Sub Flooring.

Product Suggested: PSB® Supreme

Why PSB® Supreme

  • Superior Moisture Resistance Performance: PSB® Supreme exhibits excellent moisture resistance, with a maximum thickness swelling of 15%. PSB® Supreme, when coated properly, results in a thickness swelling of less than 5%.
  • High Modulus of Elasticity and Rupture Strength: PSB® Supreme demonstrates high performance in terms of modulus of elasticity, measuring 3,500 Newtons per square millimeter (N/mm²), and modulus of rupture, ranging from 16 to 22 Newtons per square millimeter (N/mm²).
  • Enhanced Screw Withdrawal Strength and Reusability: PSB® Supreme provides exceptional screw hold capacity compared to other solutions, with edge hold at 1,350 Newtons (N) and face hold at 1,650 Newtons (N). PSB® Supreme’s mechanical properties allow for repeated use of the same hole without any loss in performance.

Specifications

Modulus of rupture 16 – 22 N/mm2
Modulus of elasticity 3,500 N/mm2
Internal Bonding 0.29 – 0.34 N/mm2
Thickness Swelling 5% - 15%
Width 1,200 – 1,250 mm
Length 1,830 – 3,048 mm
Thickness 9 – 44 mm
Technical Datasheet Certificates Get In Touch

Customizable Finishes.

Raw Board

A wide range of uncoated boards, used as a core material, offering flexibility for customization and finishing.

Sanded Board

A Smooth, sanded surface board, ideal for interior fit-outs and paneling, ensuring enhanced finish quality and easy customization.

Premium Surface (Putty) Finishing

A flawless, smooth-surfaced board achieved with putty, ideal for high-quality paint applications and achieving a polished, refined look.

Premium Plus Surface (Coated) Finishing

A flawless, smooth-surfaced board achieved with putty, ideal for high-quality paint applications and achieving a polished, refined look.

Veneer Finishing

A decorative-finished board using thin layers of real material, offering a natural look, durability, and customization options.

Best Practices.

To ensure optimal performance in humid conditions, it is recommended to apply a coating to the boards. This will enhance their durability and resilience against moisture, thereby maintaining their reliability in load-bearing applications.

When resizing the boards (cutting to different or smaller dimensions), it is essential to coat the newly exposed edges.

For components being fastened, such as beams, rafters, joists, and trusses, pre-drilling is essential. The diameter of the pre-drilled hole should be smaller than the screw diameter to ensure effective engagement of the screw threads.

During transportation and storage, it is important to protect the PSB® boards from direct exposure to water droplets and precipitation on their edges and surfaces. Ensure that adequate protective covers are provided to maintain their integrity.

For fastening, it is recommended to use screws, nails, or staples with a length at least 2.5 times the thickness of the board, but not less than 50-75 mm. Fastening should be carried out at intervals of 150-300 mm on intermediate supports (depending on roof pitch), 150 mm along board joints, and 100 mm along roof edges.

It is advised not to install decorative tiles or wallpaper directly on PSB® Supreme, nor should plaster work be applied to its surface.

Related Applications.

Facade Cladding

Enhance the visual appeal and functionality of your building's exterior with PSB® Supreme, a premium facade cladding solution.

Wall Cladding

Transform your walls with PSB® Supreme, a high-strength, moisture-resistant cladding solution designed for both elegance and functionality.

Wall Partition

PSB® Prime's versatility, premium quality, and high strength make it an ideal choice for partition walls.

Roofing

PSB® Supreme is engineered for structural integrity, delivering reliable support and proper insulation to roofing systems in all weather conditions.

Concrete Forming

PSB® Conform Shuttering board’s strength, resistance to wear and moisture, provide significant cost savings and reusability.

Site Hoarding

With its high strength, PSB® Supreme board provides reliable, weather-resistant site hoarding with proper insulation for your project.

FAQs.

Sub flooring is the structural layer beneath the finished floor, designed to provide strength, stability, and a smooth surface for materials like tiles, carpet, or parquet. It distributes weight evenly and prevents flooring failures. Traditionally made from plywood or MDF, sub flooring materials must be durable and climate-resistant. DesertBoard’s Palm Strand Board (PSB®) is engineered for these purposes, offering termite resistance, dimensional stability, and carbon-negative sustainability. This makes it a superior choice for sub flooring in residential, commercial, and hospitality projects.

Durable sub flooring is critical because it prevents warping, cracking, or sagging that can compromise finished floors. Poor-quality materials often lead to costly repairs or replacements. In humid climates like the GCC, durability becomes even more important, as moisture and termites quickly damage MDF and chipboard. DesertBoard PSB® solves this with engineered strength and built-in resistance to environmental stressors. Its durability ensures long-term performance, lower lifecycle costs, and healthier, zero-formaldehyde indoor environments.

Sub flooring contributes to acoustic insulation by reducing sound transmission between floors. It also enhances comfort by creating a solid, level surface underfoot. Traditional boards can lose integrity over time, leading to squeaks or uneven surfaces. DesertBoard PSB®’s dense composition improves acoustic performance while maintaining strength, making it ideal for apartments, hotels, and offices. Its carbon-negative, zero-formaldehyde credentials add sustainability to comfort, ensuring better living and working environments.

Plywood, MDF, and OSB are the most common sub flooring materials. Each has trade-offs: plywood is strong but costly, MDF is affordable but moisture-sensitive, and OSB offers mixed durability. DesertBoard PSB® provides a new alternative by combining durability with eco-credentials. Made from upcycled palm fronds, it is carbon-negative, termite-resistant, and suitable for GCC climates. For developers seeking sustainable sub flooring without compromising performance, DesertBoard is a next-generation solution.

Moisture is one of the biggest threats to sub flooring, causing swelling, warping, or mold growth in materials like MDF and plywood. This is especially problematic in humid regions or areas with frequent spills. DesertBoard PSB® is engineered for resilience, maintaining dimensional stability when coated for moisture protection. Its durability makes it well-suited for kitchens, bathrooms, and commercial spaces where moisture exposure is common. By resisting water damage, DesertBoard ensures long-lasting flooring systems.

Yes. Sub flooring can play a role in thermal insulation, especially when integrated with underlayment or insulation layers. This reduces energy use by minimizing heat transfer between floors. DesertBoard PSB® contributes to energy-efficient designs by providing a dense, stable base that supports insulation layers effectively. In addition, its carbon-negative production reduces embodied energy, aligning with projects aiming for LEED, WELL, or Estidama certifications. This dual impact makes DesertBoard both practical and sustainable for energy-conscious construction.

The lifespan of sub flooring depends on the material. MDF may last less than a decade in humid conditions, while plywood can extend to 15–20 years with maintenance. DesertBoard PSB®, designed for GCC climates, offers a much longer service life due to termite resistance and dimensional stability. Its durability reduces the need for frequent replacements, lowering lifecycle costs. For developers, this means reliable long-term performance and a reduced environmental footprint through fewer material changes.

Sub flooring is typically installed over joists or slabs using nails, screws, or adhesives. It must be level and securely fastened to prevent squeaks and uneven floors. DesertBoard PSB® is fully machinable and works with conventional installation methods, making it easy for contractors to adopt. Its superior screw-holding strength ensures tight, lasting connections. This practicality, combined with eco-friendly credentials, makes DesertBoard a seamless upgrade from conventional sub flooring materials.

Costs vary: MDF and chipboard are cheap upfront but prone to failure, while plywood is stronger but more expensive. DesertBoard PSB® sits competitively in the mid-range but offers far better lifecycle value. Its durability reduces replacement frequency, and local production lowers shipping costs compared to imports. When sustainability benefits and certification contributions are considered, DesertBoard provides both economic and environmental advantages, making it cost-effective over the long term.

Yes. While most sub flooring in the region still uses MDF or imported plywood, sustainable alternatives like DesertBoard PSB® are now available. Made in Abu Dhabi from upcycled palm fronds, DesertBoard is carbon-negative, termite-resistant, and zero-formaldehyde. It is engineered for the GCC’s demanding climate and supports LEED, WELL, and Estidama goals. For contractors and developers seeking to meet both performance and sustainability requirements, DesertBoard offers a regionally manufactured solution that outperforms conventional options.

DesertBoard’s Palm Strand Board (PSB®) is manufactured from upcycled date palm fronds, offering a carbon-negative and zero-formaldehyde alternative to traditional plywood and MDF sub flooring boards. It provides superior durability and strength, making it suitable for both residential and commercial projects in the GCC. Unlike imported boards that carry high embodied carbon and may degrade in hot, humid conditions, DesertBoard is engineered to withstand the regional climate. By choosing DesertBoard, developers benefit from a sustainable sub flooring solution that is reliable, healthier for occupants, and aligned with green building standards like LEED and Estidama.

Yes. DesertBoard PSB® is certified zero-formaldehyde (E0 and CARB2), ensuring healthier indoor environments free from harmful VOC emissions. This makes it an excellent choice for sub flooring in homes, schools, and hospitals where occupant health is a top priority. Beyond safety, DesertBoard’s carbon-negative production process reduces environmental impact. With fire ratings of up to 90 minutes and excellent termite resistance, it provides both safety and sustainability, making it ideal for sensitive environments where durability and health credentials are required.

Sub flooring in the GCC must withstand high heat, humidity, and pest risks. DesertBoard PSB® is engineered with these challenges in mind, offering termite resistance and excellent stability in humid conditions. When properly coated, it resists warping, swelling, and degradation over time. Unlike MDF or plywood, which often fail in extreme environments, DesertBoard maintains structural integrity. This ensures sub flooring installations remain durable, reducing maintenance and replacement costs across residential and commercial projects in the UAE and wider GCC.

Traditional plywood and MDF sub flooring are widely used but often fail in humid or high-traffic environments, especially in GCC climates. They can warp, swell, or release formaldehyde. DesertBoard PSB® is zero-formaldehyde, carbon-negative, and engineered for durability. It provides stronger screw-holding and stability, ensuring reliable sub flooring performance even in challenging conditions. By replacing conventional boards with DesertBoard, developers can achieve longer-lasting results, healthier indoor air, and compliance with sustainability certifications, making it superior to traditional sub flooring options.

DesertBoard PSB® is certified by the UAE Al Sa’afat (Dubai Municipality) Formaldehyde Content Certificate (E0) for zero formaldehyde emissions, ensuring healthier indoor air quality. In addition, Wimpey Laboratories testing confirms its exceptional structural properties: Density: Average of 835 kg/m³, Bending Strength: Average of 19.8 N/mm², Modulus of Elasticity: Average of 3626 N/mm², Internal Bond Strength: Average of 0.95 N/mm², Moisture Content: Average of 5.42%, Screw Withdrawal (Face): Average of 1295 N, Screw Withdrawal (Edge): Average of 941 N. These certifications prove DesertBoard is both safe and sustainable, giving developers confidence when specifying it for sub flooring in projects that require performance, compliance, and green building credentials.

Yes. DesertBoard PSB® is highly versatile and can be cut, shaped, and finished to meet project-specific requirements. It is compatible with a wide range of flooring systems, from residential to commercial applications. Its machinability makes it easy for contractors to install, while finishes such as coatings or laminates can be applied for additional durability. This customization flexibility, combined with sustainability, makes DesertBoard an ideal sub flooring solution for diverse projects across the GCC.

DesertBoard PSB® can be installed using conventional sub flooring methods, including screws, adhesives, and framing systems. Its high screw-withdrawal strength ensures secure fastening and long-term performance. For areas prone to moisture, DesertBoard recommends protective coatings to enhance resistance. The installation process is straightforward and familiar to contractors, minimizing learning curves. DesertBoard also provides technical sheets and guidance, ensuring correct application and compliance with safety and performance standards.

Yes. While DesertBoard may have a slightly higher upfront cost than conventional plywood or MDF, its lifecycle benefits deliver significant savings. It resists termites, warping, and degradation, reducing maintenance and replacement costs. Local manufacturing in Abu Dhabi further reduces shipping costs and supply delays. Additionally, DesertBoard contributes to green certifications such as LEED and Estidama, enhancing project value and investor appeal. For developers, this combination of durability, health, and sustainability ensures long-term cost-effectiveness.

DesertBoard maintains regional stock for standard board sizes in Kezad, Abu Dhabi, ensuring fast supply across the UAE and GCC. This reliable supply chain reduces project delays and ensures developers and contractors have consistent access to sustainable parquet cores when needed.

DesertBoard PSB® directly contributes to LEED, WELL, and Estidama certifications. Its carbon-negative production, zero-formaldehyde emissions, and sustainable sourcing align with credits for materials, air quality, and embodied carbon reduction. By specifying DesertBoard PSB® in furniture and fixed installations, developers and manufacturers improve project sustainability outcomes, comply with ESG frameworks, and enhance long-term project value.