Preparing for Infrared Heating – What a Well-Prepared Site Looks Like Before Installation

A well-prepared site is one where, by the time the installers arrive, the layers that go under the heating film are finished, the work area is clear, and the customer has completed every point on the checklist received from our company. Then the installation is fast and precise, and the flooring can continue without a hitch. We show how this looks in practice using the example of an event hall in Zalaszentlászló.

Installation is joint work

Installing heating film is teamwork between the customer and the installer: the customer's preparation contributes as much to success as the installation team. The work does not end with commissioning the thermostat either, because a truly comfortable setting also needs the customer's feedback. And for us installers it is a pleasure when everything on site is waiting as it should be.

The project: an event hall in a previously unused building

Péter Bakos, president of the Gyógynövények Völgye (Valley of Medicinal Herbs) cooperative, ordered infrared underfloor heating and ceiling heating from us for Zalaszentlászló, for a previously unused property where they started a new activity. They planned occasional events and sports sessions (judo, yoga) in the hall, so the requirement was quickly available warmth suited to intermittent use: the heating is switched on for 1-2 hours or for a day, and then can stay off for days. Infrared heating was chosen for this pattern of use.

The customer prepared everything exactly according to the checklist received from us. In the first video our installer shows what an ideally prepared site looks like; in the second, Péter Bakos explains why they needed infrared heating.

Preparation – video (click the image to play)

Why did the customer choose heating film? – video

The system that was built

• Event hall – underfloor heating: proper insulation was laid under the heating film, a Rigidur board over it, and parquet on top.
• Annexes and wet rooms – ceiling heating: here the hard floor covering was already finished, and it would have made no sense to break it up. The heating film went above the plasterboard ceiling, which solved the heating quickly and economically.
• Control: the rooms were controlled by thermostat; for remote control the owner later planned a smart home system.

At the time of installation, in 2020, we fitted 3rd-generation heating film; today we install 4th-generation heating film.

More videos about the installation

Heating film and a calf – video

Heating film infrared heating – video

Infrared heating with a thermal camera – video

Checklist: how to prepare the site

We hand over the exact list after the order, tailored to the building. In general, watch for these:

• For underfloor heating the screed and the insulation that goes under the film are finished, and the surface is flat, clean and dry.
• For ceiling heating the supporting structure of the suspended ceiling is in place so that the film can be fixed, and the finishing can continue afterwards.
• The work area is clear: furniture and building materials are not in the way.
• The connection points are agreed: we know where the thermostat goes and where the heating connects to the mains. The wiring is done by a qualified electrician.
• The tiler is scheduled: after installation they can continue work as soon as possible, so the fresh layers are not damaged.

If you are still at the planning stage, we go through these together during the on-site survey and consultation. In detail: heating film preparations for underfloor and ceiling heating; and the installation steps are described in our article How we install heating film.

Underfloor heating layer structure with laminate flooring

From bottom to top:

1. concrete
2. insulation (for example walkable polystyrene)
3. 5 mm reflective foil
4. heating film
5. vapour barrier foil
6. earthing mesh
7. concrete or Rigidur (not mandatory, only an option)
8. underlay paper
9. laminate flooring

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• Planning underfloor heating, but with what? The TOP 3 electric underfloor heating options
• What should we heat with? Gas heating or electric heating?
• Is film heating better?
• New heating film showroom in Budapest, with the chance to try infrared heating
• The warmth of the Sun in our bathroom