An historic company in the production, sale and installation of floors, in particular in the production of fine solid wood floors for over 70 years. Countless references and reviews that can testify to the work carried out in all these years by Mogentale, so there is no need to dwell on the consolidated professionalism of the company. We deal with and develop a topic that in recent years is becoming more and more current and the subject of various discussions and interpretations: the laying of solid wood floors on underfloor heating and cooling systems.

At first glance the two things seem incompatible, but entering into this topic specifically, we can even be surprised at how many and what affinities we can find between these two parallel worlds.

Having established that solid wood flooring can well coexist with radiant and cooling systems, it is however advisable to consider some criteria and technical indications reported in the wood technology texts as well as in the sector regulations, this to guide the right choice in the type of flooring. and its installation.

To understand these dynamics, however, it is advisable to know a little more in depth the characteristics of the “wood” material used to create these fine floors.

– A first typical characteristic of wood is its moisture content, which together with its variables determines movements in the wood. Regardless of its drying/seasoning degree, varying environment climatic conditions (T-RH) cause wood movements. The simplest and most effective remedy to solve the problem of the consequent dimensional variations is to condition the wood to a humidity in equilibrium with the installation environment in a stable way (which will depend on the product considered: for example, for a solid wood floor 9% – 2%, moisture content in equilibrium with environmental conditions within values ​​of 40% -60%).

To evaluate the insulating thermal capacity of a building element, the thermal conductivity λ is of particular importance. With it we mean the amount of heat that passes through a cube of 1 m edge length in an hour, when between two parallel lateral surfaces there is difference in temperature, constant over time, of 1 ° K. Thermal conductivity is measured in W / (mK). In some wood species, with a low density, due to the high percentage of pores and consequently more air voids, the wood may contain low heat conductivity characteristics, in other wood species with a higher density (less voids occupied by air) wood can contain good thermal conductivity characteristics.

As a rule, any type of flooring can be laid on a radiant heating and cooling system, whether it is massive or multilayer (in the multilayer, however, it is necessary to consider the sum of the thermal resistances of the various layers considered, values ​​usually higher than the thermal resistances for an equal thickness of a solid wooden floor).

The knowledge and consideration of the characteristics of thermal resistance and/or overall thermal conductivity of the coating, allow an optimal dimensioning even from the planning stage, thus ensuring high efficiency of the system. The thermal resistance of the flooring including the laying layer (therefore everything that is positioned above the radiant system pipes) must not exceed the R value of 0.15/0.18 m2K/W.

Almost all wood species used to manufacture wooden floors can coexist well with an underfloor heating system given all the above parameters and characteristics. However, the maintenance over time of a correct environmental thermo-hygrometric balance “floor / installation environment” recommended by the manufacturer remains fundamental, a necessary condition, for a suitable dimensional stability of the flooring over time.

However, it is also necessary to remember that wood in general is a living material in constant and continuous equilibrium with the surrounding environment, consequently, when the environmental conditions for any reason undergo substantial variations over time it is possible that cracks or swelling develop in or between the elements, a phenomenon to be considered as an intrinsic characteristic of the wood material, a phenomenon that is in any case reversible thanks to the above-mentioned principle of balance.

In the event of an environment that is too dry or humid, it has been amply demonstrated that besides the shrinkage or swelling of the wood, in the engineered floor which is built with crossed layers, the stresses occur in two directions (longitudinal and transverse) with consequent detachment of the wear layer.

A last factor that should not be underestimated is the regulation of the temperature of the water in the heating system, which must ensure an operating temperature not exceeding 25-27 ° C.

An historic company in the production, sale and installation of floors, in particular in the production of fine solid wood floors for over 70 years. Countless references and reviews that can testify to the work carried out in all these years by Mogentale, so there is no need to dwell on the consolidated professionalism of the company. We deal with and develop a topic that in recent years is becoming more and more current and the subject of various discussions and interpretations: the laying of solid wood floors on underfloor heating and cooling systems.

At first glance the two things seem incompatible, but entering into this topic specifically, we can even be surprised at how many and what affinities we can find between these two parallel worlds.

Having established that solid wood flooring can well coexist with radiant and cooling systems, it is however advisable to consider some criteria and technical indications reported in the wood technology texts as well as in the sector regulations, this to guide the right choice in the type of flooring. and its installation.

To understand these dynamics, however, it is advisable to know a little more in depth the characteristics of the “wood” material used to create these fine floors.

– A first typical characteristic of wood is its moisture content, which together with its variables determines movements in the wood. Regardless of its drying/seasoning degree, varying environment climatic conditions (T-RH) cause wood movements. The simplest and most effective remedy to solve the problem of the consequent dimensional variations is to condition the wood to a humidity in equilibrium with the installation environment in a stable way (which will depend on the product considered: for example, for a solid wood floor 9% – 2%, moisture content in equilibrium with environmental conditions within values ​​of 40% -60%).

To evaluate the insulating thermal capacity of a building element, the thermal conductivity λ is of particular importance. With it we mean the amount of heat that passes through a cube of 1 m edge length in an hour, when between two parallel lateral surfaces there is difference in temperature, constant over time, of 1 ° K. Thermal conductivity is measured in W / (mK). In some wood species, with a low density, due to the high percentage of pores and consequently more air voids, the wood may contain low heat conductivity characteristics, in other wood species with a higher density (less voids occupied by air) wood can contain good thermal conductivity characteristics.

As a rule, any type of flooring can be laid on a radiant heating and cooling system, whether it is massive or multilayer (in the multilayer, however, it is necessary to consider the sum of the thermal resistances of the various layers considered, values ​​usually higher than the thermal resistances for an equal thickness of a solid wooden floor).

The knowledge and consideration of the characteristics of thermal resistance and/or overall thermal conductivity of the coating, allow an optimal dimensioning even from the planning stage, thus ensuring high efficiency of the system. The thermal resistance of the flooring including the laying layer (therefore everything that is positioned above the radiant system pipes) must not exceed the R value of 0.15/0.18 m2K/W.

Almost all wood species used to manufacture wooden floors can coexist well with an underfloor heating system given all the above parameters and characteristics. However, the maintenance over time of a correct environmental thermo-hygrometric balance “floor / installation environment” recommended by the manufacturer remains fundamental, a necessary condition, for a suitable dimensional stability of the flooring over time.

However, it is also necessary to remember that wood in general is a living material in constant and continuous equilibrium with the surrounding environment, consequently, when the environmental conditions for any reason undergo substantial variations over time it is possible that cracks or swelling develop in or between the elements, a phenomenon to be considered as an intrinsic characteristic of the wood material, a phenomenon that is in any case reversible thanks to the above-mentioned principle of balance.

In the event of an environment that is too dry or humid, it has been amply demonstrated that besides the shrinkage or swelling of the wood, in the engineered floor which is built with crossed layers, the stresses occur in two directions (longitudinal and transverse) with consequent detachment of the wear layer.

A last factor that should not be underestimated is the regulation of the temperature of the water in the heating system, which must ensure an operating temperature not exceeding 25-27 ° C.