Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Dec 17, 1998 08:24am | #1

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   We're about to try Pergo over concrete w/ radiant, will let you know how it works. Everything we've done recently with radiant in a slab has been finished as colored concrete, like lithochrome or something similar. I'd like to hear about people's experiences with wood. Anyone?

2. 
   Joe_Augenbraun | Dec 17, 1998 08:50am | #2

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   I'm also contemplating putting wood floors over
   radiant.

   A company that advertises in FHB called
   "Junckers" claims that they have a special system
   that allows it. I called them and got their
   brochures, and it seems that what they offer is
   a floating floor that is held together with clips
   instead of glue. The clips allow for the
   expansion and contraction that is inevitable with
   a floor that is over a radiant surface.

   Interestingly, all of their literature talks
   about how much easier this is to use than a
   "complicated" sleeper system. Does this mean
   that any old wood floor can be used as long as
   one has sleepers? Their literature would imply
   so. This is of particular interest to me, as
   I'm going to have sleepers anyway.

3. 
   Guest_ | Dec 20, 1998 07:34am | #3

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   The biggest (to me) concern about wood over radiant heat is the expansion/contraction factor. The effect is multiplied or exagerrated due to the proximity of the heat source to the wood.

   IMO, this essentially rules out standard 3/4" solid flooring for these applications. As much as I love "real" wood, and as much as I'd love to have the 1/4 to 3/8" wear layer available for future sanding/refinishing, I think you're opening yourself up to the possibility of very noticible gaps between boards as the heat kicks on in the wintertime.

   Laminated products are, to me, the safest way to go with radiant floor heat. They are much more dimensionally stable. You'll need to search, but the variety of product and more importantly, the quality, has improved dramatically over the past few years. I put 3200 ft of brazilian cherry down over radiant and this is the third year, no problems at all. It was a glued installation. Laminates do have restrictions on the subfloor temps that you can run,
   but they are easilly met with today's systems. Also consider that the temp restriction is for the temp where the subfloor/slab and flooring meet. The circulated water temp can be a bit higher due to temperature transfer loss through the slab or subfloor, if an underfloor installation.

   Floating floors do minimize the expansion/contraction due to installation, whether using clips as in the Junckers or the more common edge-glued method. Over a wide floor, however, there is still a chance of opening a gap at the baseboard due to the amount of movement in the wood.

4. 
   Michael_ | Dec 20, 1998 07:35am | #4

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   I am looking for information on surfaces for heated concrete floors (hot water 130F). Anything but ceramic tile. Laminated wood flooring, vinyl (wood finish),solid wood. We have some concerns about adhesive off gassing. This is for a kitchen in a restored log cabin circa 1830 near Toronto.