Any words of wisdom on underfloor heating and parquet flooring?

[Wigglyparty]

Just that really. It would be my preferred option but I don't know how realistic this is. T'internet tells me that we'd need engineered wood blocks to cope with the heating but can anyone who has done it or who know more tell me whether it works? Does it heat the room sufficiently? Is it cripplingly expensive? Any other pitfalls I should look out for?

This thread might be worth reviewing Wiggly.

Ours isn't parquet though, it looks like floorboards. All the rooms are warm and I'd say it is no more expensive to run than the radiators were, but without the hotspots and draughts that we had with the radiators.

the blocks will shrink with the UFH. I imagine they will come loose and rattle. Ply, and engineered flooring which is a fancy ply, is much more stable.

I have seen a hardwood parquet floor that domed and lifted when it got damper than when it had been laid.

Thanks that's really helpful. Any recommendations on suppliers/ fitters out there?

Costs will depend a lot on whether you are doing the heating with electricity or an extension from your central heating circuit.

The UFH will take a while to heat through the floor if it is wood (and therefore a reasonable insulator compared with tiles for example) and so the heat won't be as quick and accessible as a radiator. You may need to leave it on for long periods of time. Otherwise it can be a great way of comfortably heating.

You need to talk with the flooring manufacturers about how each product will stand the UFH. I wouldn't put anything down without a warranty for a good long time when used with UFH. Wood tends to swell, crack and move and it'll have to be specially engineered for the situation.

I have a friend who has this in her kitchen. Says it is the one thing she would have done differently. She doesn;t think the heating is enough to merit the cost, and the kitchen is reasonably warm anyway with wooden floors, well-insulated doors to the garden and warmth from cooking, appliances.