Posted by logan grauer on December 31, 1999 at 02:52:51:

In Reply to: Radiant Floor Heating Systems posted by Richard Martin on December 30, 1999 at 09:08:01:

Thats like saying, "my car will crash". Just becuase you HAVE one, doesnt mean you WILL get the other.

Cracking in hardwood occurs when the radiant floor is too hot for too long and dry's the hardwood out. Hardwood is like potato chips that have been left out over night; they pick up moisture from the air and maintain a certain moisture balance. If the floor is too hot, it will force moisture out of the wood and cause it to eventually crack in areas where the moisture has been driven out.

Prevention is simply a matter of limiting the design temp for the floor surface temp. (80-85 F) The key is to tell your hardwood maufacturer that you want to radiant floor heat it, and get the operating specs from them, and then give the specs to a certifed, or trained underfloor heating designer. The designer can then work around the hardwood specs. If your present contractor is not comfortable with RFH designs, find someone who is, and consult with them first. It always pays to get a second opinion.

In some cases where the heating load is extremely high, hardwood may not be a good choice with RFH. However, I am from Canada, and I have only run into a couple of these situations.

Please be assured that right this second many many many RFH installations are operating all around the world with hardwoods of all types.

Logan

: My contractor tells me that radiant floor heating system will crack or damage a hardwood floor.
: My plumber didn't know. Do you have an answer?
: Thanks,
: Richard Martin

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