Wood Floor And Rosin Paper Over Radiant

cyepsen

I'm installing Doug Fir T&G over 3/4" plywood that has staple-up radiant underneath. I'm considering skipping rosin paper. I know the paper helps the flooring boards slip into place nicely, but does it do anything else? I don't need the vapor barrier. The basement slab below has radiant in it, too. I think I heard once that it coats the nails to minimize squeak, but that sounds minimal.

brianosaur

Besides making the install go smoother, I personally dont find that it does all that much for vapor, though it probably does some. I use 15lb felt.

Technically, nothing is called a vapor 'retarder' now -not barrier - because it will not completely STOP vapor. Except maybe plastic sheeting. (Like sunscreen, Not sunblock anymore).

Why wouldn't you want to use it though? I mean like $8 for 400-500 sq isnt that expensive is it? Not compared to how much are you spending on the hardwood?

PrecisionFloors

Not true. Bosticks MVP is a moisture retarder/ vapor barrier.

Aquabar is the best naildown hardwood underlayment that i know of. The reasoning behind felt paper is to act as a vapor barrier and to help eliminate squeeks.

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