Underfloor Heating
Underfloor heating represents a highly efficient heating method, increasingly adopted by many today. Due to the benefits it offers, it is considered an ingenious and innovative solution for any type of property, whether a residential house, apartment, or office space. This heating system is becoming more common, with the quality of heating quickly and uniformly throughout the entire space.
1. What is underfloor heating and how does it work?
2. How to choose the right parquet for electric underfloor heating?
3. Types of parquet
3.1. Engineered parquet
3.2. Double-layer engineered parquet
3.3. Triple-layer engineered parquet
4. Installation of parquet for underfloor heating
1. What is Underfloor Heating and How Does It Work?
Underfloor heating is a method of controlling room temperature using radiation, convection, and conduction. Although this heating system may seem modern and recent, Romans heated their homes this way hundreds, even thousands of years ago, by lighting furnaces in the basement. Coming to modern times, underfloor heating has transformed into a modern system that provides heat through electric wires or water tubes beneath the floor.
The innovation that this system brings is, in fact, the use of the entire floor surface as a heating element. The operating principle is that the floor becomes a radiant element, distributing heat everywhere, uniformly. This advantageous method presents low costs and brings added comfort to your home, being much more efficient than traditional heating with radiators.
2. How to Choose the Right Parquet for Electric Underfloor Heating?
There are many myths related to the compatibility between underfloor heating and wood. Well said myths, because the two elements are completely compatible and, more than that, represent the perfect combination for any type of property. Nevertheless, when choosing parquet for a home that benefits from underfloor heating, you must consider several aspects to enjoy the best possible performance.
First of all, it is important to consider the thermal resistance of the parquet you plan to choose for electric underfloor heating. The thicker the parquet plank, the higher the thermal resistance will be.
Dimensional stability is also an important aspect in selecting parquet. This consists of the amount of moisture. Parquet can be of several types, therefore, the type of parquet you choose for underfloor heating can dictate the quality of comfort in your home. Exotic wood species such as kumaru, ipe, or kempas benefit from better dimensional stability, but maple or beech can also be good choices in this case.
3. Types of Parquet
3.1. Engineered Parquet
Below, you will find which types of parquet are suitable for underfloor heating and how to distinguish them, to make the best choice.
For the floor to be suitable for this heating system, it must fit within the thermal transfer resistance requirements. Engineered parquet is compatible with underfloor heating systems if it has the proper thickness. It comes with a series of benefits that bring added durability over time, which is why it is the first choice of many people. In the case of engineered parquet, you will need to pay special attention to its dimensions.
3.2. Double-Layer Engineered Parquet
3.3. Triple-Layer Engineered Parquet
Double-layer engineered parquet has several qualities that make it more suitable for underfloor heating systems. It features a top layer of noble wood and a bottom layer made of multiple cross-laminated boards. On top, it has multiple layers of dried lacquer, which makes it resistant to scratches over many years. Being arranged this way, the planks have the ability to maintain and ensure the wood's stability over time, without changing its initial state.
Triple-layer engineered parquet is a natural and eco-friendly solution for covering a heated floor. Thermal conductivity in this type of parquet is typically 0.13 W/m·K. In the case of triple-layer engineered parquet, the number of joints is greater across the entire surface. This prevents surface transformations based on environmental conditions and moisture. The oil used to finish the parquet offers the advantage of much easier reconditioning over time.
4. Installation of Parquet for Underfloor Heating
To be best suited for electric underfloor heating, it is important to consider certain aspects, such as the thermal resistance level of the wooden parquet and the degree of stratification. Parquet installation is done only after the heating system has been commissioned and the screed is very well dried and hardened.
Here are the steps for installing parquet in a room with underfloor heating:
- In the first stage, the screed's resistance and quality must be verified—the floor heating is turned on, with the temperature remaining at minimum and gradually increased daily until it reaches maximum. The system remains at this temperature for 3 days (minimum), after which it is gradually reduced until it reaches a medium thermal range (normal temperature), and then switched off. The screed is checked to see if any cracks have appeared.
- Next, you must ensure that the screed is very stable and shows no changes to the touch. Additionally, it must be clean, free of other impurities or unevenness, with no adhesive residue, wax, or grease. When purchasing parquet, it is advisable to add 7% to the total area, including cuts necessary for installation.
- Before the actual installation of engineered parquet planks, the heating system must be kept in operation constantly for approximately two weeks at appropriate parameters. Parquet planks should not be unpacked before installation; they must be stored as delivered, in the room where they will be placed, to gradually adapt to the room's temperature. Installation must be done with the heating off, using a special silane-based adhesive, because it absorbs certain tensions from the screed, preventing them from reaching the parquet planks (it is much more flexible compared to two-component adhesive). After the installation procedure, it is recommended that the heating system remain off for 48 hours.
A team of specialists in parquet installation for underfloor heating is recommended for an appropriate result and pleasant visual appearance.
