Page 16 - Provenza Floors Hardwood Guidelines Consumer Flipbook 2023

It is the Owner/Purchaser and Installer’s responsibility to ensure that the hydronic radi-
ant heat system is installed per the radiant heat manufacturer instructions and operat-
ing properly before proceeding to the hardwood floor installation.
Approved Provenza hardwood flooring:
• Engineered Oak products with multi-layer plywood core only.
Approved radiant heat systems:
• Hydronic Radiant Heat
Installation methods:
• Floating installation.
• Glue Down – Using approved adhesive specifically designed for radiant heat instal-
lation.
Acceptable subfloor types:
• CDX Plywood
• Concrete – With a minimum compressive strength of 3000 PSI.
• Warmboard
Underlayment recommendation:
• Cork – Minimum ⅜" thickness is recommended for floating method only.
Heating Control Requirements
Radiant heat installations must have a heat control system that helps maintain a con-
stant baseline temperature and prevents overheating. Radiant heat temperatures that
exceed 85 degrees will damage the hardwood flooring and void the manufacturer war-
ranty.
Provenza requires that an exterior thermostat be installed and working at all times. Un-
like conventional heating systems which switch on as needed, radiant systems work
most effectively with hardwood flooring if the heating process is gradual with small,
incremental increases in relation to outside temperature.
Radiant Heating System Acclimation Process
The hydronic radiant heating system must be operational and heated for at least 7 days
prior to the installation of Provenza engineered oak flooring. Use an incremental control
strategy that brings the subfloor through temperature changes gradually.
This incremental strategy should include being turned on at least 3 days prior to instal-
lation at a temperature of 70 degrees; then, raised to 85 degrees for a period of 3 more
days. The installation site should be aired out every day to allow excess humidity to exit
the structure.
Once the radiant heat acclimation process is complete and the flooring is ready to be
installed, turn off the radiant heat system to let the subfloor cool down to room tempera-
ture for 3 to 4 hours.
Preparing for Installation
Before installation begins, it is the Owner/Purchaser and Installer’s responsibility to
ensure that the radiant heating system is functioning properly and is not on the same
circuit for other floor covering types (that may allow higher temperatures). Failure to do
so will cause excessive heat damage and shrinkage in the hardwood flooring and void
the manufacturer warranty.
Radiant heating systems create a dry heat that can lower interior humidity levels.
Provenza recommends adding a separate humidifier to the HVAC system to maintain
the required indoor humidity levels of 35%–55%.

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