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Better Plywood Alternative for Raising Floors

Raising the Subfloor

In a remodel application when replacing an existing carpet, laminate, or wood floor with the popular vinyl planks, the thickness of QuietBoard helps raise the subfloor and reduce trip hazards from uneven floor heights or bulky transition moldings or reconfiguring door casings and trims.

QuietBoard vs Plywood and Other Solutions

We designed QuietBoard to be a simple, safe, and wallet-friendly way of raising your flooring. Not only does it raise your flooring like traditional plywood, but it also provides the benefits of a high-quality underlayment like sound reduction, moisture protection, and compression support for your flooring. Saving the time and cost of installing an extra underlayment on top of already more expensive plywood.

Another factor to consider is the ability to revert to the old flooring height. If carpet is replaced with QuietBoard and luxury vinyl planks, simply pull up the planks and QuietBoard and you’re back to the original floor height. When Floor Leveling Compound and or Deck Mud is used reverting back to the original height of the subfloor can be a much more extensive and costly process.

QuietBoard

Sound Reduction

Sound attenuation is our expertise. QuietBoard and many of our underlayment products perform exceptionally well when tested for the IIC (Impact Insulation Class) and STC (Sound Transmission Class). This acoustic performance enhances the lifestyle in your home. The IIC and STC achieved by QuietBoard will meet or exceed to requirements of many HOAs and Condo Associations.

Insulation and Radiant Heating

QuietBoard also adds insulating value for energy efficiency and can be used with radiant heat systems. In addition, QuietBoard has a thermal reflective metallic film that adds to the thermal properties and provides a moisture barrier to protect the overlying floor. QuietBoard can be installed over wood or concrete subfloors above, on, and below grade and provides unprecedented moisture protection for the overlying floor covering

Versatile with Flooring Coverings

The 6mm thickness is dense enough to pass the castor chair test, a test that is designed to assess the durability of a floorcovering, its joints, and underlay.  QuietBoard can be floated, stapled, or glued under many floor coverings including vinyl planks, laminate, floating or glue-down engineered wood, cork, bamboo, residential and commercial carpet, and carpet tiles. This density is extremely important as it provides the vertical support that your flooring needs. Easy-to-install sheets are available in 2’ x 3’ or 4’ x 6’ sizes.

Recycled and Non-Toxic

This new premium acoustical and insulating fiberboard is made of recycled fibers from the carpet and textile industries and outperforms cork or wood fiber underlays of similar thickness. QuietBoard is also less expensive than rubber or plywood. The recycled fibers are treated with an antimicrobial to inhibit mold and mildew growth. There are no VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) or off-gassing like petroleum-based underlayment such as foam and is completely hypoallergenic and documented in our Green Guard Gold certification.

Support & Durability

The dense, durable design of QuietBoard maintains its shape and functionality over time and does not rip, tear, or crumble with age. This provides performance for the life of your overlying floor. It increases flooring stability minimizing flex between joints of interlocking flooring planks. The impact absorption lessens force on hips, knees, and ankles while also reducing foot fatigue.

How to Install

The lightweight construction helps make installation a breeze. QuietBoard weighs approximately 1/2 lb per square foot allowing you to handle more square footage than wood sheeting, therefore cutting down the number of trips moving the product to the job site. QuietBoard cuts with a utility knife thus eliminating the need to set up a saw and skipping the mess and cleanup of sawdust.

Floating Installation

1. Begin laying panels of QuietBoard perpendicular to the flooring direction, butting them tightly.

2. Panels need to be staggered at approximately 50%, eliminating a grid style layout.

3. ¼” Expansion gap is to be left at all perimeter walls.

4. Seams must be taped using a good quality duct tape, minimum 2 inches wide.

5. Install flooring perpendicular to QuietBoard according to flooring manufacturer’s specifications.

Glue-Down Installation

1. Begin by troweling a good quality pressure-sensitive adhesive using the recommended trowel size from the adhesive manufacturer.

2. Lay panels of QuietBoard perpendicular to flooring direction, butting them tightly.

3. QuietBoard panels are to be installed while the adhesive is still wet.

4. QuietBoard panels need to be rolled with a 75lb-100lb roller to ensure a full bond is made.

5. Panels need to be staggered at approximately 50% eliminating a grid-style layout.

6. ¼” Expansion gap is to be left at all perimeter walls.

7. All seams need to be properly prepared in accordance with the flooring manufacturer’s recommendations. Failure to properly prepare seams will void all warranty.

8. We do not recommend taping seams in glue-down installation.

9. Install flooring perpendicular to QuietBoard according to the manufacturer’s specifications.

Mechanically Fastened Installation

1. Begin laying panels of QuietBoard perpendicular to the flooring direction, butting them tightly.

2. Fasteners need to be placed a minimum of every 6 inches with perimeter fasteners no more than 2 inches from the edge of each panel.

3. Panels need to be staggered at approximately 50%, eliminating a grid style layout.

4. ¼” Expansion gap is to be left at all perimeter walls.

5. All seams need to be properly prepared in accordance with the flooring manufacturer’s recommendations when installing any flooring 3mm or thinner.

6. Taping of seams can be done but is not necessary in staple down applications.

7. Fasteners must be long enough to penetrate through the QuietBoard panels and the existing subfloor entirely.

8. Install flooring perpendicular to QuietBoard according to manufacturer’s specifications.

Overall, the “lift” that QuietBoard provides to your floor goes well beyond height. The extensive list of features and benefits that accompany QuietBoard are sure to “lift” the everyday performance of your floor.

Supporting the Bigger Picture

All of our recycled fiber underlayments help chop away post-industrial waste. Our recycling process uses leftover fibers from blue jeans, mattresses, pillowcases, and other fiber textile industries that would have otherwise ended up in our landfills. We believe in making an impact, not only on you or your business with our products but also in making the world a place with less waste.

Registration is now open for the LBM Strategies 2024 Conference