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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.
What kind of backer board do you use for a shower?
Cement backer board is also called cement board, and it’s the most commonly used backer board for all manner of ceramic and porcelain tiles. Made of cement and reinforced on the top and bottom with fiberglass, this waterproof backer board is generally used for tiled shower surrounds and floors in wet areas.
How thick should Hardibacker 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.
Is Kerdi better than cement board?
KERDI-BOARD is one the best boards on the market. As you can see, KERDI-BOARD is easier to lift and cut versus cement board. Plus it’s warrantied by Schluter…and that should give you peace of mind.
Does shower wall tile need backer board?
Shower floors and walls must be backed with a waterproof backer board to prevent water damage to your home. Exterior walls with tile must have a waterproof backer. A waterproof backer board is not required for kitchen and bathroom backsplashes.
What can I use instead of backer board?
If you are good with a trowel and understand how to set up and use screeds as a guide for leveling or forming the mortar, pouring a traditional mortar bed may be a good alternative to tile backer board, especially on uneven or sloping floors.
Which is better durock or Hardibacker?
Durock is too abrasive and can damage vinyl, porcelain, and enamel. HardieBacker does not contain any course materials, so it is the preferable choice. It has a warranty that extends over the use of vinyl tile applications. Durock does not.
Is Hardibacker good for showers?
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.
Do I need to waterproof cement board in shower?
Whether you’re laying down a new tile floor or installing a shower, you may use a sheathing material such as backerboard. Although most backerboards currently available won’t fall apart when exposed to moisture and are somewhat water-resistant, they aren’t waterproof.
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.
Do I need a vapor barrier behind Kerdi?
Kerdi is the vapor barrier, there is no need for anything behind it. Kerdi can even be installed over drywall. Cement board and grout are not water proof, if there’s Kerdi no moisture is ever going to be able to get behind it.
Can I use Schluter all set on cement board?
Schluter ALL-SET™ can be used in both interior and exterior systems and is available in both grey and white. Schluter ALL-SET™ meets or exceeds the American National Standard Specifications for Modified Dry-Set Cement Mortar, ANSI A118.
Can you use cement board in a shower?
There are several acceptable applications of cement board in the shower. All applications pair up the tile board with some kind of waterproofing material, whether a liquid membrane, plastic sheeting, an uncoupling membrane like Schluter Kerdi, or a board that is already faced with waterproofing.
How do you attach tile to backer board?
Apply a gap filing bed of tile adhesive using a 6mm notched trowel, the 6mm HardieBacker board should be slowly embedded into the wet adhesive with a sliding motion, firmly and evenly. The boards are fixed to the subfloor surface using a minimum of 12 screws into the board (4 rows of 3).
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.
Can you lay tile without cement board?
As long as a concrete slab is very flat and contains no cracks, tile can be installed directly on top, using thinset as the adhesive, allowing you to skip the backer board layer.
What kind of screws do you use for backer board?
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.
Do I really need Thinset under backer board?
Not only is thinset a critical component underneath cement board but the other critical component is the fasteners. And you won’t have the fasteners if you are trying to install it over concrete.
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.
Can you tile directly to green board?
You can tile over greenboard sheetrock whether it is in the shower or any other location. After that, you can tile over the greenboard sheetrock in the same manner as you would with any other bathroom tiling. First, apply the tile adhesive to the wall in small areas.
What thickness Hardibacker should I use?
We recommend 1/4 in HardieBacker® board for floor applications, unless 1/2 in thickness is needed for transition. On existing structures: Ensure subfloor is not damaged.
