Today is a common in new builds to include underfloor heating. This form of heating improves warmth distribution and comfort. It is also more energy efficient than some other forms of heating if used correctly and it also saves space and has aesthetic benefits.

While underfloor heating offers attractive benefits, some important points must be addressed when used with wood flooring. Wood is perhaps the most attractive flooring option, but wood is an organic material and so the following points must be kept in mind.

1. The Nature of Wood
   • Wood is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs and releases moisture from the surrounding environment. This characteristic causes wood flooring to expand and contract with changes in humidity and temperature.
2. Ensuring your sub-floor is ready for the installation of wood flooring.
   • If your flooring is to be installed over top of concrete your installer must confirm that the concrete is dry. Concrete dries very slowly and so this is very important in new builds.
3. Importance of Humidity Control
   • As underfloor heating warms the air in a closed space, relative humidity will drop. Dry, heated air will draw moisture from your wood flooring and even from your skin. It’s essential to maintain an appropriate humidity level indoors to prevent excessive drying of the wood flooring, which like your skin, will dry out when the air becomes dry.
   • In order to keep relative humidity at about 65 percent, a humidifier must be installed, otherwise any warranties, implied or explicit, will be voided.
4. Managing Temperature
   • Your underfloor heating must not be set above 32 degrees Celsius. When you first turn it on in Autumn you should set the thermostat to 20 degrees on the first day and raise it by only 2 degrees a day until you reach the desired setting.
   • To maintain stability in your wood flooring, it is crucial not to frequently turn your underfloor heating on and off. Instead, turn it on in late autumn when temperatures drop and keep it running until spring or until ambient temperatures become comfortable.
   • Continuously cycling the heating can lead to rapid changes in temperature and humidity, which can stress the wood and lead to warping or cracks.
5. Enjoy you wood flooring for years to come
   • With the right practices, you can enjoy the warmth of underfloor heating without compromising the integrity of your wood flooring.
6. Further Resources
   • For more detailed information on installation follow the links below.

Floors over underfloor heating

Providing floors over underfloor heating