Radiant Floors

Radiant flooring is becoming more and more popular. People are installing them in their new houses as a source of an efficient way to heat the home.  Being that this is the way that the construction is moving, being a individual that is involved in the flooring industry education is the best thing that I can offer when you start looking for a flooring.

Radiant flooring…

Until recently radiant floors was a type of floor that we knew about to  a point, but we were not very educated on the flooring Do’s and Do Not’s until a recent client was looking into the flooring and enlightened me with a bit of information.  At that point I needed a bit more so that I could share it with you!

There are a few different types of radiant flooring but whatever the type not all flooring loves to be installed over radiant flooring.

First off, if you have a radiant floor and you aren’t sure about the compatibility be sure to contact the manufacturer for their recommendations.  This will ensure your warranty and allow the manufacturer to let you know how they would recommend the install of your flooring.

1.       The first and ideal choice is TILE or STONE.  These flooring's conduct heat very well, and they do not expand or contract and are very resistant to warping or cracking.

2.       CARPET works well for radiant flooring.  Although they do not conduct heat as well as the tile and stone.  Low pile carpet with a thick pad is ideal.

3.       LAMINATE flooring;s should be used with caution.  Installation is important to make sure that the underlying concrete is dry for minimal changes due to heat and moisture.  This should help avoid getting warps and cracks in the flooring.  The adhesives are also important to consider when thinking about the install of your flooring.

4.       Although vinyl is not an ideal choice for heat conduction there are some vinyl flooring's that can be installed on radiant floors.  The radiant flooring needs to be set to the manufactures specifications that will limit the temperature.

5.       The last choice that should be considered is WOOD and BAMBOO.  This isn’t saying that wood and bamboo cannot be used. It is just stating that you need to be very careful, and keep temperature/ humidity control.  Wood is not a static material meaning that it can swell and contract with temperature and moisture in the air, causing warping or cracking.  Knowing this if you let your flooring acclimate accurately, letting your radiant floor run for 72 hours before taking the delivery of the flooring but the heat for the flooring should never exceed 85 degrees.  Then store the flooring in the room that it will be installed with the radiant floor turned on helping the floor acclimatize to the moisture content in the air.  Another thing to take into consideration is that not all wood species are ideal.  Look at what species suits you and your needs best.  For example moisture fluxes affect maple different than it does Oak or even Brazilian Cherry.  Another thing to consider is narrow planks adjust better to the heat than the wide plank flooring, that is ¾ inch thick. 

a.       Recommended wood flooring's are OAK, MESQUITE, TEAK, AMERICAN WALNUT, AMERICAN CHERRY these woods are more hard and resistant to the moisture fluxes.  Soft woods like pines and firs are less resilient/ stable with the moisture but are easier to secure to your floor

                                                               i.      ENGINEERED WOOD is made up of several different layers of wood or fiberboard that is much like plywood or particle board.  The way that this floor is constructed makes this a better option because most of this type of floor can be ‘floated’ and use a moisture barrier pad, this can make the install over concrete ideal.  Make sure you check the adhesive and wood construction will be compatible with your floor. 

ALWAYS consult the manufacturer to determine whether your flooring type is suitable for installation over radiant flooring and whether the installation over the radiant floor will affect product warranty. 

There are so many sites with so much information... These are just a few that I used.

Sources:

Thanks to google.com for the images

http://www.hoskinghardwood.com/radiant-heat/

http://learn.builddirect.com/flooring-info/heat/radiant-heating/

http://www.ehow.com/info_8031097_flooring-radiant-heat.html

Change can be a good thing.

After living in a home for a while, it is nice to make some changes to personalize your home.  Looking at what you want, what works for your life style and making a compromise doesn't have to be as hard as you may think. 
This is my uncles beautiful home with kids and an active life style they chose some things that could keep up with them.  After looking around getting suggestions and looking at lots and lots of different ideas for flooring this is a little glimpse of what they came up with.

This is in the mud room. A wall of custom cabinet lockers for all the gear they use for activities.  Organized space makes it easy to find, grab, and go.

A glance into the kitchen. Custom cabinets with a spot for the toaster and other things in the cabinet roller doors and lots of cabinet space.  On the floor is Adura. I have mentioned it numerous times before but I will mention it again. I love the LVT (luxury vinyl tile/ wood)

In the dining/ kitchen area there are some more custom cabinets lining the wall.

(another view of these cabinets)

This is a custom free standing cabinet in the kitchen.

And... a sitting/ study nook! I love the chandelier and the wallpaper in the background!

Showing you the LVT in the living room! So beautiful! I really loved the way this looks!

( and another view!)

(another :)...)

This is the tile in the downstairs bathroom shower. On of my favorites! A porcelain tile and the picture doesn't do the color justice! 

This is the custom cabinets built in to the rooms.  I like the turn it takes to closets.  Gives me some ideas of my own! Cabinets on the top drawers on the bottom!

Both LVT... The great thing about the floors being level is that when they meet up to each other they don't need to have a transition molding.  This is one of the many things that I love about the LVT.  Also being that they are made of the same thing you can clean the tile and the wood with the same cleaner with out having problems.

Another view in the kitchen...

To the bathroom! one of my favorite transformations! (sorry I don't have any before and after pictures...)

LVT on the floor and tile around the tub.

Custom cabinet in the corner with the tile tub surround!

The cabinet in the bathroom was still in great contdition so they painted it and put a new grainte counter top on it and replaced the hardware. 

Close up on the tub surround!

(and another!)

(another)

(another) where the small and big tiles meet!

A different view of the custom cabinet!

I hope this gives you a few ideas of your own. I love the different colors that were used and the 'out of the box' looks that were applied! Looks amazing! I love that way that all the colors and looks tie together and give the home a warm inviting look!

Flippy House coming to a finish

So it has been a long time coming... but the house is almost finished (phew!) The knotty alder cabinets and grainte countertop with engineered wood flooring.  We also got a new microwave oven for over the stove are to get a fan for over the stove.  From here on out the pictures of the house will dwindle until it is complete. We are going to creat an 'unvealing' of the house when it is complete.  We are pretty excited about it.