Radiant Heating and Wood Floors

Find out if radiant heating systems can warp wood floors. Learn about radiant heating systems and how they work throughout the different seasons.

LESLIE: Heating season is not that far away and Richard in New York has a question about radiant heat. What can we do for you?

RICHARD: Hi, Leslie. Yeah, I’m redoing my house and I’m putting a whole new heating system in and I have it scheduled to have radiant heat in all the floors.

TOM: OK.

RICHARD: And my question is, I’m doing the floors in a Douglas-fir, which is going to be on top of the radiant heat and I’m just wondering if there’s any problems with the wooden floors warping or cupping.

TOM: No, not at all because – and in fact, the radiant floor heating system is going to be a very steady temperature and, you know, it will move seasonally but it will not cause the additional problem with cupping.

RICHARD: I see. So as it would move without the heat, because it’s an organic wooden floor …

LESLIE: Exactly.

RICHARD: … the extra heat will not be a problem for it.

TOM: No, it’s really not that significant in terms of additional heat. It’s not like it’s going to crack or anything of that nature.

RICHARD: That’s great to know. Thanks a bunch.

TOM: And it’s going to be really comfortable, too. You’re going to love that heating system.

RICHARD: I appreciate it.

TOM: Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.