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PaperclipPerfector  3d ago (text post)   2038 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for January 30, 2026

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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Do you not add a mineral layer over the joists of the second floor in the US?

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For tile, specifically, you'll usually see some waterproof membrane or backing board, leveled with grout of self-leveling concrete, then using thinset to keep the tile attached, and the finally grout to interfere the gaps.

I don't think I've ever seen that used for carpet, hardwood, or linoleum, and at least in my neck of the woods tile is rare outside of restrooms and kitchens. Both my current house, last rental, and several of the other houses I'd looked at when in the market had joisted floors, though I was specifically looking for houses with a basement.

The Architectural Graphic Standards for Residential Construction portray:

  • Joists

  • "Subflooring" of plywood

  • "Underlayment" of plywood, required for some finishes but not for others

  • Finish

A cursory Internet search indicates that the underlayment may alternatively be fiberboard, particleboard, etc.

No cement? I guess since you mostly use air for heating you don't need it.

A cursory search indicates that "self-leveling concrete" can be used as underlayment, but I guess it's much less common than plywood.

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I'm just another random fake person on the Internet.

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