A thick felt paper treated with rosin to resist moisture, typically laid down over subfloors before installing hardwood flooring or used as a temporary floor protector during construction. It acts as a slip sheet to reduce squeaks between wood layers and keeps dust down. Unlike asphalt felt, it does not contain tar and will not stick to finishes.
Heard on the job
Roll out some red rosin paper over the new plywood subfloor before the hardwood crew gets here.
Insider tip
It is highly water-resistant but not completely waterproof, making it ideal for interior floors where trapped moisture could cause wood rot.
Also heard as
- red rosin paper
- red rosin
- building paper