Installing Engineered Hardwood Flooring Over Radiant Heat

Most wood flooring can be installed over radiant heat providing all of the necessary conditions are met.

Installing engineered hardwood flooring over radiant heat.

Successful wood floor installations occur when the radiant heat. First let s discuss the basics of wood flooring species engineered hardwood and solid hardwood. 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. Guide the homeowner in selecting a hardwood floor that is appropriate for their scenario.

One of the best options over radiant heat is to use an engineered hardwood floor. 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. The nwfa offers information on radiant heat in its technical manual a100. If a solid 3 4 thick wood floor is desired it is recommended to use quartersawn flooring not usually available factory prefinished.

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. 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. How to install hardwood floors over radiant heat parquet floors are readily used in radiant heat applications. The heating element should be embedded within a sleeper system subfloor under a traditional subfloor or embedded within concrete.

But if you do wish to put radiant heating under solid hardwood use quarter sawn wood flooring instead of plain sawn wood flooring. The inherent dimensional stability of engineered hardwood floors makes it a great choice for radiant heat systems. The key to installing wood floors over radiant heat lies in these factors which agree with rpa s guidelines. For more information about engineered flooring see our article all about engineered wood floors.

Certain solid hardwood floors are appropriate as well. Engineered wood flooring works better for radiant heating than under solid hardwood.