What Is The Best Backer Board

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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 is the best brand of backer board?

More than one-third (34 percent) of respondents chose HardieBacker Cement Board as their preferred backer board for floor and wall tile installations, making it the highest overall ranked product, significantly ahead of manufacturers such as USG, Georgia-Pacific, Custom Building Products and National Gypsum.

What thickness of backer board should I use?

For flooring, the backer board should be installed over a 5/8-inch thick OSB or plywood base. For countertops, use 3/4-inch plywood beneath the backer board. And for walls and ceilings, apply 1/2-inch or 5/8-inch backer board screwed directly to the wall studs or joists.

Does backer board go over tub flange?

ANSWER – No there should not be a gap between the top of the bathtub flange and the backer board on the wall. The backer board should overlap the tub flange so the tile has a stable backing to attach to. This requires shimming the backer board out from the studs so the wall is plumb.

Can I put tile directly on drywall?

As long as your wall is smooth and flat, you can install a ceramic tile kitchen backsplash directly over drywall or plaster with no problem. Start by cleaning the wall to remove any grease, then apply thin-set adhesive, and set the tile. After the adhesive has set, apply grout, and you’re done.

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.

Do I need a vapor barrier behind cement board in shower?

Their online instructions/diagrams show no use of a vapor barrier. You should, so that any moisture that gets behind the cement board runs into the tub or shower instead of into your wall cavity (causing rot or mold/mildew).

Do I need 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.

What is the best board to tile on?

Fiber cement board (also called fiber board), is constructed from Portland cement mixed with sand and cellulose fibers. Fiber board is recommended for floor tile installations as the make-up of the board helps adhesives to bond with the board itself.

Do I need backer board for backsplash?

Waterproof tile backing board is only necessary for walls and floors that will be directly exposed to running water, such as in a shower. A backer board is not required for all wall tile. For instance, a tile backsplash in your kitchen can be installed over standard drywall.1 day ago

What side of Hardibacker faces out?

Which side goes up, smooth or rough? Either is acceptable, but we recommend that the smooth side with the nailing pattern of every 8″ on center go up. What subfloor should HardieBacker® cement board be installed over?

Can Hardibacker be used in shower?

Installing cement backerboard is one of the more popular choices for a shower wall substrate. Cement backerboards include Hardiebacker, Durock, Fiberboard, wonderboard, and similar products. When installed properly they will give you many, many years of durable shower construction.

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.

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.

What type of board goes under tile?

Exterior-Grade Plywood Exterior plywood is an acceptable underlayment for tile and is preferred to interior-grade plywoods because the bonding adhesives used are waterproof. If water seeps through the tile installation to the underlayment, it will not cause the wood to swell, as happens with interior-grade plywood.

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.

What do I 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).

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.

Do you have to use 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.

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.