Radiant in-floor heating is very popular. To install it properly, you need to choose the flooring above it wisely.
Radiant heating is omni-directional, moving in all directions and heating indirectly. Installers need to understand how the system works when installing different kinds of hardwood in a home.
The installation of this heating requires sinking tubing into concrete or tucking tubes underneath plywood sub-flooring. Homeowners need to be aware that radiant heating causes hardwood to dry out. If a person wants to have both hardwood and radiant heat, bamboo flooring will be the best option. Bamboo weathers heat well and is not troubled by variable humidity. If choosing bamboo, be sure to find high-quality, older bamboo and evaluate its maintenance needs before you purchase.
In installation, make sure to use glue, not nails. With nails, installers run the risk of rupturing the embedded heating coils. Floating bamboo, which is durable and stable, is the best choice to partner with radiant heating.
Take care to not install hardwood right on top of heating coils. You need a barrier between the floor and the heat source. The recommended thickness for a plywood barrier is two thirds of an inch. The wood is not just a barrier. It also supports the floor planks, offering more stability.
Once installed, the floor will need at least three days to adapt to heating cycles and shifts in humidity. Ideally, heat the floor slowly and keep the heat at a steady temperature below 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Bamboo makes impressive flooring and withstands radiant heating very well. It may be the perfect solution for an eco-conscious homeowner.
