Hardwood Flooring Underlayment

Jonny85

I have laid several hardwood floors (mainly 2"-3 1/2" Oak planks) over subfloors using construction (red rosin) paper and once the company I worked for used 30lb roofing felt paper. I was talking to a friend who considered underlayment to be a waste of time and not neccessary. I am wondering if anyone here could tell me their opinions or experiences with hardwood flooring underlayment, is it a waste of time and money? Are floors quieter when underlayment of these types are used?

Thanks.

PrecisionFloors

I'd consider his advice on hardwood flooring installation to be a waste of time and unnecessary in the future, if I were you.

The purpose of 15lb or (30lb if you wish to pay more) felt is two fold. It provides a vapor barrier and also reduces squeaking, originating from a wood to wood friction that would result without it. Wood moves. A lot. Think of the felt paper as a sleeve that separates the two surfaces, that also happens to be a pretty good vapor barrier.

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fixitpete

I'm just a stupid rough-hammer framer. But I would think a flooring guy that doesn't use ANY underlayment is a stupid flooring guy.

Just IMHO.