Dealing with noisy well pumps, snow-blocked ridge vents and more
MOISTURE BARRIER UNDER ENGINEERED FLOORING Q What can I put down as a moisture barrier underneath engineered wood floor panels that are going down over concrete? I’m helping my daughter renovate a street-level store, and there’s only half an inch of space between the top of the flooring and the bottom edge of the door. The floor panels are bound with metal bands heavy enough that they won’t need to be anchored.
A The good news is that you probably won’t have much moisture to keep away from your wood floor. Given the limited space you’ve got, the best solution I can think of is the kind of foam underlay used below laminates. I have seen and used some that are made of the usual sort of foam, but they also have a vapour barrier layer on one face. The idea is that this stuff offers a little cushioning action under the floor (to make up for small flaws in the concrete), but also blocks moisture. Orient the moisture barrier side down during installation.
SNOW ON ROOFTOP RIDGE VENTS
Q Does it matter if snow drifts over the ridge vents in my cottage? This winter the snow covered all of them on our new timber frame place. Should I install taller vents?
A Blocked ridge vents might be a problem and they might not be. Before going to the trouble of adding vents, go up in the attic with a good light and see if there’s any evidence of frost building on the underside of the sheathing. A little is fine, but a lot would suggest that more snowproof vents are needed. Chances are you’ll be okay, but don’t leave this to guesswork. If you do discover water stains or even damp insulation, don’t panic. One winter without sufficient ventilation won’t be the end of the world.
A QUIETER WELL PUMP
Q Can you recommend a quieter water well pump? We live on a rural acreage with a jet pump and it’s noisy.
A Jet pumps are pretty loud and I’ve never seen any that are significantly quieter than others. The electric motor and the pump are outside the well, so there’s nothing to muffle the noise. If you want quiet performance, consider a submersible water pump. These sit down in the bottom of the well and are silent. The only noise is when the pump clicks on and when water comes rushing into the pipes. Submersible pumps never need to be primed. If you ever run out of water, just wait for a while then turn the submersible pump back on. There’s no need to pour priming water into the pump and pipes as you would with a jet pump that runs dry.
IS THAT LAMINATE TOUGH ENOUGH?
Q How do I know if a particular brand of laminate flooring will be tough enough? There are so many brands and prices.
A Look for something called the AC rating. These letters stand for “abrasion class” and it’s a numbered system from 1 to 5. An AC rating of 1 is fragile stuff. I’d never install it. AC 5 is very tough — durable enough to withstand commercial conditions with the public walking all over it. I always recommend an AC rating of 3 or more for homes. If the flooring you’re looking for doesn’t have an AC rating, look for another brand.
Steve Maxwell helps Canadian homeowners from his website BaileyLineRoad.com. Join 10,000+ people who get his hands-on how-to newsletter free each Saturday morning.