Flooring definitions-terms

Here are some useful flooring definitions-terms to help you. This is like our own mini flooring dictionary to make things easier for you.

Substrate- This is another term for your "subfloor" or the base floor underneath of your finished flooring. this is usually concrete (or a variation of), plywood, oriented strand board, particle board, plank floor... or another similar material.

Subfloor- See substrate.

Underlayment- a layer of material installed underneath a final finish flooring product. Sometimes for cushioning, sound deadening, stability, leveling/flattening the floor or other similar purposes. It could be a pad type material, cork, foam, backerboard, cement, specialty underlayment plywood or one of many other options.

Backerboard- A commonly used term in ceramic tile or stone installation to represent the "board" that may be used as an underlayment. Today it is often a cement based board, but some gypsum and other composites are becoming popular.