Bamboo Over Radiant Heat?

—–Original Message—–
From:
Date: Sat, 17 Feb 2007 17:47:49
To:
Subject: inquiry

Steve

I have been trying to get some answers to my question about radiant heating in the floors of the home we are preparing to build. I checked out the bamboo flooring at iFloor and found a note that radiant heating is NOT recommended with the Ming Dynasty Bamboo Stained: Burnt Mocha Horizontal. I’m very interested in the product due to the color, and was disappointed to find that it’s not recommended for my application. I intend to use the radiant heat, so I guess your product is out. I looked on line at bamboo flooring in general and found comments that the material is a very good match for radiant heat.

What’s the deal? Why is your product not recommended?

We are going to make a decision real soon, so if I don’t hear back from you right away we’ll just have to go elsewhere.

Thanks in advance for your response’

Mike

90% of bamboo can NOT go over radiant heat. (If this is just a heat pad – then i am less worried, but if it is a typical radiant installation then take caution.

Why? Bamboo can often be too sensitive to temperature, humidity and moisture fluctuations in the “solid” bamboo construction. Remember that all bamboo is not created the same way and the low end bamboo in particular would be risky on radiant.

Anybody who says otherwise hasn’t tested it.(that is the clean version) I have tested it – many times in many different ways including paying labs to perform certain analysis.

Only a floating bamboo with a wood or hdf substrate can take it and even that is not as good as a 7-9 ply engineered wood floor. (Bellefloor, westhollow engineered, springwood if you want bamboo, some mannington with 7 plys are better choices for radiant)

No matter what floor you choose I highly recommend that you manage the humidity in your home.

Best of luck. We just want you have a successful project

Ss