Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Underlayment Issues

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jjpar
08-13-05, 02:18 PM
I plan to purchase and install 5/16 in. glueless Wilsonart Classic Laminate Tile Squares in my kitchen. The adjacent areas will have glueless engineered longstrip hardwood, which is 9/16 in. Both areas are on an "at grade" concrete slab and will have an 8-mil vapor barrier with 1/8 in. "Volara" foam underlayment on top of it. I want to use a glue/nail "T" molding where the two meet but have 1/4 in. height difference. Here is what I am proposing to do: Place a 1/4 in. hard rubber underlayment ("Silent Tread" sold by iFLOOR.com) on top of the "Volara" underlayment then installing the laminate tiles on it. This will make the two areas equally high. My questions are:
1) Are there any issues with the above plan?
2) What's the best way to install the "T" molding on concrete keeping the integrity of the vapor barrier (Molding has no metal channel to screw down)?
3) Is "Volara foam underlayment a good choice?
4) Do the ends of transition pieces require an expansion gap??
Any help appreciated!!! Thanks, Jerry