solid hardwood v engineered/multilayer flooring

Solid wood/underfloor heating statements we hear every day!

• “Engineered/mulitlayer wood floors are dimensionally More stable than single plank solid wood”
• “You cannot use solid hardwood over underfloor heating”
• “Solid wood boards will contract and gap, while engineered/multilayer will remain stable and tight”

These statements are completely unfounded or backed by any reputable or scientific tests over a number of years. In fact the truth is, that engineered/multilayer floors have all the potential drawbacks that solid wood is wrongly presumed to have over underfloor heating, plus several more!

The following information has been sourced from leading manufacturers of engineered/multilayer floors, and leading independent experts. All quotes are taken from either web sites, &/or technical information guidelines, or reputable trade journals nb please refer to the “engineered/multilayer floors quotes from publications & manufactureres”

The truth appears to be that after several years of engineered/multilayer floors being installed over underfloor heating, the “cracks are now appearing. What this means, is that there is absolutely no advantage to choosing an engineered/multilayer wood floor instead of a solid wood floor. Both aesthetically and in performance they are an inferior substitute to solid hardwood, which if properly kilned, machined, stabislised and stored, and then correctly installed, with a thermostatically controlled ufh system, will remain stable in service, with only the slightest dimensional seasonal contraction, which is often so slight as to be unoticable. If very occassionally a solid hardwood floor presents a problem, it can be rectified easily. Whereas the engineered/multilayer will have to be replaced.

A solid hardwood floor, purchased from a reputable company which has years of experience in installation over ufh, and which is fully guaranteed* *subject to terms & conditions of preparation, installation and service will remain dimensionally stable with only negligible seasonal contraction which is often so slight as to be virtually unoticable. Always provided that the underfloor heating system is properly thermostaically controlled and run, with the surface temerature not exceeding 27% and the acclimation increments adhered to with initi start up, and then seasonal start up and shut down.