Installing Hardwood Flooring Over Radiant Heat

Installing hardwood flooring over a radiant heating system.

Installing hardwood flooring over radiant heat.

Quartersawn or riftsawn are also considered better hardwood floor choices. If you re considering the installation of a radiant heat system some flooring options work better than others. Porcelain and ceramic tile are great conductors of heat so your home will get the full benefit of the radiant heating system. A belief that for many in the architecture and construction industries still exists today.

On top of it tile tends to feel colder than other types of flooring so the need for radiant heating underneath it is greatest. The subfloors shown here are recommended for hardwood floor installations. Here are the top 4 flooring options for use over radiant heat. Porcelain ceramic and natural stone are the best flooring materials for radiant heating as they encompass all four factors.

Fortunately progress has been made in this arena. 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 work extremely well. And still many hardwood flooring manufacturers will not warranty their products over any radiant heating system. With radiant heat the heat source is directly beneath the flooring so the flooring may dry out faster than a similar floor in a home with a conventional heating system.

Direct contact of the tubing with the flooring is not recommended. Unfortunately hardwood and radiant heat don t mix. However when using anything wider than 4 consider extra acclimation and use a hardwood floor glue that is recommended by the wood floor manufacturer. Solid hardwood can easily be damaged by heat and moisture.

While radiant heat is not in the realm of a novice wood flooring contractor wood floors are installed over radiant heat with success every day. Plywood 5 8 or oriented strand board 3 4 make good candidates for subfloor materials in radiant installations. Radiant heat installations. This gently warms the floor under your feet.

Particleboard subfloors are not recommended by radiant heat companies. Wood flooring can be installed over radiant heat as long as you understand radiant heat and how it can impact wood. Most wood flooring can be installed over radiant heat providing all of the necessary conditions are met. 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.