Flooring For Over Radiant Heat

Most flooring has a range of temperatures within which it is warrantied.

Flooring for over radiant heat.

Porcelain and ceramic tile are great conductors of heat so your home will get the full benefit of the radiant heating system. Laminate flooring on top of a radiant heated floor is the perfect solution. Certain solid hardwood floors are appropriate as well. North american oak american cherry and american walnut are all appropriate.

If you re installing our laminate in a home where radiant heat is used it is important that all installation guidelines are followed and approved underlayments are used. Properties that make a floor covering good or bad for radiant heating systems tend to center around the thickness of the flooring the flooring s thermal conductive nature its tendency to expand and contract and whether it is prone to water and heat damage. These always include ranges considered normal for human comfort. As long as proper precautions are taken it is perfectly fine to install laminate over a radiant heated floor.

Warm water systems run hot water through pipes to create heat whereas electric underfloor heating heats wiring beneath the floor to generate heat. In addition tile flooring will not expand as it warms or contract as it cools. However when using anything wider than 4 consider extra. If you ve installed radiant heating in your home you may wonder what type of floor can be installed over it.

Some manufacturers even make hardwood floors specifically for radiant heat systems. Be sure to use a floating vinyl flooring. Plainsawn wood will move more than quartersawn especially when it is over 4 inches wide. Most vinyl flooring should be alright over radiant heat but be sure to follow all manufacturer s recommendations for your flooring.

Solid hardwood floors can be used over radiant heat systems. This gently warms the floor under your feet. This floor does not glue down or staple into the subfloor giving it the. Under floor radiant heating systems work by running hot water through pipes or electricity through resistance wires which are installed under the finished floor.

To help you achieve the perfect installation we re giving you a few pointers before you get started. Best flooring properties for radiant heating. There are two types of radiant floor heating electric and water based systems. Both provide heating in a room from the floor up for consistent efficient warmth.

Using a floating or click lock vinyl plank flooring is your best choice over radiant heating. Installing hardwood flooring over a radiant heating system. Such expansion and contraction can cause cracking. Flooring over radiant heating is more like that 1 4 to 1 zone very close so it can be much warmer than the rest of your room might feel and the changes in temperature can happen much more swiftly.