We’re considering using 3/8″ hardwood flooring over radiant heat. The heating system involves the tubing running in a piece of routed out plywood that sits on top of the sub-floor. The 3/8″ hardwood is recommended to be put down with glue and nails, and they advise putting the glue right over the heat tubing.
Any thoughts/experience concerning this?
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Replies
The Wirsbo technical manual specifies a min. of 3/4" between the top of their tubing and the underside of any flooring finish. Wirsbo is a mfr of PEX type radiant heating tubing, the kind that's used most frequently these days. I don't speak from any technical expertise but I would intuitively think you'd not get very good heat dispersion with your flooring directly over/on the tubing.
Dennis in Bellevue WA
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I would want to make sure the adhesive is compatible with the PEX.
The manufactured underlayment panels have aluminum plates built in for better heat dispersion.
I have seen folks emulate this effect on-the cheap by using strips of plywood between the tubes, and staple-up plates (upside down) over the tubing. The plates did not make contact with the finish floor. The end panels (for the curves) were routed, but cut all the way through. The idea here was to spread the heat via conduction evenly across the entire subfloor. One idea.
Best of luck.