Laminated mats with closed and strengthened core layer

Abstract

A laminated mat for use as the temporary surface at a construction site or roadway leading thereto. This mat includes at least three layers of boards in a top layer, at least one core layer and a base layer. Preferably, each layer is rectangular. The top and base layers each include a plurality of parallel boards of substantially equal length that are made of oak or other hardwoods, or of plastic or elastomeric materials. The core layer includes a plurality of parallel boards of substantially equal length that are made of chemically treated softwood, encapsulated softwood, or of plastic or elastomeric materials, with the boards arranged to be perpendicular to the boards of the top layer, and configured so that adjacent boards in the core layer engage, contact and abut each other to minimize or eliminate space between adjacent boards to improve the strength of the core layer.