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helpful hint - hardwood floors in slab homes

As homeowners take up the carpet and move back to hardwood and hardwood laminate floors, it would be a good idea to be mindful of what type of floor is underneath.

I have had numerous clients complain that slab on grade homes that have hardwood or hardwood laminate on that slab is cold. In most cases the carpet and carpet pad have been removed so the previous owners did not realize as cold a floor.

Now that the new floor has been installed it is an expensive undertaking to try to add heat to that floor.

I suggest that a heating system be added before the hardwood or hardwood laminate is installed. Other precautions can be taken during constuction that may help but most are updating the property well after construction.

Posted by Rick Harrington Specialist--Infrared Residential on 01/10/2009 03:32 PM

Comments (4)

heat loss, save heat, slab floors, hardwood floors, central ohio energy savings

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4 Comments on helpful hint - hardwood floors in slab homes

JAN

I was in a home this week with an addition at the rear, slab on grade. The room was really cold and walking on the floor was like walking in an attached garage.

What do you think about radiant heat under hardwood floors?

Much easier to add heat prior to hardwood. Although adding radiant to concrete is not and easy matter.

Vince there are some systems out there that are designed for that, but for the life of me cannot remember the names.

JAN

I have inspected homes with a boiler and water piping through out the concrete slab. This was even in the garage and the concrete balcony to the hot tub and the basement. It did a great job.

The other is electric that would probably limit the floor covering to laminate so that the electric would not be damaged. Depends on the methods installed.

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,1548320,00.html

Picture 3 of 4 on the left of this link shows the floor matt for electric.

Here is a good picture story of how they put it in.

http://www.radiantcompany.com/details/grade.shtm

Thing is most are installing before the concrete is poured. What do you do after it's been poured and the pad and carpet are removed and the floor is cold now that hardwood is installed? l

Amazing the things you don't think about until you do the action.

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