Hi all, We recently purchased our first house. We have ripped out all of the carpet, and our Mercier solid oak flooring arrived yesterday. My question is, what would be the least toxic underlayment you all have used?
This guide will help you achieve the results you want whether you install the underlayment and flooring yourself or hire a contractor. The Purpose of this Underlayment. Top brands: QEP Roberts, Bellawood, Bildermann's; Felt underlayment prices: $0.75 to $1.25 depending on density and thickness. Felt underlayment. Apr 29, 2014 - 3 min - Uploaded by MP Global ProductsHow to Install Laminate Over Concrete (Day 1) - Duration: 8:23. Ken Moon - Moonpie Creations.
I need to buy the underlayment before the installer starts work next week. The flooring will be nailed down both upstairs and downstairs. (Noise reduction for the upstairs would be a plus). I was considering just waxed brown paper, but then I started worrying about what happens if either of our children spill something on the floor? Would it just leak through and the paper disintegrate?
Also, the main reason we are buying hardwood floors is for our children. Our oldest daughter suffers from asthma and is also a cancer survivor. So, while I know I cannot protect her from everything toxic in the world, I would like to minimize her exposure to multiple chemicals.
(I won't buy tar paper to use for the underlayment.) Thank you all in advance for your suggestions! Not an underlayment answer but have you checked out carpet versus wood for asthma suffers? I'm sure it has been proven that carpet holds in the stuff that makes kids sick instead of always being airborne.
They pulled the carpet out of schools and found out the kids were missing school more often than when they had a hard surface down. Schools are going back to carpet. I guess another alternative to tar paper would be rosin paper. You don't say if it is going to be a nail down or floating hardwood.
If it's a nail-down (or glue-down) hardwood installation, then you won't be able to use any cushioning under it. The first few days may be quiet walking, but then the movement will cause all the nails to come loose and squeak, squeak, squeak. If you are concerned about sound, use a floating floor. Many people think hardwood is the answer to allergens.
Carpet doesn't cause allergies, the pollen and dust, etc. That floats through the air does. Carpet traps those particles much better than hardwood does.
Proper maintenance of the carpet will remove those allergens efficiently. I'm not trying to talk you out of hardwood. I prefer hardwood too, but not for false reasoning. The only thing that will work as both a padding and sound deadening is an eco friendly foam or rubber padding. Simply look for products that have 'green' and allergy tested certificates like the ones I've listed above. Just because many of these products are 'green' does not make them good for allergies. And yes, real linoleum like Forbo is as expensive as wood, but will also outlast wood, have lower maintenance, and is naturally antimicrobial.
Here is Forbo Linoleums actual certifications and recognitions. As underlayment goes, cork is one of the best against allergies and toxins. Sadly, you are using a nail-down installation = not allowed to use cork underlay. If you wish to glue the wood in place OR use a floating installation (not normally used with solid) then cork is your answer for asthma, non-toxic, acoustic performance. Your choice of installation is what is hampering your 'underlay/underpad' choice. It is possible to use a glue down install on SOME forms of solid hardwood.
You would have to check with the manufacturer if your installer can move to a glue down install with the same product. The cork would be glued down. The glue would cure (usually over night.or 24-48 hours.depending on product) then the wood is glued to the cork. This approach can double the installation/labour costs and double (or even triple) installation duration. For this reason, a glue in place hardwood is not a prefered practice for those installers who are accustomed to nail in place. But it would allow you to use cork underlay and get the benefits of acoustic insulation. There are dozens of good underlayments that can be used under nail down floors.
I use them all the time. Just make sure that the floor is properly fastened with cleats and not staples.
Most are a little thicker than 1/16' so movement is not an issue, and the floor will not squeak. As a matter of fact, I was at a friends house last weekend that I nailed down over 'deluxe' sound deadening, moisture barrier pad, and not a single squeak. Just make sure what you buy is designed for nail down wood installation. I used this.Bellawood Platinum on this job and many others.
Thanks for your help. I just ordered some VersaWalk. Hopefully it will get here in time. I really would have liked linoleum. We are not in a zone of NJ where people understand what linoleum is. I asked a lady in the flooring department of Home Depot, and she swore up and down that I was asking about vinyl flooring. I was concerned that the specialty stores around here that do carry linoleum wouldn't have installers with a lot of experience.
For now, the wood. And once we find out our experience with the VersaWalk, I will try to post so that it might help someone else. You went to Lowe's and Home Depot.
They are usually NOT flooring professionals. You avoided going to a real flooring store that sells real linoleum (and other types of flooring), which would require them to have access to real professional installers. I don't think some of us are so concerned about what type of flooring you get, but it concerns me that your logic is askew.
We've tried to help. You're allowed to take what you like and leave the rest. But I think you left some very valuable information on the table and decided, instead, to take advice from people who don't know enough about the products you want. That was kind of a rude reply. I said in my initial post that we had already purchased wood flooring. I did research. I purchased it from an independent retailer (not a big-box store).
He wanted to sell me aquabar, and I don't want any form of asphalt under my flooring. I was asking people here on this forum if they had any suggestions for health conscious underlayment, but a lot of you jumped on the linoleum bandwagon. I can't switch now. Nobody came up with any suggestions but the Bellawood underlayment. Of course I went to Lowes and Home Depot. I looked at every option. And yes, there is one place somewhat close that says they sell real linoleum, but as I said it is as expensive as wood and I read anecdotal stories online where people had problems with linoleum installation.
They ended up with wrinkles. I don't live in Portland or Austin, or somewhere where people care more about these sorts of things.
No need to jump on my case. I'm already a stressed mom with too much on my plate. I thought it was funny that the lady at Home Depot was so ill-informed. I will also say that most people use forums because we hope that the people who frequent them have experience that we don't.
I appreciate the people who share pertinent advice. It does help.