Hardwood Floor Underlayment?

Davoud wrote:
> Is it necessary or desirable to use a soft underlayment when installing
> 3/4" nail-down hardwood flooring on 3/4" plywood sub-flooring? The
> floor is above ground level.
>
> A Google search turns up a bewildering array of underlayments, but
> details on applications are often hazy. If you have used an
> underlayment such as I described I would be obliged if you could name
> the brand and/or type (material, thickness, means of attaching to the
> sub-floor, e.g.)

Do any of them describe the purpose of the soft underlayment?

I have read that years ago heavy roofing felt (tarpaper) was
sometimes used between hardwood flooring and solid timber
underlayment. The result was a non-squeaking floor. The
felt acted as a cussion, glue and vapor barrier. It is not
clear which of the three was the original purpose.

If you understand _why_ something is done the way it is,
then probably you can decide what and how to do it for
yourself. If you _misunderstand_ why something is done
the way it is, you can produce a real disaster.

--

FF

Never liked tar paper used inside a house. Offgassing of the tar or pitch,
whatever they use, is not for me. I used a special heavy waxed paper that is
made for under hardwood floors. Certainly made it easier to slide the boards
together, and to drive them home.


"Mike O." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sun, 16 Apr 2006 14:57:09 -0400, Davoud <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>Is it necessary or desirable to use a soft underlayment when installing
>>3/4" nail-down hardwood flooring on 3/4" plywood sub-flooring? The
>>floor is above ground level.
>
> All of the installers we work around use felt (tar paper) under solid
> hardwood flooring.
> Under the laminate flooring they use some kind of thin blue foam pad
> which I think is recommended (if not required) by the manufacturer.
>
> Mike O.

On Sun, 16 Apr 2006 14:57:09 -0400, Davoud <[email protected]> wrote:

>Is it necessary or desirable to use a soft underlayment when installing
>3/4" nail-down hardwood flooring on 3/4" plywood sub-flooring? The
>floor is above ground level.

All of the installers we work around use felt (tar paper) under solid
hardwood flooring.
Under the laminate flooring they use some kind of thin blue foam pad
which I think is recommended (if not required) by the manufacturer.

Mike O.

On Sun, 16 Apr 2006 14:57:09 -0400, Davoud <[email protected]> wrote:

>Is it necessary or desirable to use a soft underlayment when installing
>3/4" nail-down hardwood flooring on 3/4" plywood sub-flooring?

No. It is necessary to be sure the plywood is good quality and nailed
firmly to prevent squeaks. My old home has a hardwood rough plank
base and then harwood flooring nailed onto that. Jumping up and down
on it is like jumping up and down in the paved driveway ...solid.

On 16 Apr 2006 14:36:40 -0700, [email protected] wrote:

>I have read that years ago heavy roofing felt (tarpaper) was
>sometimes used between hardwood flooring and solid timber
>underlayment. The result was a non-squeaking floor. The
>felt acted as a cussion, glue and vapor barrier. It is not
>clear which of the three was the original purpose.

I use 15lb felt or rosin paper, just because that's what all the good
local installers do. The paper or felt is cheap and easy to install
before the floor, and very difficult to install after the fact.

Am I wasting my money? Maybe. But I'd HATE to get a whole room done
and find that I should have used it. <G>

An average room needs maybe $10 worth of rolled material, a few
staples, and maybe an extra 30 minutes to roll it out and cut it.

You decide...

Barry