Tile drains on the underside of tiles and mats
Drainage channels on the underside of tiles and mats
Drainage channels in the structured underside of rubber tiles and impact-absorbing surfacing mats provide drainage. This underside also reduces the area in contact with a wet substrate and affects both shock absorption and the tile’s dimensional stability.
With porous tiles, water passes through the covering across its full area. On an impermeable substrate, drainage channels direct water away in line with the gradient. Where the sub-base is water-permeable, water drains into the sub-base.
The sub-base is kept clear of the tile body by studs and drainage feet. This clearance prevents the tile from remaining continually wet and allows it to dry more quickly.
This clearance is created by the profile moulded into the underside, which provides additional space for elastic deformation. The profile improves shock absorption and reduces internal stresses that may result from different temperatures or moisture conditions on the top surface and underside. It also contributes to the tile being dimensionally stable.
Wide bearing pads reduce local pressure peaks. The functions provided by the underside depend on the particular range. Indoor mats often have a continuous, unstructured underside and lie in near-full contact with the substrate.