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Is Wood Flooring Suitable for Underfloor Heating?

Wood flooring is a great complement to underfloor heating (UFH). Timber floors are natural, carry warmth, and are environmentally friendly. Their appearance is also appealing and makes homes feel more welcoming. When these qualities are combined with underfloor heating, it takes your space to new levels of comfort.

 Barham & Sons   04/04/2022

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Wood flooring is a great complement to underfloor heating (UFH). Timber floors are natural, carry warmth, and are environmentally friendly. Their appearance is also appealing and makes homes feel more welcoming. When these qualities are combined with underfloor heating, it takes your space to new levels of comfort.

To answer the question above, yes, wood flooring is suitable for underfloor heating. It works with both water and electric based underfloor heating systems. Wood floors are great for retaining heat and can capably release the warmth into the atmosphere above.

Best Floors for Underfloor Heating

Not all timber floors are made the same, especially when it comes to underfloor heating. Engineered hardwood flooring has an edge over solid wood flooring, despite the differences in construction. This superiority comes from the ability of engineered hardwood flooring to accommodate fluctuations in temperature and humidity changes better than solid wood flooring.

Engineered wooden flooring is made up of a top layer of solid wood with softer wood in the lower layers. The solid wood top layers can make this flooring look like it is completely made of solid hardwood. So you do not lose on aesthetics at all.

The softer layers beneath are what give engineered hardwood floors their stability thanks to being able to contract and expand with temperature changes. This prevents the wood from becoming warped and cracking.

Generally, solid wood flooring is not ideal for use when you want to install underfloor heating. But some wood varieties are more flexible so you should consult with a qualified underfloor heating supplier to verify.  

Those that have ceramic, porcelain and stone tiles for flooring can also incorporate underfloor heating. These hard floor materials do a good job of transferring heat to increase the surface temperature. However, here we will focus on wood floors and how they are suitable for underfloor heating.

Types of Underfloor Heating Systems

There are two basic types of underfloor heating choices.

Electric or Dry Underfloor Heating Systems

Electric UFH systems are made up of a series of heating cables that are spread out and lead to the main power supply. They are also connected to a thermostat for temperature regulation.

They are the cheapest and easiest to install. They also heat up faster than water-based UFH systems. Electric UFH systems are however also more expensive to run, resulting in higher utility costs.

There are various designs of electric underfloor heating systems including loose wire designs and mat systems. Loose wire designs are mainly used in rooms with odd proportions or awkward corners. Mat systems are ideal for laying beneath hard floors like those made with laminate and stone tiles.

Water or Wet Underfloor Heating Systems

Water underfloor heating systems consist of a network of poly pipes that are connected to a boiler. Warm water is channelled from the central heating system to the boiler. The UFH systems then pump the water through plastic pipes that have been installed beneath the timber flooring. The series of underfloor heating pipes is continuous to avoid joints at which leaks may occur.

Water UFH systems are more affordable to run, but can also be more expensive to install than electric UFH systems. They can however serve their purpose reliably for many years with proper maintenance.

Installing an Underfloor Heater

Access

A floor heating system can be installed in one of two ways. When installed from above, it requires the removal of the wood floor to lay the UHF system. Once installed, the timber floor is then restored. This is recommended for ground floor installations.

To install underfloor heating from below means getting underneath the wood floor from below. This can be done for upper levels of the property as access is gained from ripping out the ceiling material on the floor below.

Acclimating Wood Flooring

It is important to ensure the wood flooring you will work on is acclimated before the installation of the UHF system. The timber floor's moisture content can have an impact on its ability to contract and expand as temperatures change. This process requires taking the wooden floor through a heating cycle. The surface temperature is kept at 15°C while the air temperature is kept at 15-22°C.

Engineered wood flooring can take about 48-72 hours to acclimatise while solid wood can take up to 7 days. It all depends on the wood type and manufacturer recommendations. Also, ensure when heating the underfloor heating system for the first time, you do so slowly to avoid damaging the wood.

Ensure during the installation of the wood flooring atop the underfloor heating system, that an adequate expansion gap has been left around the room perimeter. This should be about 15mm which can often be easily hidden beneath the skirting board.

Screeding

During installation, it is also important to ensure that any concrete screed mix that is included is allowed to dry properly. This is because it can add to the moisture content of the flooring. The moisture level should be below 1.8% before the underfloor heating system is started.

Fixing

Fixing timber flooring on UFH can be done in three ways:

1.     Floating

This involves slotting floorboards into their groove and tongue positions over the subfloor. This essentially allows the floor to float over the heating system. It allows for faster installation of the system and flooring, which is cheaper. The floorboards may be reinforced using glue to allowed them to remain as they are, providing more room for expansion in case of temperature and humidity changes.

2.     Adhesives

Wooden floorboards can be bonded to UFH components. The system can also be bonded to the screed below, or on both sides. Ensure the adhesives are used as the manufacturer recommended.

3.     Battening

This is a more complex installation that requires timber battens to be fixed on the floor before screeding. When the layer has dried, the timber flooring is then fixed on the battens, providing space below where the UFH can be installed. Care should be taken in ensuring the underfloor heating pipes or cables are not damaged during floor installation.

Tips for Choosing an Underfloor Heating System

Flooring

First, consider the type of wood flooring you have. You get the best results when working with engineered wood flooring that has less than 8% moisture content. However, if you prefer another type of flooring, do consult with your underfloor heating supplier or manufacturer before making a decision.

Type of Heating System

You have a choice between wet or water UFH systems and electric UFH systems. Both systems require different levels of work and amounts of time for installation

Energy Efficiency

It is important to conduct an efficiency check on your property to ensure proper insulation. If there are failings, it would mean your property is losing warmth which will force your heating system to work harder. Good insulation will allow your underfloor heating system to run efficiently and result in lower utility costs.

Also, overall, electric UFH systems are more expensive to run than water UFH systems. However, the use of a thermostatic floor temperature sensor embedded in the concrete screed can help to monitor and regulate the floor temperature to its recommended maximum of 28°C. You may also zone the system, establishing each room as a separate space and whose floor surface temperature you can control individually.

Choosing A Supplier

Always work with a supplier that is manufacturer trained and recommended for underfloor heating installation for solid timber floors. Ensure they provide a lengthy guarantee on the piping for the wet UFH system. Some offer guarantees that can last as long as 50 years. Ensure this covers as wide a range of the components in the system as possible.

Why Invest in Underfloor Heating

·      Physical Comfort

Underfloor heating in a wooden floor allows you to comfortably walk around barefoot in your own home. being able to connect directly with the ground without fear of experiencing cold can also be comforting psychologically. Underfloor heating can help to easily make your space cosier. 

·      Temperature Control

It is possible to regulate the temperature of underfloor heating in your floors. You can have dedicated thermostats installed for this purpose. A UFH system is a good way to facilitate this and ensure you only switch on underfloor heating in the rooms it is needed.

·      Affordable Cost

Modern UFH systems are fairly low cost to maintain. This applies to both electric and water-based systems. With heated floors, people will also tend to lower the heat on their HVAC systems which may further lower their utility costs. The savings on running costs become even steeper when you consider the increases in fuel prices that prevail.

·      Efficiency

Heating costs associated with underfloor heating tend to be much lower than when you rely on a radiator. Even after switching them off, there is better heat retention from underfloor heating in the room. For maximum efficiency, it is important to check on the insulation of your rooms as this can affect the rate at which warmth escapes.

 


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