We are in the process of building a new home with in-floor radiant heat... Question is on "main floor" (above basement level): What types of HARDWOOD flooring installations are compatible with this heating system? Floating or nailed? Glued or snap jointed? Laminated vs. full hardwood? Etc. Need help and advice. Thanks. New Guy.

Floating Engineered flooring is best.

However, many other options are good as well. Any laminate, quartersawn hardwoods, etc. You're looking for "dimensional stability" in your products.

The best thing to do, to be sure, is to do a heat loss calculation and find out what your operating surface temperature is going to be. Check and make sure that is an ok temp with the flooring manufacturer. Also, many things can be done with radiant to minimize water temperatures and protect the floors.

And, watch the moisture content of the flooring for "regular" wood products, acclimize it to the home...

The RPA has a flooring guide that is well worth reading, short cheap and packed with good info.

------------------
Northeast Radiant Technology, LLC
-=RFH Design, Supply and Consultation=-
RPA certified Radiant Designer

ph/fax 207.899.2328
nrt@maine.rr.com

"Floating Engineered flooring is best"

Agreed, but other methods are just as effective, providing they're installed proper and strict attention to procedures are followed. Probably the biggest cause of failure with hardwood floors and radiant heat is "shocking it" It's important to raise the temperature gradually over a period of a few weeks when cold weather arrives. The reverse is true when warm weather arrives and the need for radiant heat is no longer.

Guide To Hardwood Floors In The Home; Flooring Options

[This message has been edited by kdfisher (edited 08-22-2004).]

absolutely. Reset control is a must in our humble opinions which does exactly what you mention, ramping up water temperatures with heat demands. so they start off low and work up higher as the winter gets colder and vice versa. it's more efficient as well, and results in more precise heating too.

------------------
Northeast Radiant Technology, LLC
-=RFH Design, Supply and Consultation=-
RPA certified Radiant Designer
http://www.NRTradiant.com
rob@NRTradiant.com

Some informations about Hardwood Flooring