Bamboo flooring and radiant heat?

brad_14

I have a verticle 5/8" bamboo floor glued down using joist track and outdoor reset with a variable temp between 80 and 120. No major problems after 2 years. I probably should use some humidification in the winter as it can get very dry in our Northern BC climate. As a result of none there is some shrinkage, nothing major probably almost typical. Bamboo is great but it scratchs just like anything else. Glueing seems to add some ability for movement but adds about $1 a square foot.
cheers
Brad

Big Will

Bamboo flooring and radiant heat?

We are bidding a radiant in-floor heating system for a customer that wants bamboo flooring. The flooring contractor doesn't think the bamboo will stand up to the heat (even though it will NEVER go above 83 degrees). Has anyone come across any problems with bamboo flooring? We're not sure if it is the laminate or engineered hardwood that they are having installed.

J.C.A._3

I'll be watching this one too.

I have a rather large job going on right now that will be using bamboo for the largest portion of the main floor.

Inquiring minds want to know. Chris

Ted_9

I've done a couple of jobs with the 5/8th bamboo without a problem. Also one laminate floor with bamboo. No problems, all work very well. But I did the engineering work and research before and new it would work. I would like to do radiant and bamboo in my own home.

jp_2

if it can't take

83F then it surely can not be installed by any windows facing east,south and west. sunny floor areas can easily hit 100F.

Big Will

My thoughts exactly

If the slab has been cured and completely dry. Then the sun would have more damage potential than the heating system. In northern California radiant floor heating is still rare and too many contractors are putting systems in that run too hot. I have seen a lot of warm floor systems that have 95 deg or higher floor temps. The flooring guys are very concerned after seeing this. I have e-mailed a flooring manufacturer I will post the response if I get one.

WV EGBERT_2

no problems

I just went thru one heating season on a recent project with 5/8" nail down. No problems yet.
As mentioned. treat bamboo floor surface same as hardwood. No more than 85* at surface. Bamboo also needs to acclimate well to home. We had the heat on.

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Chris S

bamboo

I was on a job where the bamboo was ruined in part of the house. It was however due to excessive temps, the damage was near a manifold that wass running 120 degree water into a slab. The resyt of the house held up OK though ( lower temps) This job was very poorly done, and not set up properly- hence the damage.
New installation, 2200 s.f home 180,000 btu CI standing pilot boiler, 2 rooms never connected, no snow around the house ( in February) & why is my LP bill so high?
get the picture?

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Big Will

I heard from one manufacturer

They said that its fine as long as you lay two layers of 1/2 inch ply over the slab that float and are running opposite each other.