Green Building Forum - Timber floating floor with cork underlay on concrete Sun, 08 Mar 2026 18:07:25 +0000 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 Timber floating floor with cork underlay on concrete https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17440&Focus=295732#Comment_295732 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17440&Focus=295732#Comment_295732 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 12:21:16 +0100 Shevek - 14 mm engineered wood click boards (with 3mm pre-finished oak top layer)
- 2-3 mm cork (or rubber cork) underlay for sound insulation
- existing structural floor is beam and block with screed, and we're at first floor level over another apartment

When I discuss the cork underlay at various outlets here (in Portugal) they always recommend laying a vapour impermeable membrane before putting the cork underlay down, even though we're at first floor level.

I presume this is because the concrete can absorb moisture from the air and then it'll want to head for the dry cork and wood?]]> Timber floating floor with cork underlay on concrete https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17440&Focus=295734#Comment_295734 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17440&Focus=295734#Comment_295734 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 14:36:25 +0100 Mike1 Timber floating floor with cork underlay on concrete https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17440&Focus=295735#Comment_295735 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17440&Focus=295735#Comment_295735 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 15:05:24 +0100 Peter_in_Hungary Posted By: ShevekWhen I discuss the cork underlay at various outlets here (in Portugal) they always recommend laying a vapour impermeable membrane before putting the cork underlay down, even though we're at first floor level.

Posted By: Mike1What is their explanation?

'cos they always do = Butt covering !!]]> Timber floating floor with cork underlay on concrete https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17440&Focus=295737#Comment_295737 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17440&Focus=295737#Comment_295737 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 16:04:56 +0100 tony Timber floating floor with cork underlay on concrete https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17440&Focus=295741#Comment_295741 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17440&Focus=295741#Comment_295741 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 17:03:47 +0100 djh Posted By: Shevek- 2-3 mm cork (or rubber cork) underlay for sound insulationFor noise insulation I'd tend to use the rubber cork for choice. (If it's what I think it is - loose pieces of cork in a rubber base) and I suspect you'd want a bit more than 2-3 mm. Do the manufacturers produce any dB numbers?

And I tend to agree with Mike and Peter. I can't see any lease in a hot country like Portugal saying anything about hard floors. I expect tiled floors and the like are the norm?]]> Timber floating floor with cork underlay on concrete https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17440&Focus=298289#Comment_298289 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17440&Focus=298289#Comment_298289 Tue, 18 Oct 2022 14:32:58 +0100 Shevek
When I was researching it there also didn't appear to be a huge difference in acoustic performance between 2 mm and something thicker. There's a big difference between nothing and something, but then it's diminishing returns after that. I'll trying to fish out the numbers I saw, it's been a while since I looked.]]>