All engineered wood is designed to limit the growth and shrinkage caused by moisture in the atmosphere but due to the softer wood core, cheaper engineered wooden flooring can swell over time, in some cases causing a failure of the floor heating system. As a natural material, wood is affected by its surrounding environment and there are some key things to think about when installing an underfloor heating system with hardwood floors.
The thickness and density of hardwood flooring can impact on the performance of the system and we recommend that timber thickness should be no more than 18mm. Also, as wider flooring boards will often show more movement than more narrow boards, we recommend that the ratio of thickness to width should be in the region of 7 to A board with a thickness of 16mm and width of mm would give a ratio of 10, so is ideal.
You can secure the temperature restriction of the hardwood floor using a Warmup Thermostat that accurately controls the underfloor heating system to provide you with an optimally heated room. As part of your project, you should also always get a heat loss calculation done in order to ensure that underfloor heating meets the room heating requirement.
All wood is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from around it and this moisture causes both hardwood and engineered wood to naturally expand and contract over time. This moisture content can vary depending on what kind of timber you choose and the environment of where your floor-heating project is located.
With the changing seasons, a hardwood floor will grow and shrink minutely as the indoor humidity changes. If installed incorrectly, this swelling and contraction of a timber floor can impact on the responsiveness of a floor heater.
Suspended wood floors are a common structural element in many period properties and we offer a range of floor heating systems specifically designed for suspended timber floors. You can also use electric underfloor heating with suspended timber floors. In these cases, you would use the original timber floorboards as a subfloor and install the electric system on top of it before laying down a new flooring finish.
If you are installing a new hardwood floor with an underfloor heating system, there are a couple of key things to think about to guarantee a successful first-time installation. After installation, the floor should acclimate for at least 48 hours before turning the system back on. It is advisable to check the temperature restrictions with your floor manufacturer as the ambient temperature will depend on the season.
R-value is a critical factor, as indicates the thermal resistance of a particular material or, in our case — wood flooring, to transferring heat. Flooring which is too thick or has a high R value may act as insulator , reducing flooring surface temperature and system efficiency. One of the main issues with installation of the wood floors over the radiant floor heating system is the risk on penetrating the heating element with screws or nails.
Channels between the sleepers are then filled with self-leveling cement and when it dries, the flooring is installed on top. Depending on the type of subfloor beneath the heating cable such as ground level or basement slab , a moisture barrier may be required. Once you have installed electric radiant floor heating under hardwood, always test that there are no leaks before turning it on. The most common indicator of a leak in the underfloor heating system is a loss of pressure.
If there is a leak, seal it with epoxy putty or waterproof tape. There are many advantages to this type of installation. If you know these benefits, you may think that the installation is worth the time and effort. The hardwood flooring is sitting on top of the mat instead of directly touching it, so you are less likely to scratch or damage the heating coil.
Electric radiant heating systems under hardwood last for 30 to 34 years on average. In addition to preventing cold spots, electric hardwood floor heating keeps your house warmer during colder months. Hence, it reduces your heating bills. The constant level of warmth is comfortable and feels good on long winter nights.
As a rule, you'll be required to have inspections performed on your work — a rough inspection and a finished inspection. The money you will spend on the permit and on the inspections is worth it because they are for your protection. Once you have passed both inspections, you can install the insulation underneath the heating mats using an R to R insulation. Do not use an insulation with an R-Value exceeding R Although installing heat mats is an easy project that even a beginner can tackle safely, there are a few precautions that you need to observe.
NEVER let the heating mats overlap or bunch up 3. NEVER let the heating mats come closer than 8 inches to an electrical cable or electrical box. NEVER let the heating mat come into contact with metal pipes or metal hanger straps.
NEVER let the heating mat come closer than 2 inches to the wood floor.
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