i am getting ready to lay engineered maple floor over a crawl space.

I have been told to use 15 pound felt (roofing) paper as a vapor barrier. I have ALSO been told to NOT use a vapor barrier.

Who is right? Use a vapor barrier or not?

Help!

Gary

Hi Gary,

I suppose they could both be right, but under different circumstances.

Is there a vapor/moisture barrier in the crawl space? Is the 'floor' of the crawl space earth, concrete, cinder block, or what?

So long as there is a vapor barrier in the crawl space that covers the bottom & goes up the walls under the floor, another vapor barrier under your engineered flooring is probably not necessary. However, some people will still use some sort of a barrier under the engineered flooring to muffle sound.

Felt paper isn't a vapor barrier. Raven Industries vapor barrier is a great product that would be good to use under the new flooring, on top of the subfloor.

We are looking at an engineered pre-finished wood product. The boards are 3/8" and the brand is Roma. We certainly are not knowledgeable about this subject and of course everyone has a different opinion. This product will be used in a foyer, hallway, master bedroom, and kitchen with the kitchen being our main concern. Are you familiar with the Roma name brand and would you consider this product for your kitchen?

Hi Debra, No, I'm not familiar with the Roma brand and I'm not finding much of anything when I google. Is Roma the manufacturer or the style?

Thanks so much for your quick response. I found out that Roma is made by Versini and I believe they are based in Texas. I was told that it is a 7 ply and that it normally retails between $3 and $4 dollars per square foot. I did find it in one place for $2.82 sq. ft. I've had a few dealers tell me that the engineered wood is fine for the kitchen but you never know if they are just trying to sell you something. One salesperson told me that the engineered flooring is actually structurally more sound than real hardwood flooring. Regardless, we don't have a choice because we are on a concrete foundation so we are limited to the engineered flooring if we are going to have wood. I think I want wood but I really just want a good floor. I do have the option of a high end vinyl from Congoleum.

Hi Debra, According to Versini's website, it only has a 15 year warranty when used in a residential setting, while all their other lines have a 25 year warranty when used in a residential setting. So............ I doubt if I'd use it in my own home and would opt for one of the other lines that has a much longer warranty.

Another consideration: The Roma line is only for nailing, stapling or gluing - not floating - some of their other flooring products can be floated. If you were planning on using it for floating flooring, then this would void even that 15 year warranty.

Thank you. I didn't realize that 15 years was a relatively short warranty. We are planning to glue the floor down to the concrete. The man who is selling the flooring has it reduced to $2.49 a sq. ft. as his wife ordered an abundant amount to get a trip and now he wants to move it out of the showroom. This man said he would not float the engineered wood flooring.

Well, at least you were planning on having it installed using a correct method for this particular line. $2.49 sq/ft is a great price and if you don't mind a 15 year warranty vs. 25 years, then that's up to you of course. You can actually get a little more life out of it if you ever had to refinish it - you just have to be careful not to sand past the hardwood surface, obviously. By all means, if this is what you want, then do it -- I've always been of the mindset that if I'm going to be putting out a lot of money for something, might as well get what I think is going to be the most economical in the long run.

I don't know if you've shopped around for prices of other engineered hardwood flooring, but this could well be a case of where the price is too good to pass up even if it is only warrantied for 15 years..........

You are so kind to share your knowledge with me and others that are trying to decide about their floors. We did check on some prices and actually found an engineered wood by Bruce that we really liked. It was $3.45 sq. ft. and it also only had a 15 year warranty. I spoke with a friend of mine who owns a flooring business and she sells Versini hardwood products. She said Versini is an upstanding company and would stand behind their warranties should the need arise. She also said that the price really is good as it's below her cost for the Roma. However, I do know that sometimes spending a little more for a better product is to our benefit. If we do decide to go with the Roma or one of the other brands would you be comfortable with engineered wood in the kitchen? I've considered Congoleum Ultima Sheet Vinyl in the kitchen and just putting the wood in the foyer, hall, and master bedroom but I'm wondering if keeping the flow of the same flooring would be more attractive. Of course, durability means about as much as a good look. I'm probably obsessing way to much over this decision but I know I won't have the option to change flooring again for several years.

Hi Debra,

I don't think you're obsessing at all - afterall, it's a decision you're going to have to live with for years to come! Personally, I wouldn't have engineered hardwood in my kitchen, but that's just MY preference, mainly because I'm in a rural area and my family has a tendency to track in mud - it's horrible after it's been raining. I much prefer stone or linoleum for my situation.

I do know that some people put down an additional coat or two of floor finish on their engineered hardwood, which I think is a very good idea for an area like a kitchen. It is going to depend on what the manufacturer recommends too, as you don't want to void their warranty.

Some people prefer the same type flooring throughout most of house, to give the floors a more consistent, streamlined look, while others want each room to have it's own distinct personality. Again, it's a matter of personal preference. I don't know which you're striving for.