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Does cement board go behind shower pan?
The wallboard must be installed 1/8 inch above the shower pan. If the shower pan is not in place, the wallboard height must be guessed, which can lead to inaccuracies and an expansion gap that is too large or too small.
What goes behind backer board in shower?
Use an appropriate waterproof or moisture-resistant backing material behind grouted tile or stone or segmented plastic or fiberglass tub and shower surrounds. Appropriate materials include cement board which has a cementitious core and glass mats on both sides to strengthen the board.
What do you put behind cement board?
Because cement board can be used either for floors or walls, the surface below the cement board will vary: Flooring: For ceramic tile floors, the cement board usually rests on a plywood subfloor (minimum 5/8-inch-thick exterior-grade plywood or OSB).
Do you have to seal cement board before tiling?
Contrary to popular thought, tile and grout are not waterproof, and some moisture will penetrate even if sealant is used. However, if you choose to use concrete backerboard, which is much stronger and more durable than gypsum board, a water vapor membrane must be placed underneath it or a sealant applied on top of it.
Do you need to tape cement board before tiling?
For tile backer boards such as Durock, Wonderboard, Hardiebacker, Permabase, and others the seams between the board need to be treated with 2-inch alkali-resistant mesh tape. Then a coat of thinset gets flat troweled over the seam. What this does is tie the two boards together and help prevent flexing.
What is the best backer board for a shower?
Cement board is a good, reliable backer board that works well on both floors and walls. Keep in mind that most tile setters err on the side of caution and brush a waterproofing membrane on top of cement board when it is in wet areas like showers or tub surrounds.
Do I need vapor barrier behind Hardibacker?
Hardibacker doesn’t need a vapor barrier or waterproofing except you do need to tape and thinset the joints.
How thick should cement board be for shower walls?
The minimum recommended thickness for the shower wall is 1/2″ because like some of the other boards, they become far too flexible at thicknesses below 1/2″. Foam shower tile backer boards are generally about 4x the cost of cement board.
Can you just screw down cement board?
Screw and Joints Do not use drywall screws as they are not recommended to be used to hold the backer board in place. All of your backer board pieces should be cut before they are placed on the floor. It is important to highlight that screws shall not be installed all the way down to the floor joists.
How long should cement board screws be?
Cement board attached to plywood or similar underlayment will hold with only 1 1/4-inch screws; for thick or heavy metal fixtures, use 1 5/8-inch screws. In general, 1 1/2-inch galvanized nails will hold the board firmly in place.
What side of cement board faces out?
Screw the board in place Cement board has a smooth side and a rough side. Face the rough side out if you will be using thin-set mortar adhesive to install the tile but the smooth side out if you will be using latex mastic.
Can I use drywall screws for cement board?
You don’t want to use regular drywall screws for cement boards. They can corrode, they can break down the edges of the boards, and they won’t drive in flush properly. Use ITW’s ROCK-ON and BACKER-ON screws instead.
Can I use deck screws for cement board?
Weight on the wallboard (Hardi) isn’t the issue with using the proper screws. The screws should be alkali resistant, galvanized deck screws don’t qualify. The issue is corrosion from the cement products.
Is it OK to walk on cement board?
Don’t know if you can but I wouldn’t. Its done all the time in construction. Some want the cement board before the cabinet installs because of the appliance clearances, major bathroom installs, etc. Some cement boards are “softer” than others, so dragging a refridge over it will crush or damage some.
What Thinset do I use for cement board?
Use thin-set mortar when installing cement backerboard. Thin-set dries slowly, allowing you to fix and readjust backerboard sheets as needed. (Thin-set mortar ingredients are cement, fine sand and a water retaining agent. It’s used to bond ceramic or porcelain tile and cement backerboard.).
Which is better cement board or Hardibacker?
HardieBacker is much more light, and it is also the best selling brand of cement board available. It is much cleaner because it does not have any glass in it. It allows for a smooth job with minimal mess. As a bonus, HardieBacker board has an EZ Grid pattern so you can cut perfect lines.
Do I need to waterproof shower walls before tiling?
Contrary to popular belief, ceramic tile and grout, by themselves are not waterproof. Water can penetrate through cement-based grout and work its way through the substrate. To prevent water damage, you must install a waterproof membrane just below the tile bonding mortar as close to the tile as possible.
Can you use purple board in a shower?
Purple sheetrock is highly resistive to mold, damage, and water. It is used on the exterior of commercial buildings and many other applications such as showers.
Can you use Hardibacker in a shower?
3 Answers. 1/4″ hardibacker alone is an unsuitable substrate for shower wall tile. If it were attached to properly waterproofed drywall, plywood, or plaster it would be fine. Think about it, one wayward elbow, knee, or hip bump and you may get flexion which would cause the grout (or tile) to crack.
Does Hardibacker need to be waterproofed?
Hardiebacker (James Hardie): the use of a waterproof membrane, vapor barrier or vapor. retarding membrane is optional unless the local building code requires it.
