Just like metal surfaces, the planks of hardwood can reflect the same amount of heat as metal surfaces.
Since they were developed long ago, the effectiveness of hardwood floors has never been in question. However, there are some things you can do to insulate your hardwood floor to help reduce cooling loss.
So, do handwood floors make your house colder? Like metal surfaces, the planks of hardwood can reflect the same amount of heat as metal surfaces.
However, there are some things you can do to insulate your hardwood floor to help reduce cooling loss. For example, you can seal your hardwood floor with polyurethane sealant after you install them.
This sealant can also help reduce noise between floors and prevent scratching from missed shoes or furniture legs. You can also install an area rug in front of the hardwood floor and use a carpet pad between the rug and the hardwood to reduce noise and help insulate the hardwood from cold flooring.
Finally, you can also place rugs over the hardwood floor in rooms where you feel the cold from the wood floor.
Do Hardwood Floors Make Your House Colder?
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There is no one that prevents wood floors from heating a house than wood itself.
According to reports, the temperature of the hardwood floor may occasionally be lower than that of the floor covering and it introduces minimal heat loss.
These same claims refer to a lack of insulation as the principal reason for the heat that is lost through wood floor system.
Hardwood, on the other hand, is said to maintain a higher temperature than carpet and tile floors when exposed to direct sunlight.
Does Laminate Flooring Make Your House Colder?
Laminate flooring, which is constructed of various synthetic materials, is an affordable alternative to real hardwood flooring.
It may seem cooler to the touch for those switching from real wood, but laminate doesn’t actually get any colder or hotter than real wood based on your own personal body temperature and how well the room.
Because of the wooden nature, it may be chilly underfoot in the winter and toasty in the summer.
How To Keep Hardwood Floors Warm
Purchase a Space Heater
This is not usually essential for hardwood, but a great way to warm up some rooms would be to purchase a space heater that will sit on the floor and be placed only on the cold floor area.
The space heater will heat up the floor from below and help to warm the entire room, or areas of the house.
Otherwise, you may just want to add a towel or two underneath your bare feet or place a throw rug in the area to keep your toes warm.
Hardwood flooring retains heat well, but adding extra warmth with a space heater is a great idea if you don’t have central heating or other systems in place to warm up the home.
Just make sure the heat doesn’t build up too much and cause the laminate to buckle and warp over time.
Limit the Number of Doors That Open to the Outside
Using only one entry instead if multiple doors to the outside, if you can, can help keep the hardwood flooring warm.
Keeping heat inside keeps the air from becoming dry and in turn damaging the hardwood.
Eliminate Potential Air Leaks
When it comes to feeling warm while sitting in your living room on cold winter nights then hardwood floors are the best option that you can get.
The concept is that air is circulated around the house through large vents and the air is heated up in a central heater before circulating throughout the house.
This is similar with the heat that is normally generated by a hardwood flooring system where the hot air rises through the material.
You will be chilly if your furnace clicks on and off a lot or sounds louder than normal.
The same is with the hardwood flooring system and there is the risk of warping or buckling if the air becomes too dry or too hot over time.
You must eliminate any potential leaks in order to keep hardwood floors warm.
Windows are notorious for causing the most problems when it comes to getting into the home because cold air can enter in through cracks around the frame and the seal around the frame can deteriorate over time and allow cold air.
If you fix these air leaks, you’ll instantly make the house warmer without having to turn on the heating as often as before.
You may wind yourself blaming the hardwood flooring system for not keeping you warm but it’s probably the leaks that are dropping your heating bills and ruining the hardwood flooring system at the same time.
Use the Daylight
Hardwood may hold heat better in colder weather, but it can release heat more.
Keep your curtains open throughout the evening to let the sunlight in, and then close them when it gets dark in the evening to keep in the warmth.
Once the day’s extreme heat has passed, the sunlight will provide an additional source of warmth for your hardwood flooring system.
Use a Quality Rug
We know that wall-to-wall carpeting is one of the big choices amongst homeowners today, and while it may be practical, hardwood still has the upper hand when it comes to warmth.
However, having a little rug in each room can add to the warmth of your hardwood flooring system by insulating the floor underneath it and providing that additional layer of insulation against the cold hardwood floor.
Small carpets will not interfere too much with your flooring system, but a larger rug can actually damage the floor around it if not installed correctly.
They just do not take up enough heat to replace the heat lost through cracks in the wood floor.
Put a rug under your coffee table or next to the fireplace to create a warmer room.
Because these are the most typical places for people to sit, having your hardwood flooring system underneath you will help to keep you warmer and more comfortable while relaxing with your family or guests.
Examine for Drafts and Cracks
Sometimes the remedy is as simple as finding cracks and drafts in your home’s exterior and sealing them.
If you find it difficult to continually inspect your home for these cracks yourself, then consider hiring someone to do a walk-through from time to time to find the drafts and cracks.
What Is the Best Way to Insulate Under Hardwood Floors?
The first step is to determine how much insulation you will need depending on how cold it gets where you live and what season it is.
Fiber may be installed under your flooring system by professional installers or by yourself, though only professionals should be hired to install the plank hardwood flooring itself.
They act like a reflecting foil, thus reflecting heat and keeping the planks warm.
Finally, you have the option to use additional fiber to insulate your subfloor.
Also see: Can You Recycle Insulation?
Do Tile Floors Make Your House Cooler?
Yes, this is one case where tile can make your house cooler.
Installing tile flooring means you’ll no longer be blocking the heat that would normally be generated by your hardwood system into your home.
Even if it is hot outdoors, you will still be warm and toasty in any room where you install tile flooring.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while hardwood floors can be great insulators against heat, there are some steps you can take to insulate them further.
By sealing the floor and using area rugs and carpet pads, you can reduce noise and prevent scratching between the floor and furniture legs while reducing cooling loss in your home.
While hardwood floors are excellent at insulating against cold, the only way to keep cold air from entering your home is to seal your floor properly and use area rugs and carpet padding to reduce the friction.
On the surface, though, they may seem chilly to walk on – especially at first – and you might wonder if it will be worth the extra effort to keep them insulated and safe from damage.
Wood maintains heat efficiently and can help to insulate your home against cold weather, but you should be sure to take the necessary precautions when choosing your floor type to ensure Your home will remain comfortable and warm.
