Which Types of Floors Can I Install Over Radiant Floor Heating in Glenwood Springs, CO?

December 28, 2017 11:41 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Are you considering a flooring upgrade? Is it time to replace or renew your tired floors? Radiant floor heating in Glenwood Springs, CO may be worth considering as a bonus feature of your new investment. It’s a versatile option with many advantages.

To ensure the best performance of your radiant heating and the flooring over it, you must choose an appropriate material and method of installation. This will help prevent any peeling or chipping down the line and create the warm, inviting space you desire. For the best results, choose one of the following flooring options to install over radiant floor heating:

  • Floating floors: A floating floor is exactly what it sounds like. It floats over the subflooring rather than attaching to it. The floor is installed over an underlayment. As a result, the flooring can move as a unit, to adjust for environmental fluctuations caused by the radiant heating. This flexibility makes it a top choice for installation over radiant floor heating in Glenwood Springs, CO.
  • Engineered flooring: When engineered flooring is installed, wood layers are placed perpendicular to each other. This helps the flooring resist movement caused by environmental fluctuations. Its unique construction makes it a good choice for radiant heated floors. Engineered flooring can be floated, glued or nailed over the subflooring. The method depends on the selection of product. It is best to choose a stable wood species for the top surface.
  • Quarter-sawn or rift-sawn flooring: As mentioned, your radiant heat may cause floor movement due to environmental fluctuations over time. Quarter-sawn flooring expands upward with the grain rather than side to side as plain-sawn cut flooring moves. This produces less side-to-side movement and reduces the chances of side gaps and board edge cupping.
  • Narrow boards: For the best results with radiant floor heating in Glenwood Springs, CO, choose a flooring product with a width of three inches or less. Wider boards don’t allow as much board movement. Narrow boards also expand and contract less than wider boards. As a result, narrow boards offer tighter seams with fewer gaps created by temperature changes over time.
  • Humidity-conditioned flooring: Once installed, the flooring over radiant heat must maintain proper humidity levels for healthy operation and performance. Maintain an indoor relative humidity level between 30 and 50 percent year-round. If you are unable to keep this humidity level, your floor will suffer from splintering, edge cupping, de-lamination and squeaking. You may need to use a humidifier to ensure these levels remain in healthy range.
  • Properly dried flooring: No matter which flooring you choose, your system should be properly dried out before installing wood floors over a radiant system. By operating your system for two weeks prior to overlaying it with wood flooring, you will remove any trapped pockets of moisture that could cause damage to your flooring.

Are you unsure which option is best for your space? Let the experts at Garrett Hansen Plumbing Inc. help you. We can walk you through each of your options personally and answer any additional questions you have. Our professionals offer in-depth knowledge of radiant floor heating in Glenwood Springs, CO. Reach out to us today for a professional consultation.

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