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jill430

Pre-oiled solid wood over in floor heat?

jill430
9 years ago

Hello, I originally posted this question in the building a home forum but thought I would try here as well. Our new construction has hydronic in floor heat and we are looking for suitable flooring. We have a small child, a 20lb dog and a 100lb dog. We realize whatever we choose will get scratched but we are hoping to find something that will hide the scratches well and can be repaired in the future. We have been advised to go with engineered hardwood rather than solid but we are concerned about how it will hold up with pets and small children. We found a couple of solid hardwood products (Ancestral Pre-Oiled Floors by BSL Wood Products and Intemporel Pre-Oiled Floors by Alexandra Parquets). The retailer told us pre-oiled solid flooring is ok for installation with in floor heat because the floor is not sealed and can "breath". The installation guide for the Ancestral Flooring does state it is warranted for use with in floor radiant heat (I am waiting for a response from the other manufacturer). I am wondering if anyone has any experience with this type of floor? Is it a bad idea to use it over in floor heat? Is an oiled hardwood more prone to scratches? We would go with a hard maple or perhaps oak. Thank you!

Here is a link that might be useful: Ancestral Installation Manual

Comments (2)

  • live_wire_oak
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Hydronic heat is only suitable with narrower solid if the tubing temperature is run extra low. The whole system has to be designed around it, with the increased spacing and the mixing valve factored in to allow the temps to be cooler. Hydronic is already less responsive to rapid temperature changes than traditional radiators or forced air systems. Lowering the temperatures takes it to such a minimal temperature delta that you will be feeling cold for a hour or so if a rapid cooldown outside occurs. Or, you'll be sweating with the windows open if you have a big temperature rise. That occurs a bit anyway with radiant heating, but it can be perceived as worse with low temp radiant. Doing the loops at a low temperature also affects how the system "feels" to humans as well since the foot zone isn't as warm. It's much less of a benefit for the greatly increased cost over forced air, since comfort is the main reason that it's chosen.

    It's not a budget choice to begin with. We were only able to include it in our shop project because we did the install ourselves. And, the finished concrete is the finished surface, so there is no insulative effect between the heat and the people like there is with other materials like wood and carpet. The more of an R value that a material has, the more of an impediment it is to radiant heating. That's why traditionally radiant was confined to concrete or tile floors.

    Engineered will always be the better choice with in floor heat over crawlspace, and the ONLY choice for slab on grade. It expands and contracts less, and is far more stable. You cannot tell a good quality engineered wood from solid just by looking. It will look the same, and wear the same. Better quality engineered flooring has more core plys, and uses species ply instead of pines or firs. It's never a cheaper choice than solid, just the right choice for the conditions, like slab construction or in floor heating.

    As far as an oil finish, there are many many different types of oil finishes out there, and most are not very protective, which is the first function of a finish for a floor. Some of the factory oil finishes with polymers can be almost as durable as regular polyurethane. They aren't very DIY "repairable" though. An expert can repair even an polyurethane finish because he does the whole board, which is one separate piece. Poly remains the best choice for the most protective finish.

    Really, your issue is more a lifestyle adjustment problem than a finish problem. People with pets needs to accustom themselves to trimming their nails. Weekly. If you hear them clicking on the floor, the nails are too long. And, rugs should be at every entrance to the home, where outside debris is trapped. Those rugs should be changes/washed frequently. And it's a source of a lot of debates back and forth over the years, but those who are a shoes off inside the home family do have less wear and tear on their floors as long as they wear slippers or socks. Acids and oils from bare feet is just as bad as outside dirt when it comes to damaging your floors.

  • jill430
    Original Author
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thank you! I appreciate you taking the time to respond! Very useful information.