Instructions / Assembly
14
SunTouch Mat Do It Yourself Manual
!
CAUTION
Never bang a trowel on the heating
wire to remove excess mortar from
the trowel. This could damage the
heating wire.
DOUBLEPLYWOOD OVER FRAME FLOOR
Tile/stone or laminate flooring
Tile/stone or laminate flooring
Tile/stone or
laminate flooring
Mat
Plywood
Main Plywood Subfloor
Latex-Portland cement
mortar bond coat
Insulation (per International
Residential Code, Chapter 11)
Concrete slab with
rewire or rebar
Crack isolation membrane
Mat
Thin-set or self-leveling
mortar bed
Insulation (per International
Residential Code, Chapter 11)
Insulation (per International
Residential Code, Chapter 11)
Cement backerboard,
thick-set, or self-leveling
mortar bed
Mat
Thin-set
THIN-SET OVER SLAB ON GRADE
CEMENT BACKERBOARD OVER FRAME FLOOR
Type of Construction
Mortar Applications:
Thin-set and thick-set (self-leveling) mortar
applications are illustrated to the right.
a. If a backer board or plywood sheeting is
used to strengthen the floor, or if the mat
will be placed directly onto the slab, install
mat in the thin-set mortar bond coat
above these materials.
b. If a thicker mortar bed, or self-leveling
concrete, is used to strengthen the floor,
mat can be installed in either the mortar
bed (dry-set) or in the mortar bond coat
directly below the tile or stone.
SunTouch Mat is generally installed above the
self-leveling mortar in a thin-set bond coat.
Use plastic lath instead of the typical metal
lath when installing in a self-leveling layer.
Self-leveling Mortar Applications:
These are appropriate applications if
installing engineered wood, vinyl, laminate,
or carpet floor coverings. Attach the mat to
the subfloor or slab, then pour self-leveling
mortar 1/4" to 1/2" thick according to
manufacturer’s specifications. Install floor
covering after the mortar has cured.
Special Precautions
Isolation Membrane: Install the mat above
the membrane, whenever possible,
unless recommended otherwise by the
membrane manufacturer.
Insulation: Insulation dramatically enhances
the performance and efficiency of floor-
warming systems. Do not install rigid
insulation directly above or below backer
board or mortar.
Mosaic Tile: When installing mosaic tile, it
is recommended to apply a two-step
process. First, embed the mat in a thin self-
level mortar bed (1/4"–3/8"), then thin-
set the mosaic tile according to typical
practice.
Expansion Joints: Do not install heating mats
through an expansion joint. Install mats
right up to the joint, if necessary, but not
through the joint.