[Green96ta]

Can I use 30# felt? Or is there something better to use? I tore the flooring out of my kitchen and dining room and poured the sill plate up about 4". The old one was rotten, but it looks like there was tar or asphalt between the wood and concrete.


Thanks,

Daniel

 

[Larry Fine]

Best would be to use pressure-treated lumber for the sill plate. There is a foam "gasket" available to help seal the inevitable gaps betwixt the two surfaces.

 

[RhinoDude]

Both HD and Lowes carry a brand called "Sill Seal (tm)", which is the gasket Larry mentioned above. It's basically a thin layer of light blue or pink closed-cell foam with an adhesive back which you expose by pulling off some paper. It is available in various widths corresponding to standard dimensional lumber.


- Rhino

 

[BarryO]

If the old one was rotten, it wasn't pressure-treated; the tar paper was put there in an attempt to prevent moisture from wicking up to the sill plate. You've seen how well that works. Use PT lumber for the sill and it won't happen again.


You aren't required to put anything under the plate, but the sill sealer can cut down on drafts and air leaks.