I'm using a click lock engineered flooring, bamboo, and I had some questions about the underlayment.

1. Most people here are saying 30# felt paper. I'm installing over 5/8" ply there is carpet and hardwood down now. There is a finished basement underneath so moisture is not really a concern. Is 30# roofing felt still the best choice?

2. Should I just but the seems of the paper?

3. Can I staple the paper down during installation to keep it from moving around? Using a basic utility stapler?

Thanks.

Jeff

Where did you see anyone recommending 30 lb. roofing felt? When asphalt felt is recommended here, it's typically 15 lb, not 30. The only time we mention 30 is to use as furring strips to help even out dips in subfloors. Since you are going over an existing hardwood floor with a floater, you should be able to just roll out your foam underlayment and install over that. Make sure you remove the carpet, pad, tackstrip and all the staples and nails. Remove and set aside the baseboards to re-install later. Check for flatness. Then install the foam underlayment. Don't use the 2 in 1 or 3 in 1. Those have vapor barriers built into them and you don't want that in this scenario. Then lay the floor. I will sometimes place a few staples in the foam underlayment to help keep it from sliding around.

Thank you very much for your help. I'll just use the foam underlayment then. I'm actually going to be removing an existing hardwood floor in one section. Is there anything I need to know before doing that. It's oak and I'm going to assume it's nailed down to the subfloor as it was original with the house.

Jeff

Anyone ever heard of Sound 6 underlayment? Is it good quality? Good price? I found it online for around $.90/sqft. Thanks.

Jeff

Couple more questions. I have my flooring in hand I got 1/2" engineered bamboo click lock flooring.

1. I have a 30' run, should I allow for more expansion at the ends in that section than the other sections that run 12'-15'?

2. Any thoughts on cutting out the drywall behind the baseboard to allow for room for the flooring to expand so that I won't have to use quarter round? If the drywall is 1/2" and the baseboard is 1/2" I could put it maybe 3/8" from the bottom 2x4 of the wall to allow for expansion and contraction so that if it contracted I wouldn't see the end and if it expands it won't buckle. Is this a good idea? Thanks.

Jeff

2) Yes, you can undercut the drywall to allow for additional expansion. Add about 1/8 to 1/4" to the width of the flooring. So if the flooring is 1/2", then undercut up about 5/8" to 3/4". This will gain you an additional 1/2" unless your home uses another thickness of drywall on the walls.

I don't know anything about that one. The best by far I have personally use is called Sound Solutions (sold right here). The most important issue is getting your substrate as flat as you can get it.

I couldn't find the underlayment section of the sales portion of the web site. But I finally found the sound solutions you were talking about. It is a 2-1 product which Gary said I shouldn't use since I'm laying it over 5/8 ply on the first floor of my house and I have a full finished basement.

Jeff

you can use the one with a moisture barrier if its over plywood (would reccomend it). Gary was refereing to if it was being put down over exsisting hardwoods.

Unfortunately this website does not sell the Sound Solutions Underlayment seperate from the flooring.

Jeff