Best Engineered over Radiant Floors
We are doing a gut reno with new subfloors and looking for recommendations for good engineered brands over radiant heat. Prefer a dark wood color and in the $5-$6/sq ft price range. We’d prefer to put the same wood over all floors, including a finished cellar (cement over radiant). Any experience and recommended floor species…
We are doing a gut reno with new subfloors and looking for recommendations for good engineered brands over radiant heat. Prefer a dark wood color and in the $5-$6/sq ft price range. We’d prefer to put the same wood over all floors, including a finished cellar (cement over radiant).
Any experience and recommended floor species and brands would be highly appreciated.
Thanks
If it’s the first floor, you might consider polished concrete instead. That’s what we have and it is heavenly. I’m often tempted to simply lay down on the kitchen floor. (In fact, the little tyke does.) Concrete is exceptionally efficient for radiant heat. It holds the heat so well, the system hardly needs to kick on. And as for the naysayers who think it’s too “hard,” we don’t find this at all, and we always walk around barefoot it feels so good…
I forgot to mention that I would be happy to talk with you about the project if that would help at all.
I have had nothing but great things to say about Launstein Hardwood. (http://www.launstein.com/ ) I have been in the radiant business for about 8 years on the design and supply side and have referred this company a lot. And no, I am not an employee of theirs’. But they warranty their REAL Hardwood for use with radiant floor heating. They have a wide variety of options for the quality, cut; and color of wood and they are are really nice people. I hope that helps.
While not engineered, you might be interested that we used Mesquite hardwood over radiant throughout. When we got it a few years ago it was in your price range (although you would have to add 2psf for finishing). We got it from http://www.mesquitefloors.com/. It is very stable, perfect for this application. We love it.