Hello all, I am new to hardwood installing but have tackled LOTS of home improvement projects over the years. That said, I have a few questions regarding the install:

1. I am installing the wood (solid hardwood) in the kitchen in the second story of a house. I will be nailing it down. The floor is currently linoleum. It is solid sheet linoleum with a tile like pattern so there are slight indentations in the linoleum where the "fake grout" would be if that makes sense. Can I lay the hardwood over the linoleum? If not, and I have to take up the linoleum, do I need to put down a moisture barrier?

2. Right now the linoleum transitions to the other rooms (which are carpeted) with a small brass strip nailed down with the carpet tucked underneath. The hardwood is about a half inch (5/8 I think). What should I use as a transition between the hardwood and the carpet, and do you have a picture or a web link so I can see it?

Thanks for your time!
Cheers,
Ray

You should be fine with the linoleum ..

Be certain that the underlayment is not particle board.

Thanks guys. I might have an issue then. What I have is standard plywood subfloor. Then it has 1/2" particle board underlayment for the linoleum, and then it has the linoleum. Do I need to remove the linoleum and particle board underlayment, or can I just nail through both into the plywood subfloor?

Also, if I have to remove everything and get down tot he subfloor before I install, do I have to put a moisture barrier then, and if so, what type? Thanks for the help.
Cheers.
Ray

I would take it out and replace it with plywood .. Use a 15 lb felt [tar paper]. on top of the plywood ..
I like to leave the plywood in the house a few days before i install it ..

Even though the subfloor is already plywood? Are you saying I need to put plywood over plywood with felt paper in between? Why not just lay it ont he plywood subfloor. I could remove the linoleum and the particle board (that is nailed to the plywood subfloor) and just nail the wood directly to the subfloor. Would that work?

Also, that is a lot of work. What is the danger of just nailing through the linoleum and particle board into the plywood underneath? Thanks!

If the plywood is at least 5/8 " you are fine .. I just thought you might have a height issue with your other floor .. The felt goes on top of the plywood then the wood .. cut the length you need and flip it over , it will lay flat and not try to roll up .. no need to staple it .. particle board has no holding power , Remove it .. Remember the floor has to be flat 1/8 " in 6 ' or 3/16 " in 10 ' ..

Thanks Nick. That said, if I wood over the existing linoleum and particle board and nail through them into the subfloor, will I have any issues later on down the line, or is height the only issue I am worried about?

You are not going to get enough staple into the plywood for one to hold the wood due to the angle the staple goes in to the floor .. Set your rip saw the depth of the vinyl and PB and cut some two foot strips .. not hard to remove ..

Thanks Nick! That makes sense.
Cheers,
Ray

My Pleasure .. Good Luck .. Don't forget to post a photo when you're done ..

Absolutely! Should be about a week. I just thought of one more for you. I have two entrances into the kitchen where I need to use transitions onto carpet.

The new hardwood is 3/4" since I will be removing the linoleum and 1/2" particle board underlayment, I anticipate that the actual transition will be about a 1/4" What do you recommend for the transition, and do you have a link or picture of the setup?

Are you saying the floor with the wood will be 1/4 ' lower , or higher ?
if you can post a drawing or photo we can help you figure out where to start ..

The floor with the wood will be 1/4" higher than the carpet. So I would need a transition DOWN to the carpet.

Use a chamfer bit and router a slight angle on the 1/4" that is higher than the adjacent floor. If you do it with the groove side facing the other floor material you have a channel to tuck carpet into or if it is a hard surface: you can rip the bottom of the groove off to allow for expansion space by re-routering the groove and cutting the bottom off again. Now this piece would overlap and still have room for expansion.

I do it all the time and it is a seem-less transition that is fully integrated with your floor.