Are you currently looking for flooring options, possibly thinking about the advantages and disadvantages of solid wood flooring against maybe engineered wood flooring? For example, if you have or hope to have under floor heating installed in your home then the flooring choice is one which will need some careful consideration.
Firstly, what is solid wood flooring? Well, in short, it is what it says it is, solid wood flooring. Each board or plank is made of solid wood and milled from a single piece of timber. They were originally used for structural purposes, as they were installed perpendicularly to the wooden support beams of a building. Today however, they are rarely used for this purpose and are almost always used for their appearance.
Solid wood flooring is a great choice if you are looking for a natural and dependable flooring, however it not necessarily recommended when it comes to being laid above an underfloor heating system. This is because solid wood flooring is liable to suffer from expansion and contraction which can be caused by both heat and moisture. Solid wood floors tend to contract slightly during the winter months, as the heating system creates a dryer atmosphere, and expand during the summer, when windows are open and the atmosphere includes more moisture. This expansion and contraction can be intensified when underfloor heating systems are installed as the wood is exposed to higher than usual temperature as well the degree of moisture loss.
It is fair to say that some manufacturers will disagree on whether or not solid wood flooring should be used in conjunction with underfloor heating at all, others will say that if the flooring is more than 100mm wide then it will the fine over the system, so long as the manufacturers instructions are followed.
When it comes to wood flooring and underfloor heating, here at Floorsave we recommend the use of engineered wood flooring as it is a more suitable product. If you are uncertain as to whether solid wood flooring will be suitable for your needs, contact our experienced team on 0800 055 6265 for more information.
