Many homeowners looking for a timeless and elegant choice for their homes are choosing oak flooring. Why? This is because oak flooring offers natural beauty and long-term durability. Whether you go for solid oak flooring or engineered flooring, it is a good choice. But what do you do about underfloor heating?
Underfloor heating provides comfort in modern times. The biggest blessing is when you combine these two for an aesthetically pleasing, functional, and warm room. However, the only way to get both of these things is by ensuring their compatibility. If oak flooring is not compatible with UFH, then it can cause a few problems and consequences for everyone.
How do you ensure they are compatible and that you have cosy but aesthetically pleasing and durable flooring as well? Let’s find out.
Check these steps
First Step: Understanding Oak Flooring
Before you head to buy a combination of these two, you need to understand that there are two types of oaks.
The solid oak flooring is natural, made with sustainability using a single piece of hardwood, and is highly durable. With proper care, the longevity of the same can easily surpass 50 years of lifespan, sensitive to temperature changes.
The second one is engineered oak flooring with multiple layers and a hardwood oak veneer on the top. Due to its versatility, it is more compatible with underfloor heating wooden floor (gulvvarme trægulv). You can use either, but the latter is a better choice comparatively.
Second Step: Understanding the Need for Compatibility
Wood, a natural material, expands and contracts as the humidity and temperature change. Moreover, underfloor heating introduces a low-level and consistent heat source. If you do not manage it properly, it can cause wood to dry out or warp or even shrink.
This is why you need to ensure compatibility between oak flooring and UFH, as it helps prevent these issues while extending your floor’s lifespan.
Third step: What thickness should you go for?
Knowing the thickness of your oak flooring is crucial, as it affects how well the heat goes through the flooring. Engineered oak has a thickness range of 14-21 mm, making it an ideal choice. Moreover, ensure that the wear layer is at least 3-6 mm, allowing future sanding without compromising its integral structure.
The thickness of your oak flooring will affect how well heat passes through it.
Fourth step: Knowing the best underfloor heating systems for oak
The main UFH systems include hydronic systems and electric systems. The former circulate warm water through pipes under the floor. If you want to go for whole-house installation and use thicker oak boards, this is the best. The latter uses electrical cables or mats for generating heat. It is easier to install, so most people prefer this to others anyways.
Fifth step: Installation Guidelines
To ensure your installation is successful, you need to know and be prepared by familiarising yourself with the procedure. The preparation requires you to let the floor acclimate to the room’s humidity and temperature. Clean the subfloor on every level, have a damp-proof membrane, and use UFH-compatible flexible adhesives to glue down the floor. Do not use nails or screws, as it can cause problems.
Sixth Step: Maintain temperature, moisture, and humidity.
To safeguard the flooring and heating system, you need to ensure that the temperature, humidity, and moisture are perfect. The maximum temperature to keep should never exceed 27 degrees Celsius for oak flooring. If you go above this temperature, it will damage the wood.
Moreover, you should slowly increase the UFH temperature to ensure better oak flooring. Lastly, keep indoor humidity relatively low, something between 40% and 60%, as it lets you prevent excessive contraction and expansion. Using a humidifier is also a great choice.
Last Step: Maintain them.
To ensure the combination of oak floors and warm room stays, you need to maintain it. This means using a damp cloth to clean it and using professional help when you see wear and tear, among other things.
Conclusion
To conclude, oak flooring and underfloor heating are a perfect match, but only when you install and choose them with care. Engineered oak is perfect as it offers both performance and beauty. So, manage temperature, moisture, and installation methods. With this, your home will not just be warm, but the floors will also be aesthetically pleasing.
