Ok - here's one more observation that I have found on my hardwood install. Just curious if anyone else has observed the same thing.

When I roll out the asphalt paper on my plywood subfloor it is perfectly flat. I staple it down. Next day, the asphalt paper is no longer flat - it bubbles up (as much as 3/4" - 1") all over the place. I am doing one bedrom at a time and it has happened consistently in every single room. I am on my second roll of paper - same thing.

To fix it, I removed the staples, stretched the paper out a bit by skidding on it with my running shoes and then re-staple. That takes care of it. In the latest bedroom, I only stapled a few spots until the next day when I stapled it down more securely.

I can't figure out what the phenomenon is that causes this. Anyone else experience the same thing?

Don

gained moisture and swelled.

Just install it upside down. No need to staple.


Moisture, Ray?

That used to be a problem for us on new-construction jobs. We'd get carried away with putting more paper down than we'd cover in a day, and come back the next day to just what you described - a big wrinkled mess.
We fixed the problem by just not putting down more paper than we'll cover in day.

Chuck, what do you mean by installing the paper upside down? I'm trying to figure out how you'd even roll it out that way?

DC

Yeah. It's a real "gordian knot" style of brain teaser.

You roll out a shot and then flip it over. It takes about 20 seconds to reverse a long one. You wind up getting back that time and then some by not having to mess with the felt any further.

LOL, Chuck, Yes, I guess flippin it would do it.

DC

Around here, I think it expands from temp variations. I've patterned vinyl for a long time with felt paper, and it isn't uncommon to see the paper grow, after it's unrolled. I do the same as Chuck, but use my 18" lino dolly at the wall to hold the felt, as I pull it off the roll. No flipping.

Tried flipping the asphalt paper as Chuck suggested, along side of rolling it out the "standard" way and got the same ripples by the next day. Flipping the asphalt paper seems to marginally reduce the rippling, but not significantly.

In my case, the rippling can't be due to temperature differences - the roll has been sitting for a month in the room where it was laid.

Gains moisture? Hmmm. Interesting - but it seems a bit difficult to believe that asphalt impregnated paper would gain enough moisture to cause it to blister like this.

I suspect there is a logical explanation. I just can't seem to put my fingers on it right now. If anyone else has an idea, I am all ears!

Has it been stored standing on end? I'll bet a dollar it is egged out.

Hi Chuck,

The roll was stored on end.

Don