Surface underlayment

Abstract

A flooring system is constructed on a base. The flooring system includes a permeable barrier layer, a porous underlayment, an impermeable sealing layer, and a flooring. The barrier layer is configured to cover the base. The underlayment overlies the barrier layer, with the barrier layer preventing binding of the underlayment to the base while permitting fluid to pass between the base and underlayment. The underlayment presents a top face, and the sealing layer coats the top face of the underlayment. The flooring is fixed relative to the top face of the underlayment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of constructing a flooring system on a base, said construction method comprising the steps of:
 (a) applying a porous underlayment on the base, wherein the underlayment comprises a compound including elastic material and inelastic particles;   (b) sealing the top and side faces of the underlayment; and   (c) fixing a flooring relative to the top face of the underlayment.   
     
     
         2 . The construction method as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 prior to step (a), preparing the base.   
     
     
         3 . The construction method as claimed in  claim 2 ,
 said preparing step including the steps of filling any cracks in the base and/or leveling any low spots in the base.   
     
     
         4 . The construction method as claimed in  claim 2 ,
 drilling vent holes within the base.   
     
     
         5 . The construction method as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 step (a) including the step of mixing the elastic material and inelastic particles to form a compound.   
     
     
         6 . The construction method as claimed in  claim 5 ,
 said mixing step including the step of combining the inelastic particles, the elastic material, which is in the form of elastic particles, and a binder.   
     
     
         7 . The construction method as claimed in  claim 5 ,
 step (a) including the step of paving and/or tiling the compound on the base.   
     
     
         8 . The construction method as claimed in  claim 5 ,
 step (a) including the step of providing reinforcement structure within the underlayment.   
     
     
         9 . The construction method as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 step (b) including the step of coating the top and side faces with a mastic material.   
     
     
         10 . The construction method as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 step (c) including the step of adhering the flooring relative to the top face.   
     
     
         11 . The construction method as claimed in  claim 10 ,
 step (c) including the steps of applying multiple flooring layers of material in a covering relationship with respect to the top face.   
     
     
         12 . A flooring system constructed on a base, said flooring system comprising:
 a porous underlayment overlying and being adhered to the base, with the underlayment comprising a compound that includes an elastic material and inelastic particles;   said underlayment presenting a top face and a perimetrical side face;   an impermeable sealing layer coating the top and side faces of the underlayment; and   a flooring fixed relative to the top face of the underlayment.   
     
     
         13 . The flooring system as claimed in  claim 12 ,
 said elastic material comprising elastic particles,   said compound including a binder serving to cohere the elastic and inelastic particles.   
     
     
         14 . The flooring system as claimed in  claim 13 ,
 said elastic particles being formed of a material selected from the group consisting of rubber, elastomer, polyurethane foam, and combinations thereof,   said inelastic particles being formed of a material selected from the group consisting of stone, sand, gravel, slag, recycled concrete, geosynthetic aggregates, glass pellets, plastic pellets, recycled plastic aggregates, polystyrene, polyurethane, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         15 . The flooring system as claimed in  claim 12 ,
 said underlayment comprising a plurality of interconnected tiles formed of the compound.   
     
     
         16 . The flooring system as claimed in  claim 12 ,
 said underlayment including integrated reinforcement structure.   
     
     
         17 . The flooring system as claimed in  claim 12 ,
 said sealing layer being formed of a mastic that includes material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, latex, asphalt emulsions, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         18 . The flooring system as claimed in  claim 12 ,
 said flooring being adhered relative to the top face.   
     
     
         19 . The flooring system as claimed in  claim 12 ,
 said flooring comprising multiple material layers.   
     
     
         20 . The flooring system as claimed in  claim 19 ,
 at least one of said material layers being impermeable.   
     
     
         21 . The flooring system as claimed in  claim 19 ,
 at least one of said material layers including elastic material.