Are you planning to install a new wooden floor? Is underfloor heating suitable for wooden floors? We'd be happy to tell you more.
Wooden floors have been popular for years. There are many different types of wood used. Want a wooden floor with underfloor heating? No problem, there are plenty of options. But be careful, not every wooden floor is suitable.
Underfloor heating under a wooden floor
A wooden floor is easily combined with underfloor heating. However, there are a few things to consider. For example, a solid wood floor is not suitable if you want underfloor heating as your primary heating system. The RC value (Resistance Construction, also known as thermal resistance) of a solid wood floor is too high. This means that too little heat can reach the surface to transfer sufficient heat to the room. A solid wood floor can, however, be used with underfloor heating as supplementary heating.
Which wooden floors are suitable for underfloor heating?
The type of wood used in a floor largely determines whether it is suitable for underfloor heating, regardless of whether you choose parquet or solid wood flooring. The harder the wood, the better its heat conduction. Furthermore, the wood itself must be able to withstand fluctuating temperatures and humidity levels. A common rule of thumb is that wood types that are least sensitive to moisture are usually the most suitable for underfloor heating. Oak is a good example. This is a strong, stable type of wood with low thermal resistance. It also offers excellent value for money.
Suitable types of wood
- Oak
- Nuts
- Merbau
- Afzelia
- Kambala
Unsuitable wood types
- Beech
- Food
- Jatoba
What to look out for
As you can see above, a wooden floor combined with underfloor heating is an excellent combination. However, there are differences compared to other floor finishes that you should consider. You've chosen a suitable wooden floor, but the underfloor heating settings are also important. With standard underfloor heating systems with tiled floors, the water supply temperature is set to 40° Celsius by default. With a wooden floor, we recommend setting the supply temperature to approximately 28° Celsius.
If you still have an old underfloor heating system, a wooden floor is often not suitable. Older underfloor heating systems often heat at too high a temperature. This causes excessive temperature fluctuations in the wood, which can lead to cracks and crevices.
Does a wooden floor give a lower return?
The overall efficiency depends on several factors, starting with the quality of the underfloor heating system. The better the system, the more evenly the heat can be distributed. With a wooden floor, the type of wood, its thickness, and the insulation also determine the efficiency. The lower the thermal resistance, the higher the efficiency. The maximum thermal resistance (RC value) for underfloor heating is 0.14 m²K/W. As a general rule, the thinner the floor, the more heat it transmits.
Wood has a higher insulating value than, for example, PVC or tiles. This means a wooden floor heats up less quickly than PVC or tiles. The advantage of higher insulating properties is that the floor also cools down more slowly. Wood combined with underfloor heating therefore provides a very consistent and comfortable heat output with minimal temperature fluctuations.
Do you have any questions after reading the information about underfloor heating with wooden floors? Please feel free to contact us. contact Contact one of our specialists, they will be happy to help you!
