late summer/early autumn
It is unrealistic to use Unimat as the main heating in conditions of 30 degrees below zero - the power of the heating elements is too low.
Contacts with carbon rods. This is the main drawback of the entire system and this is where the main negative reviews from customers lie.

This is where contact with the carbon rod usually disappears

The fact is that each rod is connected to a conductive wire using a protruding spike, which extends inside the rod itself to a depth of only 3 mm. This is very little for reliable contact.

If you lay (on the manufacturer’s advice, by the way) a thermal mat directly under the tile, and also use (again on the manufacturer’s advice) a thermal insulation coating 2-3 mm thick, then the tile under your feet will move a little during operation. This may not be noticeable to you, but it is quite enough for poor-quality contact between the carbon rod and the copper shield to first become unreliable, and then completely disappear.

Many customers, after “opening” Unimat heated floors, discovered many burnt contacts.

When it comes to the bathroom, the number of dissatisfied customers is off the charts! Moisture that gets onto these same contacts simply “kills” the floors within a year or two of use.

20 years warranty... Even if you can prove that the floors were laid according to the instructions, and even by a qualified specialist

, then in return they will provide you with exactly the same Unimat heated floor, with the words that this one is certainly free of factory defects. And here are two troubles:

Bad contacts are not a manufacturing defect, it is a design feature of the model, so you will get exactly the same low-quality floor
Nobody will reimburse you for the cost of the screed, tiles and your nerves.

General stages of installation of a rod heated floor

The first step is to purchase materials for installing a rod-heated floor and prepare the base. It won’t be difficult to purchase materials while avoiding counterfeits, just use the above diagram as a starting point, but let’s look at the base in more detail:

debris and any other small construction elements are removed from the base;
if necessary, it is leveled so that there are no differences of more than 2-3 mm;
lay a waterproofing film on the base;
We lay any possible substrate on top of the film so that the floor transfers heat more efficiently, fixing it with adhesive tape (but not with a foil covering, as mentioned earlier).

When installing heat-reflecting material, you need to make a distance of at least 5-7 cm from the walls.

After preparing the base, you can lay the heated floor itself. Laying is carried out according to the following points:

We spread carbon mats secured with wires on the substrate. If necessary, we divide the mats strictly according to the places designated for cutting;
Using the fastenings that come with the kit, we fix the mats in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions;
We choose a place for the temperature regulator and for the sensor. We make a recess in the substrate for the sensor to avoid unevenness, and fix it in a corrugated pipe, and mount the thermostat on the wall in a convenient place. We also make a recess from the thermostat vertically downwards for future connection;
connect the sensor and temperature controller with wires;
Before filling, we check that the system is fully functioning. To do this, turn it on and carefully examine every centimeter of the mats.

We recommend: Should I use penoplex for heated floors?

Graphite sheets are not always covered with a concrete layer. In the case of laying tiles, the mats are simply covered with tile adhesive, and tiles are glued on top of them. In combination with any other finishing coatings, pour a concrete screed in the range of 2 to 3 cm.

Comments:

Features, disadvantages and advantages of cable heated floors. The underfloor heating regulator is an important part of the entire system.

The heated floor system is an effective replacement for heaters and traditional heating methods. It helps to create comfortable living conditions both in a country cottage and in an apartment in a multi-storey building, especially during the off-season, when centralized networks are not yet connected. Among the variety offered by manufacturers, UNIMAT underfloor heating is of particular interest to buyers. This is due to the declared technical characteristics and the price-quality ratio of the products.

The main difference between an infrared floor is the use of elastic and flexible carbon rods for heating elements. They are located parallel to each other and connected to each other in the form of a mat using a power cable. This design ensures uniform heating of the entire surface, and a self-regulating device allows you to control the temperature depending on operating conditions. By purchasing a rod heated floor from UNIMAT, you can create a comfortable environment without significantly increasing energy costs, since it is very economical. Laying is carried out under a screed, and it is recommended to use it in rooms with high humidity. A review of different UNIMAT models will help you get acquainted with the features in more detail.

Recommendations

Rod heated floors have been a more popular type of heating lately, but their prices are a cut above. But it is often better to overpay a little and have high-quality heating in the house, rather than cheap analogues that will break down in the first 5 years.

Of course, installation may seem very easy, but it is not. There are many nuances here, if not observed, the system will fail much faster, or even not start at all.

Use the services of professionals who know what they are dealing with. This will save a lot of nerves and time, and will also leave part of your fortune with you.

How does radiant floor heating work?
How to install heated flooring under a shower stall?
How to install heated flooring in the kitchen?
How to install underfloor heating in a house?
How to install damper tape for heated floors?
What is a self-leveling heated floor?

Range of heated floors

The UNIMAT manufacturer's line is represented by products of different series, which differ in design, technical parameters and cost.

Refers to an infrared floor system, where flexible rods made of a composite material made from carbon, graphite and silver are used as heating elements. This design reduces energy consumption by up to 60%. UNIMAT RAIL can be combined with any type, but the greatest efficiency is achieved when installed under tiles or porcelain stoneware. Their price ranges from 1,998 rubles per linear meter, depending on the model. For example, the cost of UNIMAT HR-S-600, which are designed to heat approximately 5 m2, starts from 12,944 per set of equipment.

It is an infrared heating mat with flexible rods made of composite material. Floors in this series can withstand more difficult operating conditions and can be used as additional or main heating in cold rooms.

Economical energy consumption is ensured by the presence of a self-regulating device that reduces power consumption as the temperature increases. The cost of the UNIMAT BOOST kit is from 2,158 rubles per 1 linear meter.

The floors of this series are a capillary system of thin tubes through which water circulates. They do not require connection to the heating network and operate autonomously. Heating is carried out using a special electronic unit, the power of which can be adjusted. Thanks to the simplicity of the design, they are reliable and durable. They are safe and can be installed even in damp areas. The price of underfloor heating from UNIMAT AQUA is from 30,790 rubles for a set of equipment designed for 10 m2, but due to the low cost of operation it quickly pays for itself.

What are the product reviews?

“I saw an advertisement for warm floors from UNIMAT; they broadcast it very often at one time. And, like any imposed information, at first I didn’t believe it. However, when we decided to thermally insulate the bathroom, for some reason I remembered this brand. We compared price and quality, we were satisfied. We chose the floor of the Unimat Aqua series, which has been working flawlessly for about three years.”

Anastasia, St. Petersburg.

“We purchased UNIMAT for our dacha and are generally satisfied - electricity is consumed within the limits specified by the manufacturer. Heating occurs quite quickly, automatic adjustment distributes heat evenly throughout the room. Before buying, I read reviews about Unimat floors, and in general they coincided with my attitude towards the products of this brand.”

Evgeny Shorokhov, Moscow.

“I don’t know why there is such a stir around UNIMAT? The floors are like floors, they are heated, but all rooms must be well insulated, especially in a private house. Otherwise there is not enough power. There was some problem during the installation, but this was most likely due to the low qualifications of the craftsman hired through an acquaintance.”

Irina, Ufa.

“Having bought an apartment on the first floor of a new building and having been thoroughly frozen in winter, we decided to install heated floors. Moreover, the children are small and catch colds all the time. We settled on UNIMAT and chose a series of heated floors from this brand. We needed to thermally insulate the bathroom, kitchen, children's room and balcony. Judging by the reviews, the most economical was the Unimat RAIL, characterized by minimal electricity consumption. We chose him. Unfortunately, they did not understand the technical intricacies; they trusted the sellers, and in vain. While UNIMAT creates a comfortable temperature in the rooms, its power is clearly not enough on the balcony. We’ll either have to insulate ourselves even more, or choose a different system.”

Unimat Rail rod infrared floor heating is the most energy efficient heating among a wide variety of similar systems. By installing a Unimat Rail heating system in your home, you can save up to 60% of energy. Thanks to its reliability, practicality, simple installation and comfort, it is chosen by thousands of consumers. How does the Unimat Rail infrared rod-heated floor differ from other similar heating systems? We invite you to look into this issue with us.

Pros and cons of rod heated floors

Rod heated floors have many conflicting reviews. They gained popularity, of course, thanks to a lot of positive ratings, but the negative aspects should not be missed either, so let’s start in order.

Pros:

resistance to high temperatures. Thanks to a maximum heating temperature of 60°C, these mats are less susceptible to overheating and are fireproof.
moisture resistance. It is thanks to their moisture resistance that they are even installed on balconies and in showers.
environmentally friendly. The components of the mats do not contain substances or materials harmful to the human body.
mats are compatible with all types of floor coverings.
increased energy savings. When operating, the mats operate with a power of up to 85-87 watts per 1 linear meter. This allows you to save up to 30% of electricity.
fine temperature adjustment. The mats are self-regulating, so you can choose the desired temperature yourself.
easy installation. The entire system can be designed independently without the help of highly qualified people.
harmless radiation. Unlike other systems, these mats do not emit infrared radiation harmful to humans.
mats can be installed under household appliances and heavy furniture.

We recommend: How to install Onor heated flooring?

Minuses:

If you decide to install a rod-based heated floor, you will have to dismantle the existing concrete screed or carefully level it.
You cannot combine heating sheets with a substrate covered with a foil layer. This combination will cause the constituent elements of both systems to decompose due to the interaction of alkali and aluminum.
reduced service life. Other types of heating systems will last twice as long as these mats. Their service life has been reduced to 10 years.
high price on the building materials market compared to other systems.

Even though there are twice as many positive qualities, there are also negative qualities to consider. On the building materials market you can also often find low-quality fakes, which can cause disastrous consequences during installation.

Peculiarities

Unimat Rail has its own unique features, which are as follows:

Saving money and energy savings during operation. Unlike cable underfloor heating systems, it is 60% more economical.
The system is not afraid of overheating and being blocked by furniture. If furniture is installed on the heated area, then thanks to the self-regulating function, the heating system will prevent overheating. This allows you not to worry about the arrangement of furniture even after years. In any season of the year, you can achieve the desired temperature both at the dacha and in your apartment.
Usefulness and environmental friendliness for humans. IR heat has an anti-allergenic effect. The Unimat Rail system consists exclusively of high-quality materials. Radiation is accompanied by ionization of the air, which will have a positive effect on the health of your children. Plus, Unimat Rail ensures uniform heating of the entire living area.
Can be laid in a screed and in a layer of tile adhesive. Thanks to the special design of the mat, heating can be laid at the base of the screed. This is especially useful in cases where you have to pour a thick screed.
High reliability. The heating rods of the mats are connected in parallel, so the heating will not fail soon. Even if one rod is damaged, heating will be provided by the other rod. The manufacturer provides a warranty of up to 20 years.
Simple and easy installation. If you are not a professional, you can still install the Unimat Rail heating system. This is explained by the simple design of the rod infrared heating floor.

It is recommended to entrust the connection of Unimat Rail to the electrical network to qualified specialists. Especially if you have no experience working with electricity.

When purchasing a Unimat Rail heating system, the following set of parts is included in the package:

Connecting wires VVGng.
Carbon mat in roll.
UKK end kit.
UKC connector kit.
Corrugated tube equipped with a plug and a metal probe.

It is worth highlighting the main technical characteristics of the Unimat Rail IR heating:

The maximum heating power consumption at a core temperature of 20°C is 116 W/linear m.
The maximum heating power consumption at a core temperature of 60°C is 77 W/linear m.
The basic mat width is 0.83 m.
The maximum permissible length of a serial connection is 25 linear meters.
There is a step of 0.10 m between each rod.
Power supply is provided at 220/50 V/Hz.
In the total spectrum, the share of IR rays is 90.60%.
The IR wavelength ranges from 8 to 14 µm.

As for the installation of the Unimat Rail system, it can be laid under ceramic tiles, carpet, linoleum and laminate. In each individual case, it is important to follow the installation technology.

Due to the fact that recently there have been a lot of counterfeits of Unimat Rail heated floors, it is worth paying attention to the distinctive features of this heating. This will allow you to purchase original products.

Due to the wrong choice, you will lose a large amount of money and, moreover, cause harm to your health. You should not buy heated floors of unknown origin.

Below is the difference between real and fake. Be careful, because your life and money are at stake, of course:

If you bought a fake, then when the heating system heats up to a temperature of 60°C, you will feel an unpleasant smell of plastic, which is caused by overheating of the mat and its melting. This means that at any moment the heating mat will fail.
A counterfeit product will never be properly marked or marked, such as the abbreviation RHE.
The false Unimat Rail uses simple self-tapping screws in the connections between the rods and the power cable, rather than copper staples, like the original products. After a short time, the screws will oxidize and rust. As a result, this will cause sparking.
The counterfeit mat has a mat width of 80 cm, while the original Unimat Rail has a mat width of 83 cm. This small difference greatly affects the technical characteristics of the entire system. For example, a width of 80 cm increases the starting currents in a self-regulating system. This negatively affects the reliability of the heating system.

So, if you do not want to fall into the trap of deception and into the hands of unscrupulous dealers, then you should simply follow a few rules:

Original Unimat Rail products are sold only as a set. It contains everything necessary for installation. The kit also includes video instructions on a DVD, as well as color paper instructions.
The rod connections are marked Unimat Rail.
When the rod is heated to 70°C, the original products work without failure.
The product passport must indicate a 20-year warranty.

Prices

The rod-based IR underfloor heating Unimat Rail has several modifications. Each of them has distinctive features, which mainly consist in power and heated area. Below are several models:

Unimat HR-S-100 – power 0.13-0.12 kW (m 2 / linear meter). Heated area 1 m2 - average price 2600 rubles.
Unimat HR-S-200 – power 0.26-0.23 kW (m 2 / linear meter). Heated area 2 m2 - average price 5270 rubles.
Unimat HR-S-300 – power 0.39-0.35 kW (m 2 / linear meter). Heated area 3 m2 - average price 7900 rubles.
Unimat HR-S-400 – power 0.52-0.46 kW (m 2 / linear meter). Heated area 4 m2 - average price 10,500 rubles.
Unimat HR-S-500 – power 0.65-0.58 kW (m 2 / linear meter). Heated area 5 m2 - average price 13,200 rubles.
Unimat HR-S-600 – power 0.78-0.7 kW (m 2 / linear meter). Heated area 6 m2 - average price 15,800 rubles.
Unimat HR-S-700 – power 0.91-0.81 kW (m 2 / linear meter). Heated area 7 m2 - average price 18,400 rubles.
Unimat HR-S-2500 – power 3.25-2.9 kW (m 2 / linear meter). Heated area 25 m2 - average price 66,000 rubles.

So, we have made a brief overview of the Unimat Rail underfloor heating system. Leave your comments at the end of the article if this heating is already used in your home.