Cobrakillerta
Member
I just bought my first home last February which needed a bit of updating. The house was built in 1964 and is mostly all original. Besides the basics, I've redone the kitchen myself (new tile floor, new cabinet doors/drawers and sprayed cabinets) as well as a 1/2 bath....My house is built on a concrete slab and I'm right near the water on the south shore of Long Island with many canals/etc. in the area.
The main entryway is an area of about 425 sq/ft (13x13 section, leading into a 11.5x19.5 section and a 5.5x5.5 cutout on the right going into the kitchen and bath). The current flooring is slate tiles leading into ugly blue carpet. I'm ready to rip up both floors and put down hardwood in the entire area.
I measured the moisture of the slab in different locations with a handheld meter to be at 14%.
Yesterday I ordered Harris Traditions SpringLoc engineered in the Red Oak Colonial finish.
My questions are as follows...
1. How long does the flooring need to acclimate before being installed?
2. Since I have a long straight run of 32.5' is a 3/8" gap appropriate?
3. Before I lay the first row, how should I go about measuring the area? Do I just lay the first row 3/8" off the wall and just lay right across or is there adjusting to do?
4. After I rip up the slate and carpet, how should I go about prepping the slab, removing all the glue etc that may be left behind?
5. I was looking at first laying down a 6mil vapor barrier.
What is the correct way of doing this? How far up the walls do I go? What do you guys recommend to use exactly, just regular poly sheeting or is there something better? Is there a preferred tape and method for the seems? How much should I overlap the seems?
6. My next planned step is going with the Roberts 3 in 1 "Airguard" underlayment as it seems to get good reviews, unless you guys recommend something better? Should I lay the 6mil vapor barrier and the underlayment in opposite directions?
I figure the 6mil vapor barrier and then the underlayment with the built in vapor barrier would give me added insurance against moisture.
Any insight and info you could give me is greatly appreciated!
I can't wait to get this done and finally finish this entryway
The main entryway is an area of about 425 sq/ft (13x13 section, leading into a 11.5x19.5 section and a 5.5x5.5 cutout on the right going into the kitchen and bath). The current flooring is slate tiles leading into ugly blue carpet. I'm ready to rip up both floors and put down hardwood in the entire area.
I measured the moisture of the slab in different locations with a handheld meter to be at 14%.
Yesterday I ordered Harris Traditions SpringLoc engineered in the Red Oak Colonial finish.
My questions are as follows...
1. How long does the flooring need to acclimate before being installed?
2. Since I have a long straight run of 32.5' is a 3/8" gap appropriate?
3. Before I lay the first row, how should I go about measuring the area? Do I just lay the first row 3/8" off the wall and just lay right across or is there adjusting to do?
4. After I rip up the slate and carpet, how should I go about prepping the slab, removing all the glue etc that may be left behind?
5. I was looking at first laying down a 6mil vapor barrier.
What is the correct way of doing this? How far up the walls do I go? What do you guys recommend to use exactly, just regular poly sheeting or is there something better? Is there a preferred tape and method for the seems? How much should I overlap the seems?
6. My next planned step is going with the Roberts 3 in 1 "Airguard" underlayment as it seems to get good reviews, unless you guys recommend something better? Should I lay the 6mil vapor barrier and the underlayment in opposite directions?
I figure the 6mil vapor barrier and then the underlayment with the built in vapor barrier would give me added insurance against moisture.
Any insight and info you could give me is greatly appreciated!
I can't wait to get this done and finally finish this entryway
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