Sound dampening and hardwood: what are my choices?

[itsr0y]

I was wondering if someone could comment on my situation, which is almost identical to Turnip's. I also live on the fourth floor of a 1920's co-op in Washington, DC (the other city with Co-ops). The floor is concrete with the original cork floor on top. The cork is in terrible shape, and I want to (have a contractor) install hardwood. My co-op requires sound dampening. They suggested I install the floor on top of the existing cork, but I think I would have to use a floating floor, and I, like Turnip, am hesitant of choosing a floating floor because of the look and feel.

I went to Lumber Liquidators today and they said I can rip up the cork and glue down a 3/8" solid hardwood on top of Insulayment. The floor I like is the Bellawood 3/8" x 3" Select Brazilian Mesquite Pre-Finished Flooring. I don't really like the design of any engineered floors, and like the designs of the floating even less.

So, my question is, what is my best bet? Just go with floating on top of the cork, glue down an engineered wood directly to the cork, or rip up the cork and glue down the solid hardwood? I really like the design of the solid the best, but I'm afraid that this won't work well.

Also, does the Insulayment with glue-down work well?

Thanks!

[Jim McClain]

You replied to a topic that was more than a year old. Your situation deserves its own topic. I moved it here. I'm sure some of our pros will address this discussion soon.

Thanks for joining,

TFP Admin

[Floorguy]

Stay away from Lumber Liquidators and their bogus advise just to sell you more stuff that you don't need. Their wood looks good, but looks are very deciving. It is the junk of the industry.

Look for a nice floor such as Kahrs.

[Peter Kodner]

Lots of questions come up.

What kind of budget do you have?
Do you have any height concerns? Would raising the finished floor 1 3/4 inch above the concrete be feasible?

To do it the best way, I would advise new cork, plywood and a nail down site finshed floor. Definitely the most expensive, but by far the best.

I share your opinion on floating and factory finished (better term than pre-finished) engineered. I may differ from you in my favoring site finishing versus factory finishing. Nano technology (ceramic and metallic particles) is available for site finishes today and this eliminates any advantage factory finish previously enjoyed. The difference in the final look of a wood floor that has been sanded on site is immeasurable. You also have complete control over the color you stain it.

[Floorguy]

Mirage has had Nano finish for over a year on their prefinished.

[itsr0y]

Well, I don't want to spend a ton of money. I have 700 sq ft in three bedrooms, two small closets, a hallway, and a living room/kitchen. I got a quote from a flooring guy to install a Timbercreek floating floor for $7/sqft ($5600), and $8-$10 for glue-down. I think less than $7000 is reasonable.

Adding 1 3/4" might be too much. The floor would have to raise a lot from the hallway and from the bathroom, all my doors would have to be cut, and I would have to raise up the baseboards.

Considering the above, what would you recommend?

[schapman]

I don't want to hijack the thread but had a related question in the midst of getting final bids.

Is using 1/4 cork under engineered hardwood on a 2nd floor plywood subfloor install a worthwhile investment for added soundproofing or unecessary add on? Were talking 225 sqft for $355 installed for the cork add on (material/tax/labor).

It would be a nail or glue down install with or without cork. Does using cork mitigate the objections to glue down on 2nd floor plywood subfloor? (I know glue down had been ill advised on 2nd floor ply subfloor).

[stullis]

Cork is often used for sound suppression.