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#1
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Hardwood floor installation
Planning to lay 3/4" hardwood floor soon to my upstairs (2nd floor
bungalow). Watched a few you tube videos to see if there is anything I can still learn. Some videos show a barrier between the hardwood and subfloor, some simply shoe hardwood on the subfloor. What are reasons to use it and/or not use it? |
#2
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Hardwood floor installation
On Fri, 25 Apr 2014 21:15:35 -0400, Meanie
wrote: Planning to lay 3/4" hardwood floor soon to my upstairs (2nd floor bungalow). Watched a few you tube videos to see if there is anything I can still learn. Some videos show a barrier between the hardwood and subfloor, some simply shoe hardwood on the subfloor. What are reasons to use it and/or not use it? Why not just point us to the videos, we can then see what you are referencing? Reasonable stuff matters. |
#3
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Hardwood floor installation
On Fri, 25 Apr 2014 21:15:35 -0400, Meanie
wrote: Planning to lay 3/4" hardwood floor soon to my upstairs (2nd floor bungalow). Watched a few you tube videos to see if there is anything I can still learn. Some videos show a barrier between the hardwood and subfloor, some simply shoe hardwood on the subfloor. What are reasons to use it and/or not use it? My hardwood supplier said to use the membrane over board subfloor, but don't bother over sound plywood. I did as they said and installed my hardwood without the barrier membrane. |
#4
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Hardwood floor installation
On 4/25/2014 6:15 PM, Meanie wrote:
Planning to lay 3/4" hardwood floor soon to my upstairs (2nd floor bungalow). Watched a few you tube videos to see if there is anything I can still learn. Some videos show a barrier between the hardwood and subfloor, some simply shoe hardwood on the subfloor. What are reasons to use it and/or not use it? Normally, a vapor barrier is recommended under any type of flooring. Maybe it's not an issue on upper floors. One source claimed that a laminate floor was "quieter" with the spongy backing. Maybe that's more of an issue on upper floors. I did my first laminate room with black plastic vapor barrier. The rest used the recommended spongy stuff. Can't say I can tell the difference. |
#5
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Hardwood floor installation
On Fri, 25 Apr 2014 21:10:02 -0700, mike wrote:
On 4/25/2014 6:15 PM, Meanie wrote: Planning to lay 3/4" hardwood floor soon to my upstairs (2nd floor bungalow). Watched a few you tube videos to see if there is anything I can still learn. Some videos show a barrier between the hardwood and subfloor, some simply shoe hardwood on the subfloor. What are reasons to use it and/or not use it? Normally, a vapor barrier is recommended under any type of flooring. Maybe it's not an issue on upper floors. One source claimed that a laminate floor was "quieter" with the spongy backing. Maybe that's more of an issue on upper floors. I did my first laminate room with black plastic vapor barrier. The rest used the recommended spongy stuff. Can't say I can tell the difference. A free floating interlock floor should have the recommended underlay foam to take up the motion and stop noise. A nailed down or glued down floor does not need the cushion. If installing hardwood flooring above an unheated space, a vapour barrier might be adviseable even over a solid plywood subfloor, but over "conditioned space" it is not required. |
#6
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Hardwood floor installation
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#7
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Hardwood floor installation
On 4/25/2014 9:30 PM, Oren wrote:
On Fri, 25 Apr 2014 21:15:35 -0400, Meanie wrote: Planning to lay 3/4" hardwood floor soon to my upstairs (2nd floor bungalow). Watched a few you tube videos to see if there is anything I can still learn. Some videos show a barrier between the hardwood and subfloor, some simply shoe hardwood on the subfloor. What are reasons to use it and/or not use it? Why not just point us to the videos, we can then see what you are referencing? Reasonable stuff matters. I did a search in You Tube for "how to install hardwood floors" |
#8
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Hardwood floor installation
On 4/26/2014 12:10 AM, mike wrote:
On 4/25/2014 6:15 PM, Meanie wrote: Planning to lay 3/4" hardwood floor soon to my upstairs (2nd floor bungalow). Watched a few you tube videos to see if there is anything I can still learn. Some videos show a barrier between the hardwood and subfloor, some simply shoe hardwood on the subfloor. What are reasons to use it and/or not use it? Normally, a vapor barrier is recommended under any type of flooring. Maybe it's not an issue on upper floors. One source claimed that a laminate floor was "quieter" with the spongy backing. Maybe that's more of an issue on upper floors. I did my first laminate room with black plastic vapor barrier. The rest used the recommended spongy stuff. Can't say I can tell the difference. Noise is my main concern. Currently the subfloor, which we painted and had bare for some time now, is squeaky in spots. I plan to walk throughout the entire floor and add some screws to those squeaky areas prior to installing the hardwood floors. Then a co-worker stated the barrier can also serve as a noise suppressor, thus, leaving me to wonder if I should still add it. |
#9
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Hardwood floor installation
| Noise is my main concern. Currently the subfloor, which we painted and
| had bare for some time now, is squeaky in spots. I plan to walk | throughout the entire floor and add some screws to those squeaky areas | prior to installing the hardwood floors. Then a co-worker stated the | barrier can also serve as a noise suppressor, thus, leaving me to wonder | if I should still add it. If it's solid wood flooring the standard practice is to use rosin paper under it. (The faded red paper that comes in 3' rolls.) |
#10
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Hardwood floor installation
On Sat, 26 Apr 2014 07:44:50 -0400, Meanie
wrote: On 4/26/2014 12:10 AM, mike wrote: On 4/25/2014 6:15 PM, Meanie wrote: Planning to lay 3/4" hardwood floor soon to my upstairs (2nd floor bungalow). Watched a few you tube videos to see if there is anything I can still learn. Some videos show a barrier between the hardwood and subfloor, some simply shoe hardwood on the subfloor. What are reasons to use it and/or not use it? Normally, a vapor barrier is recommended under any type of flooring. Maybe it's not an issue on upper floors. One source claimed that a laminate floor was "quieter" with the spongy backing. Maybe that's more of an issue on upper floors. I did my first laminate room with black plastic vapor barrier. The rest used the recommended spongy stuff. Can't say I can tell the difference. Noise is my main concern. Currently the subfloor, which we painted and had bare for some time now, is squeaky in spots. I plan to walk throughout the entire floor and add some screws to those squeaky areas prior to installing the hardwood floors. Then a co-worker stated the barrier can also serve as a noise suppressor, thus, leaving me to wonder if I should still add it. I putover 20 lbs of screws into the subfloor of my living toom and dining room before I but down my hardwood. About 300 sq ft. Just had to be carefull when using the nailer not to hit a screw. I ruined 3 boards by not being carefull enough. Those cleats turn into miniature horseshoes in a hurry when they find a screw!!!! |
#11
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Hardwood floor installation
On Sat, 26 Apr 2014 07:44:50 -0400, Meanie
wrote: On 4/26/2014 12:10 AM, mike wrote: On 4/25/2014 6:15 PM, Meanie wrote: Planning to lay 3/4" hardwood floor soon to my upstairs (2nd floor bungalow). Watched a few you tube videos to see if there is anything I can still learn. Some videos show a barrier between the hardwood and subfloor, some simply shoe hardwood on the subfloor. What are reasons to use it and/or not use it? Normally, a vapor barrier is recommended under any type of flooring. Maybe it's not an issue on upper floors. One source claimed that a laminate floor was "quieter" with the spongy backing. Maybe that's more of an issue on upper floors. I did my first laminate room with black plastic vapor barrier. The rest used the recommended spongy stuff. Can't say I can tell the difference. Noise is my main concern. Currently the subfloor, which we painted and had bare for some time now, is squeaky in spots. I plan to walk throughout the entire floor and add some screws to those squeaky areas prior to installing the hardwood floors. Then a co-worker stated the barrier can also serve as a noise suppressor, thus, leaving me to wonder if I should still add it. One other thing you might want to do if the floor is accessible from below. Make sure all the cross braces are good and tight I screwed about a dozen that were iffy and it made a big difference - got rid of the one nasty squeak in the dining room. Luckily it is over the furnace room - the only unfinished ceiling in the whole house. It is 9X12 feet with 2X8 framing on 12" centers - long way , with 2 of them doubled(4 feet apart) and a double header between them about 16" from the wall under the sliding pattio door. Don't know why it was done that way unless it was toallow the concrete sill for the patio door to sit on the foundation where the joists would normall have seated. |
#12
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Hardwood floor installation
On Saturday, April 26, 2014 8:16:18 AM UTC-4, Mayayana wrote:
| Noise is my main concern. Currently the subfloor, which we painted and | had bare for some time now, is squeaky in spots. I plan to walk | throughout the entire floor and add some screws to those squeaky areas | prior to installing the hardwood floors. Then a co-worker stated the | barrier can also serve as a noise suppressor, thus, leaving me to wonder | if I should still add it. If it's solid wood flooring the standard practice is to use rosin paper under it. (The faded red paper that comes in 3' rolls.) That's what I thought too. The other obvious question would be what does the product manufacturer's instructions say? Every flooring company I know of has a website with documents, instructions, FAQs, etc. |
#13
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Hardwood floor installation
On Fri, 25 Apr 2014 18:15:35 -0700, Meanie wrote:
Planning to lay 3/4" hardwood floor soon to my upstairs (2nd floor bungalow). Watched a few you tube videos to see if there is anything I can still learn. Some videos show a barrier between the hardwood and subfloor, some simply shoe hardwood on the subfloor. What are reasons to use it and/or not use it? It is my understanding that an open subfloor will allow moisture to come up on the backside of your wood flooring, posibly causing it to 'cup' Hoever, solid underlayment, such as large sheets of ?? will not allow that ingress of moisture. IMO, I'd use the membrane, since it seems required in one case and 'maybe' not required in the other. Seems like it can't hurt. and having it would be good insurance aginst cupping. |
#14
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Hardwood floor installation
On Saturday, April 26, 2014 10:27:43 AM UTC-4, Robert Macy wrote:
On Fri, 25 Apr 2014 18:15:35 -0700, Meanie wrote: Planning to lay 3/4" hardwood floor soon to my upstairs (2nd floor bungalow). Watched a few you tube videos to see if there is anything I can still learn. Some videos show a barrier between the hardwood and subfloor, some simply shoe hardwood on the subfloor. What are reasons to use it and/or not use it? It is my understanding that an open subfloor will allow moisture to come up on the backside of your wood flooring, posibly causing it to 'cup' Hoever, solid underlayment, such as large sheets of ?? will not allow that ingress of moisture. Where is the alleged moisture coming from? It's the second floor of a house, not a slab. IMO, I'd use the membrane, since it seems required in one case and 'maybe' not required in the other. Seems like it can't hurt. and having it would be good insurance aginst cupping. |
#15
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Hardwood floor installation
On Sat, 26 Apr 2014 07:39:32 -0700, trader_4 wrote:
...snip... Where is the alleged moisture coming from? It's the second floor of a house, not a slab. True, I didn't notice the added description of 'upstairs', utnil you asked where the moisture was coming from. Breathing? A LOT of breathing? Ok, then, cooking? As I said, since it costs so little to do, and provides so much potential benefit, why not? I know, braces/belt philosophy. |
#16
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Hardwood floor installation
"Meanie" wrote in message
Planning to lay 3/4" hardwood floor soon to my upstairs (2nd floor bungalow). Watched a few you tube videos to see if there is anything I can still learn. Some videos show a barrier between the hardwood and subfloor, some simply shoe hardwood on the subfloor. What are reasons to use it and/or not use it? Dust. If the sub is ply, forget a barrier. -- dadiOH ____________________________ Winters getting colder? Tired of the rat race? Taxes out of hand? Maybe just ready for a change? Check it out... http://www.floridaloghouse.net |
#17
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Hardwood floor installation
"Meanie" wrote in message
... On 4/26/2014 12:10 AM, mike wrote: On 4/25/2014 6:15 PM, Meanie wrote: Planning to lay 3/4" hardwood floor soon to my upstairs (2nd floor bungalow). Watched a few you tube videos to see if there is anything I can still learn. Some videos show a barrier between the hardwood and subfloor, some simply shoe hardwood on the subfloor. What are reasons to use it and/or not use it? Normally, a vapor barrier is recommended under any type of flooring. Maybe it's not an issue on upper floors. One source claimed that a laminate floor was "quieter" with the spongy backing. Maybe that's more of an issue on upper floors. I did my first laminate room with black plastic vapor barrier. The rest used the recommended spongy stuff. Can't say I can tell the difference. Noise is my main concern. Currently the subfloor, which we painted and had bare for some time now, is squeaky in spots. I plan to walk throughout the entire floor and add some screws to those squeaky areas prior to installing the hardwood floors. Then a co-worker stated the barrier can also serve as a noise suppressor, thus, leaving me to wonder if I should still add it. I decided to install a hardwood floor "myself" recently rather than hiring an outside hardwood flooring contractor. By "myself", I mean that I used an individual that I know who does a lot of construction work for me and we did it ourselves -- meaning that he did most of the work with me helping. In my case, the subfloor was old 3/4-inch tongue and groove subfloor planks across the floor joists. I did what you are doing -- watched all of the YouTube videos etc. and I never could quite get an exact answer regarding whether to do any kind of underlayment etc. I also saw that people use either red rosin paper (which is really inexpensive), or they use 15 or 30 pound roofing "felt", which costs more but is still cheap. I wanted a barrier because I wanted to prevent dust from coming up through the imperfections and spaces in the tongue and groove subfloor. I also wanted some type of sound barrier between this second floor apartment floor and the apartment below. I ended up doing both -- I put down 30 pound roofing felt first and put red rosin paper on top of that. I added the red rosin paper over the felt because the videos seemed to suggest that it would make it easier sliding the hardwood pieces in place. I don't know if that was true or not -- it didn't seem so. But, I also didn't want to walk on the black roofing felt and track black marks onto the new hardwood that I was putting down. And, I didn't overlap the roofing felt -- I made the butt joints. Then the red rosin paper covered those seams to prevent dust from coming up through those seams. I also decided to buy my own pneumatic hardwood floor nailer rather than rent one. I looked around to find one that was on sale and I bought one for $149 -- I think it was a Norge, and it was from Lumber Liquidators which currently are selling for a lot more than that. But, I just now did a quick search and Harbor Freight has one on sale for $149: http://www.harborfreight.com/2-in-1-...ler-97586.html .. Buying one was way better than renting because it took us a lot longer than I thought that it would to do the job, so I didn't have to worry about getting the job done in a hurry so I could get a rented nailer back to a rental place. And, if you buy one -- especially if you have access to an air compressor -- definitely get a pneumatic floor nailer, not the cheaper manual ones. But, I do know someone who bought and used a manual one to do his own hardwood floor and, even though it involved more work, he said he was okay with that. I used the L cleats instead of staples. Before starting, we went over the whole floor and the contractor person I know used a pneumatic nailing gun and put in a zillion screw-type nails (spiral nails?) to make sure the subfloor was tightly nailed to the floor joists everywhere. --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com |
#18
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Hardwood floor installation
On Sat, 26 Apr 2014 07:59:24 -0700, RobertMacy
wrote: On Sat, 26 Apr 2014 07:39:32 -0700, trader_4 wrote: ...snip... Where is the alleged moisture coming from? It's the second floor of a house, not a slab. True, I didn't notice the added description of 'upstairs', utnil you asked where the moisture was coming from. Breathing? A LOT of breathing? Ok, then, cooking? As I said, since it costs so little to do, and provides so much potential benefit, why not? I know, braces/belt philosophy. One good reason NOT to use it is my earlier mentioned "horseshoe" effect. Can't see the screwsnd nails in the subfloor through the paper ant it is a royal pain when the nail comes back up at you through the face of the hardwood. |
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