A substrate for use in a flooring system which has a subfloor and a decorative
upper layer. The substrate is made in a continuous sheet which has a bottom surface,
a top surface, side surfaces and end surfaces. The top surface and the oppositely
facing bottom surface are essentially parallel to each other and are spaced apart
by the thickness of the substrate. Voids are provided in the substrate, the voids
are provided between particles of rubber or other similar material. When the substrate
is positioned between the subfloor and the decorative top layer, the particles
of rubber provide the strength required to prevent deformation of the substrate
in the direction of the thickness and the voids contribute to the sound dampening
characteristics required to provide decibel reduction across the thickness of the substrate.
