Can someone give me the pros and cons of varnishing cork roadbed before the track is fastened to it? Does it keep the cork from drying out over time and make it last longer?
Never heard of anybody ever doing that.Considering, that its going to ballasted over anyway, In my opinion, it would be a wasted step.I've had cork roadbed in my attic(Where the layout is)for years, some layed down and unballasted, and with the tempature changes, never had a problem with it drying out.
If you use the cork for sound deadening, varnishing will probably put the noise back. Even ballasting will, to some extent, if the ballast glue links the track to the sub-roadbed.