Description
ePLY 5.5mm Plywood Underlay is a 5-ply hardboard-alternative panel with a birch face veneer over a rugged, puncture-resistant hardwood core, purpose-built as a stable base for vinyl and general resilient flooring. Its exterior-grade glue passes the APA boil test, giving genuine confidence in moisture resistance during the bonding process, and it meets California Air Resources Board (CARB) Regulation 93120 for formaldehyde emissions — a real indoor air quality credential.
Precision square cutting for a tight panel-to-panel fit, combined with ultrasonic void testing on every panel, reflects a genuinely higher manufacturing standard than a basic underlay product — voids in an underlay core can telegraph through a finished resilient floor as soft spots or dips over time, which this testing is specifically designed to catch before the panel ships.
The ultrasonic void testing that each panel undergoes is a genuine quality-control step beyond what a standard plywood underlay typically receives — it catches internal voids in the core that could otherwise create a soft spot or telegraph through a thin floor covering laid over the top. Combined with exterior-grade glue that passes the APA boil test and compliance with CARB formaldehyde limits, it’s built to perform reliably as a stable substrate beneath vinyl, laminate and other resilient flooring types.
Technical Specifications
| Construction | 5.5mm, 5-ply; birch face veneer, hardwood core |
|---|---|
| Glue | Exterior grade, passes APA Boil Test |
| Formaldehyde compliance | CARB Regulation 93120 |
| Panel dimensions | 4′ x 4′ and 4′ x 8′ |
| Moisture content | 7.0% (50% RH @ 20°C) |
| Density | 30.9 lbs/cu.ft. |
| Internal bond | 360.0 PSI |
| Janka ball hardness | 731 lbs |
| Compression (crushing strength) | 2398 lbs/in² |
Where to Use
- Underlayment for vinyl flooring and general purpose resilient floor coverings
- Applications where consistent panel-to-panel fit matters
- Jobs requiring a puncture-resistant, structurally tested underlay panel
How to Apply
- Check the substrate — ensure the subfloor is structurally sound and suitable for underlay installation.
- Position the panels — lay to a TileTite fit, following the precision-cut edges.
- Nail per the printed pattern — use the proprietary nailing pattern printed on each panel for correct fastener placement.
- Install flooring — apply the resilient or vinyl flooring per the flooring manufacturer’s adhesive and installation instructions.
Important Notes
- The fine-sanded face gives a smooth, consistent surface with non-staining compatibility across all vinyl floor coverings.
- Follow the printed nailing pattern for structurally correct installation.
