Anyone with underfloor heating under engineered wood have rugs?

[misterhankey]

I recently moved into a house with underfloor heating and engineered oak boards in the sitting room. As we have just knocked two rooms together we are having to change the floor. The UF heating seems to work much better in the kitchen under tile, but I would much prefer a wooden floor in the sitting room. The thing is, it seems that rugs over engineered wood over underfloor heating can cause damage to the boards as the boards are not supposed to heat up to more than 27 degrees. I don't think I could live without rugs, so I'm considering stone flags instead (less cosy and not sure if it will be weird in a sitting room). The house is an old stone built cottage. Does anyone have underfloor heating under an engineered or parquet floor and if so, do you have rugs?

Yes, but decorative only.

The heat does not come through the rugs as well as the floor, so I limit the number of rugs.

I would be surprised if you were needing to run your heating high enough for the boards to reach 27 degrees. I run mine at 21 degrees on the thermostats. I know that is air temperature, but I am sure my boards are not reaching 27 degrees.

Thanks for your reply - I wonder whether the boards could get to 27 degrees under a rug though. Are your rugs long or short pile? Anyone else have any experience with this?

I have engineered oak flooring with UH and I've had a rug on it over the winter (moved in last summer).

Never heard that this might be an issue. Floor seems fine at the moment....hope it won't warp/get damaged in time!!

So all I can say is that it's been ok over one winter (and I like to keep that room fairly warm).

Is this something someone mentioned to you OP?

Yes. Ceramic tile does conduct the heat way better so the cats are always to be found sprawled in the kitchen. We have rugs over engineered oak but they don’t cover the whole floor- cut inside the sofa rather than outside of that makes sense - definitely more floor than rug. Do you have the plan of wehere the heating elements are? Might be helpful for furniture placement too!

(No issue with the floor which is immaculate after12 years and short pile 100% wool in one room, long pile synthetic / wool mix in another, but only small. Furniture all raised on legs rather than sitting on the boards)

Thanks, all very helpful replies.

I've seen in a few places that you shouldn't put rugs over UFH. Presumably wood manufacturers covering their arses? I've also
read that you should only cover UFH with a certain number of togs, but hardly anyone tells you how many togs their product has.

I've found some nice sandstone flags that I like but I would much prefer wood, not least because you can refinish it, whereas if I get a big stain (pets, wine, child) on stone, it's there forever, even with the best sealer (I have tested!).

Please, more people tell me that you have rugs over your engineered wood so I can justify risking it! :)

I've never heard this
I have 12 year old engineered oak boards with rugs over never had a problem.

I have both Short and Long pile Woo, rugs on top of Engineered Wood.

As I said earlier I run my heating at 21 degrees and have no issues apart from the fact that the rugs don’t conduct the heat through. So they are not as warm to walk on as the uncovered boards.

I have just felt the underside of the long pile rug and while it is marginally warmer than the bare board the difference is hardly discernable. I am certain they are not getting up to 27 degrees.