Wood Floors Can Work Over Radiant Heat

Source: National Wood Flooring Assn.Oak is one of the many species that works well with radiant heat flooring. CHESTERFIELD, MO - The National Wood Flooring Association is radiant heat built under wood flooring.

NWFA says a radiant flooring heating source is greener since, installed under flooring, it transfers heat directly from the floor to the individual.

"Eco-conscious consumers can reduce their carbon footprint even further by installing radiant heat under wood floors," says NWFA in a release aimed at consumers,"because wood floors are sustainable and renewable."

While radiant heat is often installed under stone or tile floors, NWFA says "engineered flooring works well with radiant heat since its cross-ply construction makes it very dimensionally stable and less prone to moisture or heat fluctuations." 

But solid wood also work well, says NWFA.

"Smaller width boards generally will perform better," NWFA advises, "since wider planks are more prone to moisture and heat fluctuations. Quartersawn and riftsawn woods also work well because their expansion moves up and down rather than side to side, which provides additional stability."

Wood species that work well with radiant heat include American cherry, American walnut and teak. Darker woods will show gaps and cracks less than lighter woods, but other species that work well include antique heart pine, ash, bamboo, Brazilian walnut, bubinga, Douglas fir, iroko, kempas, padauk, purpleheart, red oak, Santos mahogany, and sapele. WoodFloors.org.