Apr 16 2008
Looking for ways to heat your home more efficiently while reducing your carbon footprint? Look no further than your floors.
Radiant heat is one of the latest green building trends that has gained popularity with eco-conscious consumers. Radiant heat offers an alternative to traditional forced air heating because the heating source is installed under flooring and transfers heat directly from the floor to the individual, which is a more-efficient means of maintaining a comfortable room temperature. It also reduces heat loss when doors are opened and cold air enters the room.
Eco-conscious consumers can reduce their carbon footprint even further by installing radiant heat under wood floors. Because wood floors are sustainable and renewable, they increase radiant heat's benefits. Generally speaking, engineered flooring works well with radiant heat since its cross-ply construction makes it very dimensionally stable and less prone to moisture or heat fluctuations. Wood species that work well with radiant heat include American cherry, American walnut and teak. Darker woods will show gaps and cracks less than lighter woods, but other species that work well include antique heart pine, ash, bamboo, Brazilian walnut, bubinga, Douglas fir, iroko, kempas, padauk, purpleheart, red oak, Santos mahogany, and sapele. Quatersawn and riftsawn woods also work well because their expansion moves up and down rather than side to side, which provides additional stability. Smaller width boards generally will perform better too, since wider planks are more prone to moisture and heat fluctuations.
Want to know more about the eco-benefits of wood floors? Visit the National Wood Flooring Association's web site at http://www.nwfa.org, and click on the "What's New" link.