Hardwood floor underlayment
#1
04-28-20, 12:30 PM
Hardwood floor underlayment
I am having 3/4" oak strip hardwood floors installed over a 5/8" plywood subfloor. What is the right underlayment to use between the oak and the plywood. I am concerned about floor squeaks and moisture. The floor is above a sometimes damp basement. The floor joists are insulated with kraft faced batts.
#2
04-28-20, 03:17 PM
Group Moderator
I don't think you need to use anything.
Possibly tar paper if you think there may be a problem.
Possibly tar paper if you think there may be a problem.
#3
04-28-20, 03:33 PM
Member
95% of the time if you get a squeak it's between the flooring boards, the flooring just lays on the sub floor so not much to rub against.
So what is downstairs that you have an insulated floor?
Tar paper is the norm, they now have a silicon paper that can be used, it touted as being slippery for the wood, there you go, and does not out gas like the tar paper can for people that are sensitive!
So what is downstairs that you have an insulated floor?
Tar paper is the norm, they now have a silicon paper that can be used, it touted as being slippery for the wood, there you go, and does not out gas like the tar paper can for people that are sensitive!
#4
04-28-20, 04:25 PM
Group Moderator
If you have squeaks, they need to be fixed NOW... if the original subfloor was nailed you would want a big heavy guy to walk around to identify and squeaks... then pull any squeaking nails, and replace with screws. 5/8" is a little thin for a nail down floor... I would fix any dips with floor leveler, then overlay it with 3/8" cdx. Run it the same direction, but stagger all the seams, and don't screw into any joists. Just sheathing to sheathing with screws 8" on center. Then felt paper rosin paper on the floor.
#6
04-29-20, 05:36 AM
Member
Damp basements should be resolved in the basement but would not be an issue on other floors.
Insulation inside a conditioned space is not required and I wont say it's not a local requirement but that would be the first time I have ever seen that required!
Insulation inside a conditioned space is not required and I wont say it's not a local requirement but that would be the first time I have ever seen that required!
#7
04-29-20, 10:34 AM
It's required by our local building office for sound quieting between floors. My basement isn't conditioned so it is required there also. Between floors is is unfaced batts. The basement has kraft faced batts.
