ᐅ Underfloor Heating and Timber-Framed Houses?

Hello everyone, does this make sense? Is it possible to install underfloor heating (even afterwards) in a timber-framed house? Or is that completely out of the question due to the wooden elements?

Best regards

Hello AntOnia,

Yes, that is certainly possible. My mother owns a timber-framed house that is a listed building. Therefore, the floorboards are not allowed to be removed. A construction company took on the project and installed underfloor heating. The underfloor heating system was installed on top of the existing floorboards, and then parquet flooring was laid over it. So technically, it is a clean and proper solution.

Best regards

Hi Luca, so they installed the heating directly on the wooden plank floor? Hmm, I’m not sure if that’s a good idea, since old wooden planks usually have gaps underneath and are open at the bottom. Below that, there’s typically a beam structure and an earthen floor. This means the heat can escape downwards, which could result in a significant loss of energy (and money) 🙂

Hello,
Just as Henry describes, a lot of money is lost that way. Therefore, my suggestion is to remove the old floorboards first and then install insulation. Afterwards, put the floorboards back in place, install the underfloor heating, and lay parquet flooring on top. However, a professional should handle this.
Best regards

Hello,

I would involve an architect for this task. Then, of course, it needs to be checked how the floorboards look. If they are still in good condition, simply lay a floor on top. To me, that is the easiest solution without neglecting the historic preservation requirements.
Best regards

then simply lay a floor over it.

I believe this is the worst solution for a listed building. The build-up heights are altered by the underfloor heating. Therefore, reinstalling the original floorboards is only conditionally possible when using underfloor heating.