A load distributing and absorbing system that lies below a barrier layer that is exposed to percussive and/or point-applied forces. The load distributing and absorbing system has one or more load distributing and absorbing tiles. At least some of the tiles have an underlayment infrastructure positioned below a barrier layer. The underlayment infrastructure includes one or more hat-shaped absorbing members. Each has a ceiling primarily for load distribution and a curvilinear wall primarily for load absorption extending from the ceiling. A transition feature is provided to smoothly graduate from one height and type of load distributing and absorbing tile to a load distributing and absorbing tile of another type and height. He system distributes and absorbs forces applied to the barrier layer over a broad area when applied either on a seam between adjacent tiles or within a tile.

A flooring underlayment includes a base membrane and a cover membrane. The base membrane is configured to be installed between a subfloor and floor tiles to allow movement of the floor tiles relative to the subfloor. The cover membrane is configured to be coupled to the base membrane to form a flat surface for supporting the floor tiles. The cover membrane is configured to be coupled to the base membrane using at least one of a snug fit and a snap fit.

An uncoupling mat includes a flexible plastic layer having indentations provided with undercuts on a first, top side and cavities positioned between the indentations on an opposite bottom side. A fleece or fabric is securely connected to the second side and covering the cavities. A plurality of weakening zones is formed in the top surface of the film-like plastic, which each extend between two rows of indentations in a straight line between opposing side edges of the plastic layer and allow the plastic layer to move substantially transversely to the direction of extension of the weakening zones. Some of a first group of weakening zones extend parallel to one another across the top surface of the film-like plastic. Some of a second group of weakening zones extend parallel to one another across the top surface of the film-like plastic and intersecting the first group of parallel weakening zones.

An underlayment system is provided that includes a plurality of bosses that emanate form a common base member. The bosses and bases preferably include an opening therethrough that will allow for subsequent layers of adhesive to interact and bond to each other. The bosses are also spaced in such a way to help secure a wire snugly therebetween.

Flooring material has an anti-slip, noise reducing pad directly self-adhered to a bottom surface. The pad is formed by applying a foamable PVC material is directly on the bottom surface of the flooring and heating the PVC material to foam the PVC material. The PVC material may then be cooled to form the pad with a definite formed shape having a resilient outer surface layer and a spongy foamy inner structure.

A support for installing facing materials such as ceramic tiles on a substrate such as floors, walls and ceilings wherein the support plate has a plurality of spaced apart recesses in the plate material, with the recesses being open at the top surface and have solid sidewalls and a base, and a plurality of slots in the non-recessed portions of the plate material extending through the top surface and bottom surface, the slots joining one or more adjacent recesses. The support plate of the invention is used for tile installations between the substrate and such tile. Thin-set mortar that is used to secure the tile to the support plate flows into the recesses and into the slots forming a continuous bond between the mortar and the adjacent slots providing for a strong bond between the support plate, mortar and the tiles.

An underlayment system is provided that includes a plurality of bosses that emanate form a common base member. The bosses and bases preferably include an opening therethrough that will allow for subsequent layers of adhesive to interact and bond to each other. The bosses are also spaced in such a way to help secure a wire snugly therebetween.

An underlayment system includes a plurality of bosses that emanate from a common base member. The bosses and bases preferably include an opening therethrough that will allow for subsequent layers of adhesive to interact and bond to each other. The bosses are also spaced in such a way to help secure a wire snugly therebetween.

Flexible support screens and tile spacers for floating tile floor systems are described herein. The flexible support screens include a compressible body that is configured to engage a top surface of a structure. The compressible body has a plurality of channels configured to direct a fluid through the compressible body. The flexible support screen has a variable rate of compression upon receiving a force directed upon either the upper surface or the lower surface. The adhesive tiles spacers have a first side surface for engaging a first tile and a second side surface opposed to the first side surface for engaging a second tile. The adhesive spacers are configured to be compressible to absorb movement of the first tile and the second tile towards or away from each other.

A decoupling mat (1) for a surface covering structure that can be covered by covering elements has a strip- or plate-shaped compensation element (2) which has upwardly projecting formations (4) arising from a lower support plane (3), which formations from an upper covering plane (6) at a distance from the lower support plane (3) and are arranged spaced apart from one another and have at least in sections an undercut (8) along their periphery. A water-permeable cover is fixed on a bottom side (12) of the lower support plane (3) and prevents penetration by a viscous adhesive into the upwardly projection formations (4). On at least some formations (4), the undercuts (8) are arranged along a region, extending in a curved manner, along a side wall of the upwardly projecting formations. A plurality of the first undercuts (8) is oriented in a first direction and a plurality of second undercuts (8) is oriented in a second direction. The cover may have a perforation or consist of a water permeable textile woven fabric or sheet, or of a water permeable non-woven fabric (13). A plurality of adjacent formations (4) are respectively connected to one another by ventilation ducts (7) projecting from the lower support plane (3), wherein the ventilation ducts (7) do not extend up to the upper covering plane (6).