Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Correcting a dried out subfloor over a heat source?

I am in the process of installing Brazilian cherry strip flooring in our master bedroom and our walk-in closet. The rooms are on the second story, with the closet directly over the room that houses our oil burner (baseboard heat). The closet has always been the warmest room in our house.

The subfloor in the closet is very dry and brittle. I assume that the rising heat has dried the wood out over the years (about 30). I am going to replace the closet subfloor this weekend with a good exterior grade plywood. How do I properly protect the new subfloor (and the Brazilian Cherry that will eventually sit on top of it) from the drying heat of our oil burner? Is there some special insulation specially suited for this?

Thanks in advance for your wood-laying wisdom.

I take it you're asking about insulation around or above the oil burner, not some type of insulation that lies between subfloor and finish floor. That would be the way to go (any insulation on the floor would be too thick). Though you would probably have code issues to worry about if you're considering some kind of jacket, enclosure, heat shield, whatever, around or above the oil burner.

Libor- Thanks for the quick response. Because I am replacing the subfloor, I will have access to the space where the floor joists are (above the 1st floor sheetrock ceiling and below the 2nd floor subfloor). So I am referring to insulation that I could place in that space.

Found an answer to my own question at my flooring manufacturer's website. Here's a quote:

"Protect flooring from excessive heat. Flooring installed over a heating plant or un-insulated heating ducts may develop cracks unless protection from the heat is provided. Use a double layer of 15 lb., or a single layer of 30 lb. asphalt felt/building paper, or ½" standard insulation board between joists under the flooring in these areas. Over a heating plant the insulation used should be non-flammable."

If anyone has other thoughts, please post them.

chris
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