I've been installing 3 1/2" maple flooring, and I've been installing it over 15# felt paper (tar paper or roofing felt). Up to this point, the felt paper from roll #1 has worked great, and I've noticed that it doesn't make a sticky noise when you walk across it. However, I've come to rolls #2 and #3, and both seem to be much stickier/tackier when they're laid down. For example, when I walk across the area from the first roll (just tar paper with no hardwood yet), I can walk across almost silently. However, when I walk across the area with either roll#2 or roll#3, my shoes stick much more to the paper (and also the paper sticks more to the subfloor), and I hear the loud "shhhhttkkkkk" noise with each footstep. It's not like walking on gum, but it's certainly stickier than the first roll. These were all purchased at the same time from the same manufacturer, but they seem to be quite different.

Should I be concerned with this, or should I be doing anything differently? Maybe I'm just a little hyper-sensitive to this issue due to some previous problems that I faced with the old subfloor having some noise issues. (That issue turned out to be that 2 layers of the subfloor had a layer of felt between them, and the top plywood had loosened over the years, and needed to be refastened to lower planks and to the floor joists.)

If your subfloor is stiff ( no flex ), you should have no problems. Once the flooring is well nailed, there should be no movement to cause that stick then release noise.

Gary, thanks again for the valuable words of wisdom. Before reading your response this morning, however, I went out and bought a couple new rolls of felt last night. These new rolls are much less tacky. I pulled up the row of the tacky stuff, put down the new felt, and there's a dramatic difference! Much less "sticky", and also, the smell is much less objectionable on the new felt. I just wonder if it was a bad batch of tar that was used, even though all the rolls are the same brand, etc.

I guess, for a roof, it doesn't matter too much. But, for an interior, where noise and smell can have a major impact, the stuff just seemed a little "off". Oh well, I can use the tackier paper on the barn roof come summertime. Thanks for your answer - at least I won't have to wonder if I made a mistake.
-George

QC is not very high on roofing felt. It need not be. I did a lot of roofing once upon a time and you'd get it from all end - super sticky so your boots would tear it up to the opposite extreme where the paper wasn't fully impregnated. It's about the line speed when they're doing the impregnation.