Table of Contents
Floors: A 1/4-inch minimum thickness is needed, but thicker panels are also fine. Walls: Use 1/2-inch or 5/8-inch-thick cement board, not 1/4-inch. The extra thickness is needed when spanning the studs and it provides a solid base for the tile.
How thick should backer board be for tile?
The backer board has a standard thickness of 1/2 inch. If you want to install backer board over an existing subfloor, you need a quarter of an inch. 1/2 inch sheets are better for attaching backer board to floor joists.
Can you use 1/4 cement board on floors?
Both 1/4- and1/2-inch cement board are appropriate for floors. To install cement board on floors, cement board manufacturers mandate a 5/8-inch plywood subfloor or OSB underlayment.
What is the best cement board for floor tile?
Fiber Cement Board Fiber board is recommended for floor tile installations, since thin-set mortar adheres well to it, ensuring a strong tile-to-floor bond. Fiber cement board comes in sheets measuring 3 x 5 feet with a thickness ranging from 1/4-inch to 5/16-inch.
How many screws do I need for a 3×5 cement board?
Screw a full-size 3 x 5-ft. cement board to the back wall. Place special 1-1/4 in. cement board screws every 8 in.
Do I have to put thinset under Hardibacker?
It will make an enormous mess under the house (or whatever is under your bathroom). It is also more likely to make the floor uneven since it is hard to level thinset that is separated by gaps. The installation manual for HardieBacker suggests to embed it in thin-set and it should be installed over plywood.
What is the best underlayment for tile floors?
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.
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.
Should cement board be waterproofed?
It is not an inexpensive product and should be used judiciously. When discussing wall sheathings, I find people are confused by the terms “waterproof” and “water-resistant.” Concrete backer-board certainly is waterproof in that it will not disintegrate when exposed to moisture for long durations.
Do you need a moisture barrier under tile?
A moisture barrier helps control the water vapor’s movement to help protect your floors. Therefore, if you’re installing floors in an area that sees moisture, even a little, a vapor barrier is needed.
Can you tile onto cement board?
Both 6mm and 12mm HardieBacker cement boards can be used on masonry walls. HardieBacker can take up to 200kg of tile hanging weight per m2 so almost any tile can be fixed. When tiling with a cementitious-based tile adhesive, prime the face of the board with one coat of BAL Primer – diluted 1:1 by volume of water.
Can I use cement board instead of plywood?
Cement backerboard is more stable than plywood in high humidity and other wet environments. It won’t swell and buckle the way that plywood does, so it’s safe to use in mudrooms and bathrooms where things like spills and puddles are normal, as well as in areas with high levels of moisture in the air.
How do you attach tile to cement board?
Squeeze tile adhesive into the joints between the backer boards using a spatula. Apply alkaline-resistant fiberglass joint tape over the joints. Spread adhesive over top of the tape and use the spatula to feather over the edges and create a tight sealed bond with the backer board.
Can I tile directly on plywood?
Tile can be laid on plywood. But do not install tile directly on the plywood subfloor itself. Use an intervening layer of a sheet of thinner plywood.
What do professional tile setters often use for underlayment?
1. Backer Board. This is the industry standard most preferred by construction pros when installing ceramic or porcelain tile. Backer board comes in four-foot-by-eight-foot and three-foot-by-five-foot rigid panels that contain a combination of cement, fiberglass, and sometimes crushed glass particles.
How far apart do you put screws in cement board?
Fasten the backer board to the floor using proper nails or screws, as recommended by the manufacturer, every 8″ around the perimeter and all supporting the studs. Keep fasteners between 3/8″ and 3/4″ from sheet edges and 2″ in from sheet corners.
Do you put cement board under a shower pan?
ALL CEMENT BOARDS MUST be installed in a fresh bed of thinset. Unmodified thinset is preferable. If you want the cement board under the shower tray then do so – doesn’t matter. If that creates plumbing issues you can’t deal with then leave it out.
Should I put thinset under cement 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.
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 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.
Can I 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.
What kind of subfloor is needed for ceramic tile?
The subfloor under the tile should be at least 1 1/8″ thick, with a minimum of 5/8″ thick exterior grade plywood topped by 1/2″ cement backer board.
Can I tile directly on Hardibacker?
The Hardibacker will be fine to tile straight onto.
