UNDERFLOOR HEATING AND WOOD FLOORING
Imagine a warm and cosy radiator beneath your feet – that’s the concept behind heated floors. The invisible silent comfort of a radiant floor heating system provides a cost effective and relaxing natural interior environment that is ideal year-round.
HARDWOOD FLOORING has long been successfully used with radiant heating systems, and our engineered wood floors (Hardwood Top layer + Plywood Core/Backing) are wonderfully suited.
NOTE : Underfloor Heating increases drying and this causes contraction. We do not recommend installing any solid floors over underfloor heating. Also, Beech and Maple are more susceptible to changes in moisture so it is best to avoid these species.
Always consult with the heating contractor and follow the guidelines below. For any specific questions on underfloor heating please do not hesitate to call us.
INSTALLATION WITH UNDERFLOOR HEATING – (WARM WATER TYPE)
Prior to installation, the sub floor must be dried by following the heating protocol (heating start up procedure) (see heating manufacturer). The allowable maximum moisture content on a dry weight basis is for a concrete sub floor 2%, for an anhydrite screed sub floor 0.3%, and must be verified before installation. For best results, the flooring should be professionally glued to the subfloor. The flooring should be glued (see below) using a glue suitable for use on a floor heating system. During installation the surface temperature of the slab should be around 18-20oc and the Relative Air Humidity should be approx 50%. The heating system should be turned off and the subfloor should be cooled off. The heating system should not be used until 2 weeks after installation. The system should be warmed up slowly and the temperature of the flooring should never exceed 27oc. At the start of each heating season the temperature shall be gradually increased evenly over 7 days until normal heating levels are achieved. With under floor heating wide boards (150mm+) and some exotic species have a greater tendency to create small splits and openings between the boards.
NB: Covering heated floors with rugs etc is not recommended as this may lead to unacceptable heat concentration and deformation of the wood flooring.
GLUE-DOWN INSTALLATION (FOR EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS ONLY): The suitable adhesive shall be elastic and both water and solvent free. If necessary a primer/damp proof membrane should be applied on the sub floor. The specific application instructions of the adhesive supplier must be obeyed. We recommend Bona Adhesives / Moisture Barriers. (See www.bona.com or www.floordesign.ie)
FLOATING INSTALLATION: A suitable moisture barrier shall be laid directly on the sub floor (e.g. 1000 Gauge visqueen). The barrier must overlap by 20cm (Tape Joints) and go up the walls a few centimeters. A sound isolating underlay, suitable for underfloor heating – maximum 3mm thickness is installed on top of the moisture barrier. The flooring is glued with a continuous glue line into all grooves.
BEFORE INSTALLATION
Our engineered flooring can be installed as floating or glued down to the sub floor. However boards over 200mm in width must be glued down directly to the sub floor.
JOB SITE INSPECTION
The building should be closed in with all doors and windows in place. All concrete, masonry, framing members, drywall, paint and other “wet” work should be thoroughly dry. The wall coverings should be in place and the painting completed. Installation of the flooring should be the final job in any building project.
STORAGE AND HANDLING
Handle and unload with care – lay boxes flat. Parquet flooring should be stored in the environment in which it is expected to perform (see ideal room conditions) the flooring must remain in unopened packaging for 48 hours in order to reach the room temperature. The original packaging should be opened only at time of installation.
IDEAL ROOM CONDITIONS
All rooms shall be normally heated during installation (minimum 18oc/65oF); the relative humidity must be between 45% and 65% – never lower than 40%. Maintenance of correct relative humidity during and after installation reduces the possibility of deformation (warping, shrinkage and movement). Check the air humidity using a hygrometer.
EXPANSION
It is of the utmost importance that a distance is maintained from walls, door frames, pipes etc (a minimum of 10-15mm). If the floor is wider than 7m and/or longer than 12m, a wider gap must be left and further expansion gaps must be
SUBFLOOR REQUIREMENTS
The sub floor must be free of any old floor covering, clean, permanently dry, level and firm without cracks and structurally sound. Variations in level of the sub floor of more than 2mm, measuring with a 2 meter level, have to be filled or planed. Sub floors with direct contact to the soil, sections which are over unheated rooms or basements or with increased humidity loads like boiler or laundry rooms require additional protection against moisture. For technical support, please contact Floor design on 01-6234157.
