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Installing In-Floor Radiant Heating System With
Hardwood Flooring
When building our home, I
wanted radiant heat. I also wanted hardwood
floors. What I wanted, however, our builder did
not, nor would not provide.
The reason for this was that the radiant floor
heating systems that have been around for more
than 40 years, ran at higher temperatures, which
caused hardwood floors to expand and contract
excessively, resulting in permanent damage to
the hardwood floors. Today, however, in-floor
radiant heating systems can be installed over
the finest of hardwood flooring.
However, it must be noted that the temperature
of the radiant floor heating system is not what
harms the wood floor, but the drastic change in
moisture, which can cause various hardwood
flooring to warp, cup, or gap. This is because,
as the temperature increases the moisture in the
wood decreases, thus causing the wood to
contract. However, if an adequate amount of
moisture is maintained in the home, then this is
not a problem.
The contractor installing your hardwood floors,
and the contractor installing your radiant
heating systems, should be aware of, and also
inform you of any and all special considerations
required in using radiant heat with hardwood
floors, so that you can receive the maximum use
and enjoyment from both. If neither contractor
informs you of any special considerations or
recommendations, you should inquire about them.
In order for your radiant heat and hardwood
floors to work together successfully, they need
a particular amount of moisture. Therefore, you
have to make sure that the contractor installing
your hardwood flooring has and uses a moisture
meter, which measures the moisture content in
both the concrete and wood floor materials, then
calculates the percentage of relative humidity.
With wood flooring, having too much moisture can
be as bad as having too little moisture.
Before installing your hardwood flooring, you
also have to allow the material to acclimate to
the room. Therefore, please place the open boxes
of your hardwood flooring material in the room
where it will be installed for at least 72 hours
so that it can acclimate to the finished room.
When installing hardwood flooring over radiant
floor heating, always use a moisture barrier,
which will help to maintain an even moisture
balance in the floor. You can also expect to see
seasonal expanding and contracting of the wood,
which is quite normal. In addition, when
installing your hardwood flooring it is vital
that the hardwood board or planks be placed
perpendicular to the tubing and not parallel.
Moisture is the key to installing good hardwood
flooring over radiant heat. Therefore, try to
maintain a comfortable low constant temperature.
Once you walk on your warm hardwood floors,
you’ll be so glad that you decided to use
radiant floor heating.
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Home - About DIY Under Floor
Heating
Is Underfloor Heating Efficient?
How
Radiant Heat Works
What to Consider When deciding to Install a Radiant Floor Heating
System
Installing In-Floor Radiant Heating System With Hardwood Flooring
Contact & Terms of
Use
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