Your Trusted Cork Supplier in Brisbane
October 22, 2026
Walk into an Australian flooring shop and ask for Masonite underlay. There’s a good chance you’ll be shown a sheet labelled hardboard instead.
Has someone handed you the wrong product? Usually, no. The two names are closely linked, but they don’t mean exactly the same thing.
The short answer: Masonite is a brand name that Australians often use when talking about hardboard sheets. Hardboard is the general product type.
Portcork sells Hardboard Underlay, so customers should check its specifications rather than assume it is a Masonite-branded product.
Some brand names become part of everyday speech. Over time, people start using the brand name for a whole group of similar products.
That is what has happened with Masonite. Australian retailers and installers may use terms such as “Masonite hardboard underlay”, even when talking about hardboard flooring sheets more generally.
The simplest way to understand the difference is:
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Masonite | A brand name commonly associated with hardboard |
| Hardboard | A dense sheet made from compressed wood fibres |
| Hardboard underlay | Hardboard designed to create a smooth base beneath flooring |
| Portcork product | Sold as Hardboard Underlay |
A finished floor can only look as smooth as the surface beneath it.
Old timber floors may have board lines, small gaps or minor surface changes. If a softer floor covering is installed directly over them, those shapes can slowly become visible. This effect is often called telegraphing.
Hardboard underlay creates a more even surface between the existing subfloor and the new flooring. It can help:
However, underlay cannot repair a damp, loose or badly uneven subfloor. Those problems need to be addressed first.
Yes, suitable hardboard underlay can provide a smooth base beneath cork tiles when the complete flooring system is prepared and installed correctly.
Portcork’s Hardboard Underlay measures 1220mm × 915mm × 5mm. Each sheet covers approximately 1.116 square metres.
This makes it easier to calculate the number of sheets required before work begins. Remember to consider cutting and the shape of the room when estimating quantities.
Installation requirements can vary according to the underlay, subfloor and finished flooring. Portcork’s current product information advises allowing its Hardboard Underlay to acclimatise in the room for about 24 hours and fixing it with suitable staples or nails at intervals of approximately 100mm to 150mm.
The following points provide a general preparation checklist:
These instructions apply to Portcork’s listed product. Other Masonite underlay sheets may have different fixing requirements.
This question can refer to two different layers, and there is no single answer for every flooring system.
The first is fixing the hardboard underlay to the existing subfloor. Portcork recommends staples or nails at intervals of approximately 100mm to 150mm. However, the complete fixing method may depend on the subfloor and applicable installation requirements. Confirm the full specification before relying on mechanical fixings alone.
The second is bonding the finished flooring to the hardboard. Portcork advises that cork tiles can be installed over a clean, dust-free hardboard surface using a compatible contact adhesive system. Always follow the instructions supplied with the tiles, underlay and adhesive.
Before buying Masonite flooring underlay or another hardboard product, check:
The product name matters less than choosing a sheet designed for the job.
A small naming difference should not stand between you and a well-prepared floor. Focus on the product specifications, installation requirements and compatibility with your chosen flooring.
Explore Portcork’s Hardboard Underlay, or contact the Portcork team for help choosing the right materials for your cork flooring project.
Masonite is a brand name associated with hardboard. People sometimes use the names interchangeably, but not every hardboard product is made or branded by Masonite.
It can create a smoother surface over a suitable subfloor, but it will not correct major movement, moisture problems or serious unevenness.
They can be installed over suitable hardboard when the surface and complete flooring system are prepared correctly. Follow the tile and underlay installation documents before starting.
