electric radiant floor heating systems under fir wood floor

Electric radiant floor heating systems under fir wood floor install#

The electric underfloor heating mats will then be laid on top usually, this will be on a base of plywood or a suitable tile backer board. In the case of suspended floors, the original floorboards become the subfloor. If you would prefer to use electric underfloor heating, rather than wet underfloor heating, these systems can also be fitted underneath a wooden floor. Can You Use Electric Underfloor Heating with UFH Systems? Most of these floor systems are very thin, but they will inevitably add some height to the finished floor.

Some people also consider using systems that incorporate thin metal plates or chipboard mats holding pipes that are laid directly on top of the floor joists. A screed mix can be used between the insulation and floorboards to ensure this happens. If the system is to work effectively, it has to be as airtight as possible. All pipework and insulation panels are fitted tightly into the void, with the pipes clipped to the insulation and grooves cut out of the battens to accommodate them. These are often also designed to be fitted between floor joists. You may find certain types of hot water underfloor heating systems are designed specifically for use with suspended timber floors. If the suspended floors being worked on are above the ground floor (for instance, on the first floor) then the heating system can also be laid from underneath.

These will then need to be fixed back in place. If you intend to use a wet underfloor heating system, the floorboards will need to be lifted before the system can be installed. It is also important to note that the installation may be more complicated.

Electric radiant floor heating systems under fir wood floor install#

It is possible to install an underfloor heating system if you have suspended floors (many older homes have these, so the UFH system would be a retrofit). Can You Use UFH Systems with Suspended Floors? Because of this, you must ensure you are choosing the right type of wood flooring for your project. Different types of wood flooring have specific requirements and some will work better with UFH than others. However, there are some stipulations to this. Timber is capable of effectively transferring heat and releasing it into a room and can therefore be used as a surface if you require underfloor heating. You can put underfloor heating under wooden floors. This is a common question, and the shortest answer is “yes”. Can You Put Underfloor Heating Under Wooden Floors? Read on to learn more, or contact us today if you would like to hear more about the benefits of fitting underfloor heating systems alongside a screed layer from our team of professionals. We have created this guide to provide more information on underfloor heating and wooden floors, so you can better decide whether or not the combination of timber flooring and a UFH system will be possible for your project. Apply at least three coats of polyurethane to the new floor.Wood flooring is a popular choice for both new build projects and retrofitting older properties, and it is often the case that homeowners and contractors have to consider whether or not underfloor heating can be installed for them.Fill the nail holes, if desired, with wood putty, then sand the floor smooth.Use a hammer and chisel to pry the floorboards tight together prior to shooting in the nails.Set the new hardwood flooring down into the mastic, then fasten it with an 18-gauge pneumatic nailer filled with 1-inch nails.Work in small sections to prevent the mastic from drying out. Use a ⅛-inch notched trowel to spread flooring mastic onto the old hardwood floor.Spray open-cell foam insulation between the floor joists, covering the foil and insulating the tubing.Cover the tubing and transfer plates with aluminum foil.When necessary, bore ⅝-inch holes through the joists to continue the run of tubing. Snap the flexible PEX tubing into the grooves of the heat transfer plates.Install two parallel rows of plates between each pair of floor joists. Fasten the heat transfer plates to the underside of the old floor with ½-inch screws.Related Installing Radiant Floor Heat Steps for Installing Radiant Heat Under Solid Wood Flooring