DCM-PRO heating cables under tiles – on a full membrane or membrane strips
Laid directly in tile adhesive under tiles or stone, or in a thin layer of self-levelling compound. Contrary to what you might expect, they do not raise the floor level: they are so thin that they sit within the layer that goes under the floor finish anyway. Ideal for renovations or finishing a new-build flat, as they can be installed on existing screeds, insulated foundation slabs and timber floors covered with OSB board.
What DCM-PRO cables are
The heating cable is a multi-strand, twin-core cable 4.5 mm thick. Its inner and outer insulation is made of ETFE, an advanced fluoropolymer resistant to high temperatures. This material gives the cable very high thermal resistance and mechanical strength. The decoupling membrane with studs is extruded from polypropylene.
DCM-PRO cables are laid on a full membrane or on membrane strips. Our adviser chooses the option when preparing the quote.
Thanks to the materials they are made from and their patented technology, Warmup SPM heating mats and DCM-PRO heating cables HAVE NO technical equivalent on the market, even among other well-known suppliers.
When to choose DCM-PRO cables
- A renovation, when the floor level cannot end up higher than in the adjoining rooms.
- Finishing a flat or house sold in developer standard, on an existing screed.
- An insulated foundation slab without screed.
- Timber floors covered with OSB board.
When the floor is to be laminate or engineered wood boards laid dry, WLFH heating film is the right choice. When building a house with a screed on insulation, WIS heating cables will do the job.
DCM-PRO cables or SPM mats
DCM-PRO has an advantage over SPM heating mats because lower outputs per m² can be used (SPM is available at 150 W/m², while DCM can deliver from 40 to 225 W/m²), so the heating output can be better matched to the energy needs of the building, especially in low-energy construction.
In larger buildings, even with 150 W/m² heating mats, the building’s connection capacity would have to be higher than with the DCM-PRO system.
Another argument for DCM-PRO is the membrane, which absorbs stresses in the subfloor and prevents cracks in the floor finish, especially with large-format porcelain tiles and sintered stone.
Preparing the subfloor
The durability of the whole floor depends on how the subfloor is prepared. Before installation, the following is on your side:
- removing dust and priming the floor twice with a liquid bonding primer,
- levelling out all unevenness, dips and steps with repair mortar or a self-levelling screed,
- preparing the electrical installation: a back box for the thermostat, a 230 V supply with 3×2.5 mm² cable, 2 conduits of 20–22 mm diameter to the floor and protection (B16 and a common 30 mA RCD, type B).
Installation and warranty
The cables are installed by our team, usually in one day, with resistance measurements and an entry in the warranty certificate. You can also order the cables alone, delivered within 48 hours. DCM-PRO cables come with a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty.
The LIFETIME warranty on these products is not just an empty marketing slogan: it has hard technical grounds.
WARMUP heating mats, cables and films are not cut from a roll or drum on site, as “infrared” films are. They are made in set lengths and areas according to the product range. There is only one power joint per room, connecting the cold lead to the heating wire of the cable, mat or film. It is made in the factory, properly insulated and sealed, and put through a high-voltage dielectric test as well as insulation and contact resistance measurements. None of this happens to the crimp connectors of “infrared” films, squeezed together by the installer's fingers on a building site.
Frequently asked questions
How much do DCM-PRO cables raise the floor level?
In thin-layer systems, SPM heating mats and DCM-PRO heating cables are laid in tile adhesive or a thin layer of self-levelling compound, which go under the floor finish anyway, so the floor is no higher than an unheated one.
Can DCM-PRO cables be laid on OSB board?
Yes. DCM-PRO cables work well on timber floors covered with OSB board, after the subfloor has been properly prepared.
What if a cable gets damaged?
After installation, every system is tested by measuring the resistance of the heating conductors and the insulation, to make sure the cables and mats work properly and are safe to use. Unless it is damaged during installation or later by mechanical means, such as chiselling or drilling into the floor, this heating should not fail on its own. Even so, a fault can be repaired with minimal disruption whatever the cause: there is no need to break up the whole floor and redo the heating, and we have the specialist equipment to do it.
What is the warranty on DCM-PRO cables?
A lifetime manufacturer’s warranty, after registering the warranty with the measurements taken during installation.
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Want to know how much it would cost in your home?
Check the estimated cost in the calculator or send an enquiry – we will prepare a quote with and without installation.