What flooring is best for radiant heat?
- Rubber flooring does not react well to high heat and may give off unpleasant odors.
- Radiant heating can dry and loosen the adhesive on glued-down carpeting. ...
- Concrete is a poor choice for radiant heating. Radiant systems require layered flooring so that the tubing can be hidden under the top layer. ...
What flooring should you install over radiant heating?
- A water heating system that can be either a standard boiler, water heater, a geothermal heat pump or even solar panels.
- The heated water is pumped through a tubing network installed in the subfloor.
- As the warm water moves through the tubing network, it releases its energy and returns to the boiler system to be reheated.
How much does it cost to install radiant heating?
You may choose to install radiant heating in a smaller area of your home or individual room which costs between $1,717 and $6,047 on average, or from $6 to $20 per square foot for a hydronic system and $8 to $15 per square foot for electric versions. The operating price for both systems is $1 to $5 for 24 hours. Let's calculate cost data for you.
Can radiant heat be installed under subfloor?
You can install radiant heat systems either above or below the subfloor. With a hydronic system, you can attach aluminum plates beneath the floor to spread and store heat. Radiant heating works well with ceramic tile and vinyl, but not with wood floors. Click to see full answer. Also know, can you install radiant heat under existing wood floors?
Does radiant heat ruin hardwood floors?
According to Mickey Moore, Technical Director of the National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association, the temperatures used in floor heating will not damage the wood in any way. Temperature is only a factor when gluing wood directly to a subfloor.
Can radiant heat be used under wood floors?
Solid hardwood or engineered wood floors work fine with today's high-tech radiant heat systems – whether on subfloors or concrete slabs. You can add inlays to new or existing wood floors over radiant heat and you also can paint and stencil the floors.
Can you install electric radiant heating under wood floors?
Electric underfloor heating systems work well with hardwood floors, as wood conducts and holds the warmth produced by the floor heater and radiates this into the room.
Can you install radiant heat on wood subfloor?
0:546:22Above Grade Radiant Floor Heat System With Wood SubfloorYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLow mass systems heat up quicker than high mass concrete or gypsum concrete. Systems having theMoreLow mass systems heat up quicker than high mass concrete or gypsum concrete. Systems having the ability to turn the temperature up and down is not good for the wood. And is not recommended.
What type of flooring is best for radiant heat?
ceramic tilePorcelain and ceramic tile are widely regarded as the best choice for radiant floor heating. These tiles are thin and conduct heat extremely well. This reduces the energy (and time) needed to warm up a room. Tile will also retain the heat longer than other types of flooring, increasing your efficiency even more.
What type of flooring can go over radiant heat?
The Best Flooring for Radiant Heat.Porcelain or Ceramic Tile.Natural Stone Flooring.Laminate Flooring.Sheet or Tile Vinyl Flooring.Engineered Wood Flooring.Carpeting.Solid Hardwood Flooring.
How can I make my hardwood floors warmer?
Solutions to how to keep hardwood floors warm in the winter include:Place rugs in problem spots.Add insulating weather strips to doors and windows.Ceiling fans can help to reduce cold spots by circulating air.Redirect air flow by replacing air vent covers with multidirectional grills.More items...•
Can you put radiant heat under engineered hardwood?
The durability, beauty and longevity of engineered wood flooring make it a perfect match for underfloor heating systems. As long as the flooring is installed properly, this is a completely safe flooring combination, and one that will offer benefits for many years to come.
Can radiant floor heating replace a furnace?
The reality is that radiant heating can heat your whole house, fully replacing your existing system. In fact, if you are contemplating a major renovation project, there are several reasons why you might want to include radiant heating in your plans.
Does a heated floor need a dedicated circuit?
If you're installing radiant floor heat in an existing room, you'll need a dedicated 15- to 20-amp GFCI-protected circuit to power the system, and an excuse to lay a new tile floor. If you're remodeling, it's a good time to satisfy both requirements.
How hard is it to install radiant floor heating?
The benefits of heated floors: It's easy to install. You embed a cable-laced mat in the mortar when you lay the tile. If you're not comfortable with the wiring portion, hire an electrician.
What kind of flooring is best for radiant floors?
Ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone are the most common flooring materials for radiant floors. But if you have your heart set on heated wood floors, you don’t have to settle for anything less. If you live in the Chicagoland area, our electricians for underfloor heating can install radiant heat under your wood floors to keep your feet warm on cold ...
What are the properties of radiant heat?
When deciding between flooring options, you’ll want to think about four properties to determine the materials’ suitability for radiant heat: Thickness. Thermal conductivity (ability to transfer heat) Tendency to contract or expand.
Can radiant heat damage wood floors?
Adding radiant heat to beneath some floors will void their warranty, strongly suggesting that radiant heat could damage them. Always check with the manufacturer of the wood flooring system to ensure it is compatible with radiant heat. Ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone are the most common flooring materials for radiant floors.
Can you put bamboo over radiant heat?
Yes, you can put bamboo flooring over radiant heat. But you’ll want to make sure to select bamboo flooring that’s specifically designed for the task. Although bamboo is a hardwood, it doesn’t swell or contract like other hardwoods.
Can you use nail down wood for underfloor heating?
Also, nail-down wood flooring is not compatible with most underfloor heating systems so look for a floating or glue-down wood flooring solution. If you plan on installing radiant heat under an existing floor, you’ll need to make sure that the flooring isn’t nailed down.
Can wood floors contract?
Wood floors conduct heat efficiently and have come in a wide variety of thicknesses. But temperature changes can cause them to expand and contract, and they can be damaged by water.
Is solid hardwood more susceptible to expansion?
Compared to engineered wood flooring, solid hardwoods are far more susceptible to expansion and contraction. Whatever kind of wood you use, make sure to get quarter-sawn boards. Their grain runs vertically, limiting their expansion to the sides, which helps prevent gaps between boards.
What is radiant heating?
Radiant (underfloor) heating is a type of heating system that is placed below the floor of a building. Radiant heating as a technology is the method of intentionally using the principles of radiant heat to transfer radiant energy from an emitting heat source to an object. Radiant heating may be either hydronic (water/fluid flowing through pipes) ...
What is thermal comfort?
Thermal comfort is defined by building scientists and health care professionals as “a condition of mind that expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment.”. Radiant heating and cooling systems are commonly used when addressing human thermal comfort (even though radiant cooling systems are never recommended for use under wood flooring).
Is riftsawn wood more dimensionally stable?
Quartersawn and riftsawn wood flooring are more dimensionally stable in width than plainsawn or end-grain wood flooring. Width. Wood changes dimension proportional to the width of the plank. Narrow boards expand and contract less than wider-width boards of the same species and cut. Flooring Type.
Is engineered wood flooring good for radiant heat?
Flooring Type. Engineered wood flooring is, in general, more dimensionally stable than solid wood flooring. However, not all engineered wood flooring is recommended or appropriate for use over radiant heating systems. Engineered flooring with a less-stable wear layer species such as hickory, beech, and maple are not normally best suited ...
Does wood flooring affect radiant heat?
The ability/inability of a wood flooring material to transfer heat will directly affect the radiant heating system design. The ability of the radiant heating system to either adequately heat the facility, or to simply warm the floor, without damaging the wood, must be taken into account when specifying a radiant heating system within any facility.
Is radiant heating hydronic or electric?
Radiant heating may be either hydronic (water/fluid flowing through pipes) or electric (electric resistance heating elements). The temperature of the floor surface is the key to determining what level of comfort is necessary. End-users may feel uncomfortable when coming in contact with floor surfaces that are too warm or too cool.
Can you put a heating source directly below wood flooring?
With the heating source placed directly below the installed wood flooring, the moisture content will forcibly be reduced during the heating season if supplemental humidification is not added.
Engineered Wood Versus Solid HardWood with Radiant Heat
Today, you have a choice of engineered wood or solid wood when you install wood flooring. Solid wood is made from solid pieces of wood, and it is in its natural wood form. Engineered wood is made with plywood or fiberwood at the core, and it has a veneer of solid wood on top.
What to Consider When You Install Electric Heat Under Hardwood Floors
Wood is a natural material that is affected by its environment. As such, it is actually a good conductor of thermal heat. It warms up quickly with radiant heat, and it holds the heat better than other materials. It is energy efficient when you use it with radiant heat.
How Does Radiant Heat Work?
Your HVAC heating works by warming the air, and then the air warms up the objects and people in the room. Radiant heating works differently. It warms the floor, which warms the objects that have contact with it.
Pros and Cons of Radiant Heat
There are benefits and drawbacks to installing radiant heat. Take a look at the following:
Can You Install Radiant Heat Under Existing Floorboards?
Unfortunately, you need to take up any flooring and replace it after you install the radiant heat. However, you don’t need to change out your subfloor material. You will pull up the existing flooring, install the radiant heat, and then lay the new floor.
Final Words
You can install electric radiant heat under wood floors. Wood is actually a good conductor of heat, so it does a great job of warming the floor. However, you need to keep it at 80 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. It is difficult to install it under existing flooring, so try to coordinate this project with a floor replacement.
How long does radiant heat last?
In-floor radiant heating systems are quite reliable and durable, plus they provide evenly distributed and set temperatures, which consequently assists in the preservation of hardwood floors and offer the possibility of lasting for up to 35 years.
Which is better for radiant heat flooring: engineered wood or solid wood?
For the installation of hardwood flooring over radiant heat, engineered woods make the better choice. The arrangement of thin plies of wood is made such that the wood grains end up running in opposite directions. As a result of cross-ply construction, the planks are consequently more dimensionally stable, offering less movement, and withstand moisture as well as variations in temperatures far better compared to the solid woods.
What is nailing down wood?
Nailing down or stapling of wood is usually a part of the installation process of the ¾ inch solid wood floors, and this involves the risk of possible punctures to the radiant heat tubing underneath the wood. It is, therefore, an excellent idea to engage the services of a certified and professional installer, one with experience in such ...
Can you heat solid wood floors?
Radiant Heating and Solid Hardwood Floors. Radiant heat is usually not recommended for application with solid woods since being a natural material, exposure to high levels of moisture and extensive fluctuations in temperature result in contractions and expansions. The presence of dry heat directly under solid wood floorings can, therefore, ...
Can you use hardwood flooring over radiant heat?
Most of the flooring materials can fruitfully be used over radiant heat when properly installed, although as we might all be aware, hardwood flooring offers the best comfort levels in addition to the highest aesthetic value.
Does radiant heat work on hardwood floors?
Radiant heating systems warm rooms from the floor upwards, resulting in the capability and comfort of setting home thermostats to lower temperatures, which effectively reduces energy consump tion and saves money, even more so for hardwood flooring since it retains heat for longer periods compared to other flooring materials .
Can wood floors be used for radiant heat?
Wood floors are additionally ideal for radiant heating because of the possibility to reduce extra noise, mainly due to muffling characteristic, though radiant heating does not use a blower and usually produces very minimal sounds.
What Is Radiant Heat?
Floors that utilize radiant electric heat have cables built into them. There are also systems that utilize electrical matting, and this is mounted to the subfloor that’s directly below the floor.
Electric Radiant Heat Alternatives
There are three main kinds of radiant heat: electric, air-heated, and hydronic. Knowing how these other two kinds of radiant heat relate to electric radiant heat is important.
Can Radiant Heat Go Under Hardwood Floors?
For a while, radiant heat floors were thought of as merely a fad, but time has shown that these floors have staying power. Radiant heat floors can reach 85°F, though most system manufacturers say their systems should be kept between 70°F and 80°F.
Installing Electric Radiant Heat
The first step in the installation process is, of course, finding out which system is best for your home. You’ll likely choose between electric heat and hydro heat, and which is better for you depends on your preferences.
Related Questions
For an electric radiant heat floor to be effective and efficient, wood sleepers must be used. Sleepers are strips of wood that are between 1″ and 2″ wide and 3/8″ to 1/2″ high.
