Wooden Flooring and Underfloor Heating: Can They Work Together?

The trend for laying wooden flooring in homes in the UK continues to grow as more and more people recognised the benefits of this type of floor; it is beautiful, of course, with a range of warm tones to suite all types of interiors from traditional to contemporary but it is also very easy to maintain, it is hygienic and it is hard-wearing.

But another growing trend is that of underfloor heating; technological advances have made underfloor heating more effective, easier to install and more affordable. Many people love the idea of losing the radiators from their walls and freeing up space for other items. Although designer radiators are readily available, they still take up valuable wall space in many of the smaller modern homes and, ultimately, still look like radiators. So the appeal of underfloor heating is understandable.

It is, however, well-known that wood expands and contracts with temperature changes so how can wooden floors be successfully combined with underfloor heating?

Well there are some limitations in the types of wooden floor you can use, mainly concerning its construction but also relating to temperature and humidity factors, and also some basic guidelines that should be followed.

Wooden flooring is manufactured in various types of construction and various types of wood, both soft and hard. It can consist of large, wide planks or small pieces of wood laid in a pattern such as seen in parquet floors. It can be composed entirely of solid wood or of a solid wood layer (of varying thickness) over a hardboard under layer. Engineered wooden floors can also consist of layers of real wood glued together for stability.

An engineered construction is the most suitable type of flooring for use with underfloor heating because its layered construction makes it less susceptible to the effects of temperature change and humidity. However, wood is still a natural product so all types of wooden flooring will be affected by the climate regardless of its construction.

The type of wood also plays a part in how it reacts to the surrounding environment. Beech, for instance, has a greater rate of expansion and contraction than some other woods so is not usually considered suitable for use with under floor heating systems. Although some beech flooring is constructed using methods that minimise this expansion and contraction it would never be an ideal choice.

Similarly the size of the wooden planks or strips also plays a part in how the floor reacts to the surrounding environment. Expansion and contraction of very large planks is much more noticeable (whether there is underfloor heating or not) and visible gaps can appear during cold weather and warping under hot, humid weather conditions.

So, clearly, wood can be used for floors with underfloor heating but the choice of type and style of floor needs very careful consideration if the installation is to be a success. There may be certain rooms where tile flooring is not ideal and natural stone, ceramic or porcelain floor tiles may be a better choice with an underfloor heating system.

The author has written and published articles on a wide range of topics including Small Business Advice, Tax and Accounting, Interior Design, House Renovation and Project Management.