Flooring Board

Flooring boards are a heavier-duty sheet material (panel boards) designed to create robust, stable floor surfaces. They find applications in both subflooring (to support the final floor finish) or, in some instances, as a finished walking surface.

Because they come in various types and specifications, both residential and commercial buyers can expect flexibility to ensure stability, durability, and safety in their builds.

What is a flooring board?

A flooring board is a type of sheet or panel product made from materials like plywood, chipboard, OSB (Oriented Strand Board), or composite wood fibre. These boards are made to specific thicknesses, strengths, and often, moisture-resistance ratings.

Some have profiles (such as tongue-and-groove edges) to interlock, while others are flat panels laid over the substructure or joists. These characteristics make them capable of handling loads, providing rigidity, and distributing weight, before any decorative floor finishes such as tiles, vinyl, carpet, etc., are applied.

What are flooring boards used for?

Flooring boards have many practical uses in construction and renovation. Here are the most common uses:

• Structural subfloors – Boards are laid over the structural supports and joists to create the base on which the final flooring material will rest.
• Domestic/commercial floor areas – In homes, offices, shops, etc., flooring boards (especially P5-rated chipboard boards) are used where strong, load-bearing surfaces are needed. Kitchens and bathrooms require boards with moisture resistance.
• Lofts – Often fitted with flooring boards to make the space usable, create storage areas, or convert it into living quarters. These boards must be able to withstand loads and may need to consider insulation and moisture.
• Underfloor heating systems (UFH) – Special boards are made with channels pre-routed (grooved), which allows heating elements or pipes to pass through or very close to the surface, improving efficiency and keeping the floor profile low.
• Acoustic flooring – Boards with sound-dampening or insulative properties can reduce the amount of noise that makes it through, which is ideal for apartments, hotels, etc.
• Mezzanine flooring – For elevated floors or mezzanines, strong boards provide a stable, safe, load-bearing floor that sits on secondary structures.

Types of Flooring Boards

At Sheet Materials Wholesale, we equip ourselves to offer the full range of flooring boards in a variety of standard sizes to offer the ideal fit for your project.

Here are the most common types of floor boards in the UK:

Chipboard Flooring

Chipboards are often used for structural, load-bearing floor bases in domestic and light commercial settings.

We stock chipboard flooring boards in p5 structural grades, moisture-resistant chipboards (MR), tongue & groove options (TG or TG4E), and special boards for underfloor heating (UFH).

Some of these include Egger Protect P5 MR T&G, 22mm UFH Pre-routed P5 Chipboard, etc. We also carry boards like the HydroFlam P5 T&G chipboard with fire-retardant properties.

OSB (Oriented Strand Board)

Our range includes OSB3 boards in both square edges and tongue & groove (T&G / TG4E) options. Thicknesses from 9mm up through 22mm, depending on structural need.

They resist bending forces decently well, especially with T&G edges, and are useful for load-bearing flooring/roofing/subfloor work. You won’t generally see a moisture-resistant (MR) option in many listings, with many described for ‘humid conditions. But they are not the same as MR chipboard boards.

They are best used for:

• Structural flooring where strength and cost-efficiency are priorities
• Roof decking or sheathing (where suitable), walls, or general internal structural panels.
• When you need decent stability and load capacity, as well as non-decorative surfaces.

Plywood & Hardwood / Softwood Plywood

The stock includes various plywood options, such as softwood, hardwood-faced, eucalyptus-faced, CE-graded panels, and structural plywood intended for decks, floors, and exterior use.
We place an emphasis on veneer quality, face species, and structural integrity. Some boards have exterior grades or are CE2+, etc., depending on finish and exposure. Harder/denser plywood tends to perform better in humidity or where boards may get wet occasionally.
They are best used for:
Flatter, more stable bases (e.g., for tiles, laminate, engineered wood)
Environments with some moisture risk or appearance are more visible
Exterior applications (with proper treatment) where OSB or chipboard is less effective.

Specialised & Structural Boards

Underfloor Heating Boards

As mentioned, the 22mm pre-routed UFH chipboard is designed for embedding 12mm or 16mm pipes, keeping a low floor profile, and ensuring heat distributes more efficiently.

Fire Retardant Boards

Products like the 22mm HydroFlam P5 T&G FR Chipboard are available for increased safety in certain builds.

Mezzanine/Loft/Heavy Load Boards

We stock mezzanine flooring, chipboards, loft boards, and high-thickness chipboards for greater load.

Tongue & Groove Profiling

Many boards in chipboard and OSB classes utilise T&G (or TG4E) edges to reduce movement between boards for a stronger, quieter floor.

Benefits of floor boards

Creates a Strong Subfloor

The structural grade boards (especially P5 chipboard and T&G options) create a sturdy base, able to withstand heavy loads, resist bending, and support finish flooring.

Quieter Floors

Tongue & groove profiling helps interlock boards, reducing movement and squeaks. The floor behaves and moves as one, suppressing noise.

Compatibility With Underfloor Heating

Some flooring boards are designed specifically for UFH. We stock a collection of UFH chipboards that are ideal for these applications.

Fast Installation

T&G edges allow for boards to slot together, reducing on-site labour and time. More time is saved when cutting, fixing, and finishing, owing to the consistent sizes and smooth surfaces.

Flat Surface

Boards like the 22mm P5 chipboard types are sanded and manufactured to be flat, making it easy to apply finish flooring without issues.

Why Choose Our Flooring Boards?

Competitive Pricing

Get chipboard and OSB boards at low prices or bulk deals to make your project more cost-efficient.

Broad Variation

Find everything from standard to exterior-graded weather exposure panels to ensure your project has what it needs.

Stocked From FSC-Certified Manufacturers

Our stock includes named brands like Kronospan, Caberfloor, Egger, etc., which comply with standards (EN, CE marks, etc.). Many boards are FSC® certified, meaning they are sourced from responsibly managed forests.

Moisture-Resistant and Structural Board Options

You can find moisture-resistant (MR) options, structural P5 boards, tongue & groove profiles, and special finishes or surface treatments (sealed surfaces, film layers, etc.) for boards like Egger Protect, Peel Clean Xtra, and more.

Experience the feel of a stronger floor! Shop our certified P5 and weather-rated stock today!

FAQs

What is the best board for flooring?

The best board depends on what your priorities dictate, with regard to moisture resistance, strength, finish, cost, etc. For many floors, a P5 MR chipboard with tongue & groove is a great all-round choice. However, for wetter conditions or very visible finishes, a good quality plywood may be safer in the long run.

What board is used for flooring?

There are several types used, but these are the most common ones:

• Chipboard
• OSB
• Plywood

They tend to have features like tongue & groove profiling to interlock and reduce movement noise, MR protection, and may be pre-routed for UFH.

How do I install sheet flooring?

The industry standard steps involve:

• Leaving the boards in the room to acclimatise.
• Clean and reinforce the subfloor for evenness.
• Lay out the boards in a staggered pattern to avoid the four corners meeting.
• Fasten the boards to joists or the substructure with an appropriate fastener
• Leave expansion gaps to account for humidity and temperature fluctuations

Use MR or sealed boards to protect against the risk of spills and dampness. Check the floor for flatness once done to prevent furniture from catching against bumps.