I ordered my new floor for the great room today. Prefinished red oak 3/4 x 3 1/4 rift and quartered by Shamrock Plank Flooring. Installing over 23/32 OSB with 2x10 floor joists 16"OC. I have done my research and will be installing myself. I have some questions that I could not find answers for:
1.I want to reuse my oak shoe molding but its only 1/2" thick. Since I am using rift and quartered flooring, do I have to have a 3/4" gap between the wall and the floor or would 3/8" gap be ok?

2.The room is 20X30, cathedral ceiling, over an unfinished basement. Rosin paper, 15#asphalt felt, or spend the bucks on sound barrier underlayment? Will this room have an echo no matter
what I use?

3/8 will be fine. Most of the time the sheetrock is up off the subfloor enough to give you an additional 1/2". 15# felt or aquabar dont go the rosin paper route. it will echo more for sure.

Are you sure the OSB is in pristine condition? If it were my house......

Won't really know until the carpet comes up. There may already be an underlayment installed, but I would guess ,no.

My curiosity got the best of me and I pulled a corner of carpet back to look. Did not see OSB. This is good.

Still have a long wait before my order arrives. Is there anything I need to do while I wait?

Pull up the carpet and check for flatness, squeaks.

That step was planned for later. Probably waiting 4 more weeks before the floor leaves the mill.

Is a four foot level good enough or do I need a longer straight edge?

Just curious how your shamrock flooring turned out. Are you happy? How much per sq ft? We're cosidering Shamrock. Hoping it's within our budget. Any pics? Thanks.