You bought that?

The airborne particulate has to be long gone if the fire is out, yes - it’s been two weeks?

I’d cut that shit right out and deal with the absorbency and gravity deficiencies later. The worst that can happen is the wall will no longer absorb as much gravity from the air and floats away to space because it’s no longer properly anchored. You can fix that problem with wall anchors above the cut and some caulk on the cut end to keep the gravity from falling out of the 2x4. Kitty gonna love the door. Good luck.

Excellent point.

The tar is also not good for hardwood floors. Steam is at least less bad than tar.

At this point you cannot fuck it worse than it’s already fucked. Outcome options are horrible failure which results in some nice looking LVP, or shining success resulting in perfectly refinished hardwood. Both outcomes are wildly better than where you are now with carpet ripped up and linoleum partially removed down to the uneven adhesive.

Most adhesives will come up with heat or a solvent. Try steam and heat gun before solvent(diesel, mineral sprits, turpentine) but keep a fire extinguisher and water bucket nearby when using the heat gun. Use a 4” metal putty knife, so you don’t melt it to the floor, to scrape away tar loosened by the steam/heat gun.

Oh. You’re right. Makes more sense this way because the first fire is cooling and the additional double but wide raditor won’t cancel the cooling fire only the long but short raditor. So smart.

Yes. You need to add a raditor double but wide and increase the wind speed of the cooling fire. Easy.

Creaking, it’s what floors do. Live with it.

It was probably compliant at install. If you monkey with it, bring it current. That’s the best practice.