What Species Of Hardwood Can Go Over Radiant Heat

However when using anything wider than 4 consider extra acclimation and use a hardwood floor glue that is recommended by the wood floor manufacturer.
What species of hardwood can go over radiant heat. Most species are not recommended over. Some installers will say it is safe to install widths up to 3 inches but smaller widths will have less overall movement in response to the radiant heating. Most people are not aware of how radiant heat works. The radiant heat that emits through the slab can wreak havoc on hardwood flooring pieces that are greater than 2 25 inches wide.
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. If you are choosing our engineered hardwood floor it is very important that your heating contractor understand the maximum surface temperature of the flooring cannot exceed 25 degrees celsius. The key to installing wood floors over radiant heat lies in these factors which agree with rpa s guidelines. In fact many people do not know that radiant heat can be installed under wood floors.
The various radiant heating systems there are 4 types of radiant heating systems steam radiators hydronic water hot water baseboards and low voltage electric. Thanks to the advances made in the heated floor industry it is now possible to confidently install hardwood floors over radiant heat. For more information about engineered flooring see our article all about engineered wood floors. Solid hardwood floors can be used over radiant heat systems.
Imagine walking over heated wood floors on a cold winter night. Dimensions of the wood floor plainsawn or quartersawn understanding the difference between quartersawn and plainsawn flooring can help with your decision of what flooring to purchase. Species with a higher number are less stable and are less suitable for use over radiant heat. A belief that for many in the architecture and construction industries still exists today.
Radiant heat is becoming more and more popular in residential heating. Quartersawn is a method of cutting the boards from the log so that the direction of the. Unfortunately hardwood and radiant heat don t mix. Cut wood is a hygroscopic and an anisotropic material meaning it takes on and throws off moisture and it shrinks and swells dependent on these changes in moisture differently in each direction.
And still many hardwood flooring manufacturers will not warranty their products over any radiant heating system. Can 3 4 solid wood flooring be used over radiant heat systems. If a solid 3 4 thick wood floor is desired it is recommended to use quartersawn flooring not usually available factory prefinished. 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.