LONG-TERM DURABILITY UNDERLAYS
CORK VS. FOAM WHY CHOOSE A CORK UNDERLAY INSTEAD OF A 100 % FOAM SOLUTION?
INSTALLING A CORK UNDERLAY IS THE BEST OPTION TO ENSURE YOUR FLOORS’ DURABILITY WHILE IMPROVING BUILDINGS’ COMFORT AND EFFICIENCY.
The visual and design component is one of the most valued aspects when it comes to floor installations or renovation projects. However, it is important to bear in mind the base on which the new flooring will lay, the underlay.
This layer of material, applied between the concrete (or the previous flooring, in case of renovation work) and the final flooring, is essential to ensure the durability of the floor over time.
Durability: a key point when choosing an underlay In an online survey recently conducted by Amorim Cork Composites in the American market, durability was precisely the #1 reason given by consumers when it comes to installing an underlay.
To better understand customer needs, we gathered the opinion of more than 300 people who planned to install or had recently installed a new floor in their home. According to
the results, consumers who chose to install underlays stated that their most valued performance characteristic is the durability that this solution gives to the flooring.
Cork or 100 % foam: which underlay provides greater durability? Given this need and the wide range of solutions available on the market, why choose a cork underlay instead of a 100 % foam-based solution?
To answer this question, we concentrate on two different tests of underlays.
Dynamic Load Test The dynamic load test is a laboratory test that simulates the pressure generated on the floor by foot traffic, trolleys, and office chairs with casters, among others. To be effective, the underlay must be able to withstand this pressure without losing its absorbing performance over time.
To assess the material performance, we submitted a sample of cork, and a foam, both 10 mm thick, to 100 000 cycles at 75 kPa pressure. This test was made on a certified laboratory, under the standard EN 16354 conditions. The pressures used have a broad range, but this higher pressure
cork
foam
-5% Dynamic Load test
-55%
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