Engineered Hardwood Flooring For Radiant Heat

Engineered flooring with a less stable wear layer species such as hickory beech and maple are not normally best suited over radiant heat unless otherwise suggested by the flooring manufacturer.

Engineered hardwood flooring for radiant heat.

Which is why the most efficent way to use radiant heat under your wood floors is to use a hardwood with a low r value. But if you do wish to put radiant heating under solid hardwood use quarter sawn wood flooring instead of plain sawn wood flooring. Some manufacturers even make hardwood floors specifically for radiant heat systems. North american oak american cherry and american walnut are all appropriate.

Engineered flooring works well over radiant heat because its unique plywood construction creates greater stability as each wood layer is positioned perpendicular to the other thereby resisting movement from environmental fluctuations depending on the selection can be nailed glued or floated over the subflooring. Can 3 4 solid wood flooring be used over radiant heat systems. If choosing engineered. Engineered wood flooring works better for radiant heating than under solid hardwood.

The inherent dimensional stability of engineered hardwood floors makes it a great choice for radiant heat systems. The heating element should be embedded within a sleeper system subfloor under a traditional subfloor or embedded within concrete. Certain solid hardwood floors are appropriate as well. If a solid 3 4 thick wood floor is desired it is recommended to use quartersawn flooring not usually available factory prefinished.

For more information about engineered flooring see our article all about engineered wood floors.