Browse Forums Flooring & Floor Covering 1 Feb 26, 2014 8:49 pm Hi, We're building a new extension to the house and want to install electric underfloor heating but use timber for flooring. We will have battens fixed to a concrete slab and the electric heating component will run in between the battens, above a layer of insulation. Timber floor will be nailed to the battens. According to the floor heating company this is the only way to do it if you don't want the in-slab heating (which wastes energy). There has to be min 50mm separation between the electrics and the top of timber and the floor boards can't be over 20mm thick. The max temperature on top of timber will be 27 degrees. Has anybody any experience with this? I've been trying to find a timber to fit these requirements: - suitable for underfloor heating (i.e. engineered timber) - suitable for batten installation (i.e. 19 mm thick and sturdy enough) - Australian hardwood, Spotted gum or similar, or rustic or recycled look So far I've found engineered timber floors which do not suit batten installation but require level subfloor, or timbers that are ok with battens but do not recommend to be used with underfloor heating. The only company who I've found to meet both requirements is Mafi, but it's oak and imported from Europe with a price tag $208 per sqm. I don't like the look of oak very much, otherwise it seems like a very high quality product. So, does anybody know where I can find this flooring? We live in Sydney so don't expect to run the heating very much during the year. And the concrete is done so can't change to in-slab installation. Thanks! Re: Electric underfloor heating and timber floor - suppliers 2Feb 27, 2014 2:26 pm Moi Sari, You are sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place it seems. I am not going to give any specific advice on what to do but go and look on the Web to find this document - Wooden Floors over underfloor heating published by the Swedish Flooring Trade Association. It is available in English so you don't have to use your Swedish language skills - I am presuming from the name you are a Finn... It is a pretty deep look at what is and isn't possible but it is nicely split into a basic section for home owners, a trade section and a glossary explaining the terms. Hope that helps to determine how to go forward. From my experience any gap between a heating system and a floor is filled with something so as not to simply heat the air below the floor so it is surprising to see it being given as a recommendation - perhaps it might be worth looking at the heating systems manufacturer's instructions to see what they say? Adrian Re: Electric underfloor heating and timber floor - suppliers 3Feb 27, 2014 3:07 pm Hi Adrian, Thanks for the tip, I'll look for the document. And yes, you're quite right re nationality - who else would want underfloor heating in Sydney... The floor heat provider says that because timber is an insulating material, if you would put a screed in between, most of the heat would be lost to heating up the screed or blocked by the timber before it gets to the surface. It makes sense to me. And battens are required so that you don't accidentally nail the timber through the heating wires. Hope this Swedish document helps a Finn to set up Danish underfloor heating without using expensive Austrian floor. Sari Re: Electric underfloor heating and timber floor - suppliers 4Feb 27, 2014 3:33 pm Glad to be of some help, Sari but don't think you are the only one pining for being able to walk inside, throw lots of layers off and then walk around in little clothing. Do you not think that I don't get asked for underfloor heating and sauna by my darling wife, Tiina in Melbourne and all the rest of us patient husbands of Finns are spared?!!! I am assuming that you are having a Devi mat system, which I have discussed previously when talking about finishes on solid timber during my day job and for which I happened to have the technical info. On their instruction sheets they have the following:- WOODEN FLOORS, CARPET or VINYL floor finishes These floor finishes may be used with a Devimat element but in this instance, the Devimat MUST BE COVERED WITH A SELF-LEVELLING COMPOUND to a thickness of not less than 6 mm. Once this material has cured, the floor finish may be placed on the top. Confusing isn't it? Hope that it all works well and that someone can come up with the answer. If all else fails email the manufacturer in Denmark with pictures and a detailed drawing of what you to ask for their advice. Adrian 1 10131 Anybody know any good and reasonably priced Air conditioning contractors/companies that could install a ducted air conditioning system in the Central Coast NSW for a small… 0 8994 Hi everyone! This is my first time posting here, and I'm looking for some advice regarding my house construction project in North Kellyville. I… 0 6695 |