engineered questions

[7echo]

Hi,
I am planning flooring for a small re-model on my home and have some questions. I will be hiring a pro for this job, about 800sq. ft. The wood will be going down on concrete. Some parts of the concrete are painted, some are bare, some still have vct. Due to the paint, and vct mastic that will be difficult to get up, I am thinking a floating engineered floor will be best. A few flooring contractors have suggested click lock, over a pad, and heavy mil plastic against the concrete.
I have a few questions-

Any particular brands you all like?

I see there are pads with built in moisture protection-is this a better way than thick mil plastic sheet?

If we are going with base board do you usually do the floor first, then the trim? Or trim out, flooring, then maybe quarter round?

Thanks in advance for your comments, all advice is appreciated!

[Nick Arrera]

Welcome to the site 7echo .. You still have to have the floor flat .. 1/8 " in 6 ' or 3/16" in 10 '
I would still put the Polly down and run it up the wall a couple of inches ..
Quiet step is a good pad ..

[tony lamar]

I use 6 mil poly and let the barrier on the foam be "insurance". Do the floors first then trim it out. If you must trim it first, 1/4 round could be done later. As to brands, I'm not real sure. It seems like Mannington has a decent fold and lock type floater.

[Barry Carlton]

I always use visquine with any laminate or floating floor. It's very cheap insurance. Be sure to flash it up the walls a couple of inches.

barry

[7echo]

Thanks for the replies so far.

OK, I will insist on a plastic liner in addition to the moisture proof pad.

What about brands? And I see there are thickness choices- 3/8, 1/2, and 5/8 inch options.

[7echo]

Anyone familiar with Robina?

Also, I have seen Kahrs mentioned as a quality product but it is not available in my area. I called 2 local places on their dealer list and they 'don't stock it, but we can get it'. They had no samples or literature.

[Nick Arrera]

Wilsonart is a good one ..

[Jerry Thomas]

Kahrs makes a very good glue-less floating floor. I like Andersen too but the joints need to glued up. I prefer something at least a 1/2" thick and like the Sound Solutions underlayment underneath a floating floor. Do use a 6 or 8 mil poly and get the substrate as flat as possible to alleviate that hollow sound with foot traffic.