Wood flooring with underfloor heating

[Deleted User]

Hi,
I have at the moment underfloor heating which is a few inch below concreate and carpet. Now the wife want to put wooden floor throughout the flat it only a small flat bout 25 sqm for the rooms we want done. Now before i get quote few qs i want to ask the experts

1 Is this possible as wood will expand when heated up... or do i need to use certain wood?

2 Anything i should ask the guys when they come over to quote

3 people mention membrain cover to stop damp?? really as 5 years of living there no rasing damp

Thanks in advance

bluetuesday_2

No expert but I read about underfloor heating a few months back as we were considering it.

1 - not sure about expanding but I think real wood floor and underfloor heating don't mix well as the wood insulates against the heat so you won't feel the heat so much. How much heat you would get is probably dependant on the wood, but it will be less than the carpet

2 - probably ask questions 1 and 3

3 - carpet absorbs any damp and allows it to air dry. Wood will just rot. You don't NEED damp proofing, you can test by laying clear plastic sheet over the concrete and leave it for a while. Look for condensation. If you see it, that's damp. If you don't see any then you don't need damp proofing. Either way you can get underlay that acts as a moisture barrier so if in doubt (and if you intend on using underlay) I'd buy that

Doozergirl

You do need engineered wood rather than solid. Solid will expand and contract too much and isn't compatible with underfloor heating.

A damp proofing barrier won't hurt, iyswim. I presume you're ground floor if you're considering it?

Ianwzzz

It is engineered wood flooring you need. Check with the manufacture/supplier before you purchase that it is suitable with underfloor heating. I purchased mine from Topps Tiles, they were very knowledgable about what wood was suitable with underfloor heating.