Can You Install In Floor Heating Under Hardwood

Installing radiant heat under hardwood floors the challenge when installing radiant heat under hardwood floors comes from the fact that wood naturally expands when there is moisture in the air.

Can you install in floor heating under hardwood. Since humidity affects wood so much and the heating in your home affects humidity you ll have to take care not to install your radiant heating system during a particularly humid time of year. Electric radiant underfloor heating systems can be installed under wood floors by working from the basement or from a basement crawlspace. A heated floor is a great addition to a kitchen. 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.

Most people are not aware of how radiant heat works. Radiant heat is becoming more and more popular in residential heating. But if you do wish to put radiant heating under solid hardwood use quarter sawn wood flooring instead of plain sawn wood flooring. While there are no rules for the thickness of the wood you can use with underfloor heating we recommend that wood thickness should be no more than 18mm as any thicker than this will hinder the efficient performance of the heating system.

If you would like to consider radiant heat for your home there are a few issues to consider before making your final decision. How to install electric radiant heat under wood floors. When you have underfloor heating placed underneath hardwood you do need to consider the type of flooring material you are using. The subfloors shown here are recommended for hardwood floor installations.

But that said even a wood floor will warm up and heat you and the room quite well. First you need to do your homework and we will give you key tips so that you have a general understanding of exactly how you can use electric radiant heat under your wood floors. In fact many people do not know that radiant heat can be installed under wood floors. Engineered wood flooring works better for radiant heating than under solid hardwood.

A good compromise is to install the hydronic system right in a concrete slab and install the wood on the concrete. The heating element should be embedded within a sleeper system subfloor under a traditional subfloor or embedded within concrete. First let s discuss the basics of wood flooring species engineered hardwood and solid hardwood. Wood that is too thick or dense or too prone to swelling or shrinkage should not be used as the heat will either not conduct properly or could actually damage your floor.