Laminate Flooring Underlay Rating

At Spectra Contract Flooring, we’ve completed more than 350,000 flooring installations nationwide, including a broad range laminate flooring projects. Our flooring experts are here to help you select the greatest-value materials for your commercial project, and our seasoned crews deliver rapid installation. In our experience, commercial grade laminate flooring is a strong and cost-effective solution for many facilities, particularly with many of the new options available today. Laminate flooring is a synthetic blend consisting of four layers that are laminated together: Due to its synthetic blend, laminate is more affordable than more premium natural options, such as wood, ceramic tile or stone. But commercial grade laminate flooring still provides great durability, as it resists scratches, sunlight, and even heavy wear and tear. For the best results, purchase laminate that has the highest AC Rating, a measure of a floor’s durability. Since laminate uses digital images, it can take on the look of nearly any natural material with limitless colors and finishes, such as smooth, distressed, textured and more.
New, glue-free and pre-glued laminates reduce installation waste and costs, while options have emerged with pre-attached underlay or no underlay, speeding up the installation process. Laminates are also hypoallergenic and easy to clean and maintain. Commercial grade laminate flooring with a high AC Rating can stand up to many environments and is suitable for a wide range of uses. It’s perfect for food consumption areas, as it’s easy to clean. It’s great for offices that want a natural look and durability without high cost. Laminate can work in high-traffic areas, such as foyers and entrances, though it doesn’t handle moisture well, so it should be used in combination with matting and rugs. Other options, such as LVT, natural ceramic tile or terrazzo are often superior for entranceways. Its susceptibility to moisture means laminate is not great for bathrooms or kitchens. Where laminate sits on concrete subfloors at or below ground level, underlayment and possibly a moisture barrier are required to protect your floor.
At Spectra Contract Flooring, we can help you with moisture mitigation and testing to reduce risks and ensure your flooring lasts. Laminate flooring is a highly cost-effective solution, as it limits up-front costs when compared with traditional flooring materials. If used properly, it can provide solid long-term value, though more durable options may deliver greater overall value. Laminate’s cost is comparable to resilient flooring. How to save money on commercial flooring: value engineering, better materials and smarter solutions Read this brief, no-nonsense guide to arm yourself with 350,000 projects worth of unbiased, money-saving insights. Our experienced flooring professionals work within your budget constraints and design vision to help you select the right flooring for your project. As the largest flooring contractor in the U.S., we can procure the best materials at the best prices and install the full range of laminate products, including: We deliver expert installation on the fastest schedules.
But we don’t just stop there. We manage every detail of your flooring project to help you get the most from your floor. Learn more about our comprehensive flooring installation services. Trends in commercial flooring Learn the latest in flooring materials, design and decision-making frameworks so you can select the best floor for your facility. Read this white paper to see what’s possible with new options that save time, reduce cost and look great.Vacuum Cleaner Repair Pittsburgh QuietCORK™ materials have been tested for their acousticalBuy Omega Juicer CanadaCertified copies of all testing results may be obtained by request from Jelinek Cork Group.Shower Curtain Rod For Slanted Wall Interpretation and Cautionary Note: Many published test
results, although accurate, may be misinterpreted unless closely analyzed.  reason QuietCORK™ materials were tested to reflect the ratings as independent of other material influences as possible.  For example, test results on underlayment cork materials in conjunction with suspended ceiling systems do not accurately reflect the true acoustical reduction values of impact noise and sound transmission provided by cork. The type of suspended ceiling system used during a testing procedure along with underlayment cork may result in increased IIC and STC ratings by as much as 30 dB. Since there are numerous suspended ceiling systems, it is virtually impossible to provide test results for each and every type of such ceiling system. On average it is estimated that IIC and STC ratings increase by approximately 14 dB when suspended ceilings are used in conjunction with cork underlayments. Where suspended ceilings are included in the ratings shown below, the IIC and STC values are not definitive and are only estimated
averages based on information gathered from acoustic consultants and a broad range ofAll other values are certified by the testing laboratories and copies of those detailed test results may be obtained by request from Jelinek CorkRatings are also further influenced by the type of floor covering placed over cork underlayments but not to the degree of suspended ceilings. material type, wood types, installation methods, glues, vapor barriers, and other factors all do influence to various degrees the final IIC and STC ratings. test results with unknown variables could be misleading unless all the variables are clearly and accurately submitted.  As the testing results of QuietCORK™ shown below indicate, the use of QuietCORK™ for acoustical sound control by itself and particularly in conjunction with any suspended ceiling systems and any floor types, clearly meets and surpasses required IIC and STC ratings. Field Impact Isolation Class (FIIC) testing was performed to determine the
"rank-ordering" by manufacturer of several different but popular cork underlayment materials currently being used in the North American market.  relative ratings apply to bare 5/8" plywood laid over the cork and the cork over the concrete without any binding cement.  Such cement may alter the result slightly. Four different specimens of cork from other manufacturers were used, and one test was run without any cork to serve as the control number. Upper room (shown) separated by 6" concrete slab fromThese units were tested to determine QuietCORK™ acoustical values as compared with other cork underlayments being marketed. Result analysis:  All (but the no cork) produced acceptable results but QuietCORK™ ranked as the material with best results. This data is not absolutely indicative of the IIC value that may be achieved in the field, but is rather aimed at comparing various materials and "rank-ordering" those materials accurately, the higher number indicating better isolation on a decibel scale.