FAQ

With the right experience, moisture testing, understanding of the radiant heat system and knowledge about the wood flooring being used, contractors can make wood flooring over radiant heat work — even work extremely well.

The builder should be open to learning everything about wood flooring and moisture. You should feel confident that the radiant heat installer, HVAC contractor, plumber and electrician all know what they’re doing. You’ll also need to know exactly what kind of HVAC systems will be installed.

There should also be systems in place to help stabilise humidity year-round. Even when the job site is manageable, it’s still critical to educate everyone involved — especially the homeowner — about wood flooring expansion and contraction, and why they need to control humidity levels in their home.

Products suitable for underfloor heating:

• Narrower widths
• Engineered floors
• Parquet
• Dark floors
• Bevelled edges
• Dimensionally stable species

Engineered timber flooring is made up of a veneer of 2–6mm of natural hardwood which is glued to a backing timber layer. Once installed, an engineered wood floor looks just like a solid timber floor but is much more stable and has many additional benefits.

Engineered wood flooring is sometimes mistaken for laminate flooring, as the timber is in some respects ‘laminated’ to the backing or core layer. However, a laminate floor is artificial and imitates real timber, whereas engineered timber flooring is the real deal.

Pre-finished is a term used to describe flooring which has had finishing coatings applied in the factory as part of the manufacturing process. Pre-finished flooring should not require any further finishing after installation.

Herringbone pieces overlap on the ends to create a weave-like pattern, whereas chevron pieces meet together on the ends, creating a ‘V’ shape.

Lacquer is a type of finish used to seal the pores of wood, acting as a protective layer. Lacquer finishes offer a long-lasting, durable and low-maintenance finish.

UV oil is a type of oil finish that absorbs into the pores of wood and is hardened under UV light. UV oil finishes appear the same as natural oil but are typically more durable, although they still require periodic care and maintenance.

When the surface of timber has been brushed with wire, it scrapes away the softer parts of the wood grain and leaves the harder grain intact. This results in a texture that follows the wood’s natural grain pattern.

Smoked (also known as fumed) timber has been treated with a chemical which causes the wood colour to darken whilst increasing colour variation. It can also result in a change of colour tone of the wood.