Radiant Heat Timber Flooring

Engineered wood flooring works better for radiant heating than under solid hardwood.

Radiant heat timber flooring. When you are installing wood floors over top of concrete the double layer two layers of 1 2 ply floating plywood method will be the best method. Porcelain and ceramic tile are great conductors of heat so your home will get the full benefit of the radiant heating system. Warm water systems run hot water through pipes to create heat whereas electric underfloor heating heats wiring beneath the floor to generate heat. It is also the responsibility of the general contractor plumber and hvac systems professional to put care into the installation of a radiant heat system so that all flooring substrates perform well and look great for years.

The heating element should be embedded within a sleeper system subfloor under a traditional subfloor or embedded within concrete. It is also important to consider the heat transfer qualities of the sub flooring used the sub floor and wood floor should be within 2 3 degrees of each other. Both provide heating in a room from the floor up for consistent efficient warmth. Wood flooring manufactured and expected to perform at mc levels higher than 9 percent or in conditions above 50 percent rh should not be used with radiant heating systems.

But that said even a wood floor will warm up and heat you and the room quite well. Quartersawn is a method of cutting the boards from the log so that the direction of the. With radiant heat systems it s not just the responsibility of the hardwood floor professional to be on top of their game. Most wood flooring can be installed over radiant heat providing all of the necessary conditions are met.

It is recommended that you do not glue or nail down your wood floors. There are two types of radiant floor heating electric and water based systems. If you choose to have radiant heat installed beneath your wood floors the next step is planning the installation. But if you do wish to put radiant heating under solid hardwood use quarter sawn wood flooring instead of plain sawn wood flooring.

Floating floors work best. Such expansion and contraction can cause cracking. Which is why the most efficent way to use radiant heat under your wood floors is to use a hardwood with a low r value. Launstein r value testing results.

For more information about engineered flooring see our article all about engineered wood floors. In most houses the only place to do this is on a first floor where joist bays are open to the space below. This would be affected by the heat in the near future and cause conflict in case of any repairs. The best way to retrofit radiant floor heating without disturbing an existing floor is to do it from below against the underside of the subfloor.

Can 3 4 solid wood flooring be used over radiant heat systems. In addition tile flooring will not expand as it warms or contract as it cools.