using moiture barrier under hardwood; does it really help?

Bruce recommends using either ordinary vinyl or "Armstrong Vap Arrest" as a moisture barrier when installing over concrete (As seen in Bruce's Hardwood Installation Instructions). They don't seem to require any moisture barrier when the wood is installed over an ordinary subfloor (OSB, waferboard, or Plywood).

Mannington has three underlayments they recommend: AquaBarrier, ComfortBarrier, and Whisper 3N1 (As seen in Mannington's Hardwood Installation Instructions). They seem to be more focused on sound dampening for two of the three... Remember that hardwoods should never be installed below grade, which is where a moisture barrier is really needed.

All that to say, perhaps the manufacturers are figuring out that tar paper isn't needed for most floors, and where it would be useful is in basements or humid environments where hardwood shouldn't be anyway.

Dont use tar paper it is made for the outside and the chemicals in it are not very good for you ,wax paper is very slippery,use Aquabar spicifically for hardwood,acts as vapor barrier,above and below grade levels,the best product i have ever used and i have used them all. And a barrier should be used always in my books to protect your self from wood on wood squeaking .Some guys never use and say you dont need it ,but it makes your job cleaner and protected from elements from below.

WOW,manufactures wanting you to use tar paper,do they not realize the harmful carcingens(i think thats how you spell)and the smell,and not very green ,for the customer that has to live in the house ?Our economy is ever changing to try and be healthier and green ,I think they have to be brought up to speed for the consumer.Aquabar is a little pricy not much.They all say it is a myth until you see it first hand about wood on wood squeaking.When your fasteners penetrate the substrait it sometimes causes fratures that rub on the above hardwood,or hits a knot and causes the same.I did a tear out of a floor once that was sqeaking everywhere,i put aquabar paper when i reinstalled the floor and no more sqeaking.Also dirt and drywall dust left in the cracks gets pushed up the air coming from your nailer,yes i have vacumed but some is ipregnated in cracks .I have been an installer for 15 years in the field ,how many manufacture reps have been in the field to know whats real and whats not .Remember you always have to protect yourself as a installer from a job gone wrong or a customer sueing you for potential use of wrong materials .

Yes i have used about 6 different papers ,becareful on the wax paper very slick,i have tumbled on it

oh yes. I know of a company who had a one day seminar for thier reps regarding how to blame somebody else when a product acts up. really it comes down to install or site related in thier eyes

interesting. so its not always our fault?

yes. if you are given a lesser product to work with, then the end result is lesser.

what i mean is ; say you install a chinese product with knots filled and milling defects galore. Then the customer sees it and says it doesn't look like his mother in laws select and better red oak floor.Its our fault because they dont look the same?

If products are made in canada or usa i feel very coffident installing them

I was a grader for 6 years in a reman plant