Can You Put Hardwood Floors Over Radiant Heat
Most wood flooring can be installed over radiant heat providing all of the necessary conditions are met.
Can you put hardwood floors over radiant heat. The heating element should be embedded within a sleeper system subfloor under a traditional subfloor or embedded within concrete. The type of wood flooring that you install over the radiant heat mechanism will ultimately determine your temperature guidelines. In fact the application of solid hardwood floors installed over a radiant heated floor is approved by many hardwood manufacturers and trade organizations with the above conditions of course. The beauty functionality and value of a hardwood floor over radiant heat should be enjoyed by every savvy homeowner.
With the right experience moisture testing understanding of the radiant heat system and knowledge about the wood flooring being used contractors can make wood flooring over radiant heat work even. 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 if you do wish to put radiant heating under solid hardwood use quarter sawn wood flooring instead of plain sawn wood flooring. Solid hardwood floors can be used over radiant heat systems.
And radiant heat can be very economical. There are still some considerations homeowners should look at before making the decision to install wood flooring over radiant heat and we hope to address most those issues. This means homeowners can now enjoy the natural beauty of hickory oak cherry walnut maple ash and any other fine hardwood plus the efficiency and luxurious comfort provided by radiant heating. The dog will love laying on it.
Walking on heated floors in winter is very cozy. Some manufactures would recommend that you maintain a consistent temperature ideally between 78 and 80 degrees. However when using anything wider than 4 consider extra. With strip flooring the wider the board the greater the potential for gaps between the boards when they contract with seasonal changes in temperature and humidity.
There are some limitations on the type of wood flooring that can be used with radiant heat. North american oak american cherry and american walnut are all appropriate. Radiant heat has many benefits. Thanks to the advances made in the heated floor industry it is now possible to confidently install hardwood floors over radiant heat.
If you re considering the installation of a radiant heat system some flooring options work better than others. As always if you have any questions just give us a. Some manufacturers even make hardwood floors specifically for radiant heat systems. Here are the top 4 flooring options for use over radiant heat.
Engineered wood flooring works better for radiant heating than under solid hardwood. Certain solid hardwood floors are appropriate as well.