Table of Contents
And although I’ve never tried it myself, you can cut backer board using a wet saw, which is designed for cutting tile. The saw has an abrasive blade that’s bathed in water, so it cuts cleanly, with no dust. Another power-tool option is to use a jigsaw fitted with a metal-cutting blade or carbide-grit blade.
How do you cut cement board by hand?
Can you cut cement board with a table saw?
A carbide-tipped blade with as few as six teeth will cut a cement backer board smoothly and quickly. Lay your backer board out on a work table or between two sawhorses. Unlike score and snap, you’ll need to use a surface that allows for a saw blade to go through the board.
What side of cement board do you cut?
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.
Do I need a special blade to cut cement board?
Use a carbide-tipped wood-cutting blade to minimize dust. Cement is a very hard material, so you’ll need to use a blade that can handle the material. Carbide-tipped wood-cutting blades have fewer teeth than other circular saw blades and the carbide can withstand the strain of the cement.
What is the easiest way to cut cement board?
The simplest way to cut cement backer board is to score the surface and snap the sheet along the scored line, similar to the way you’d cut drywall. In fact, you can use a drywall utility knife to score backer board, but a better option is a carbide-tipped scoring tool.
Can you cut cement board with a utility knife?
A carbide-tipped scoring knife is recommended, but you can also use a utility knife or shears. Never use a high-speed grinder to cut cement board indoors, since this can create a dust hazard.
Can I use drywall screws on 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 you cut cement board with a Sawzall?
A: You can cut cement backer board with a circular saw or grinder equipped with an abrasive or diamond blade. A reciprocating saw with an abrasive blade will also do the trick, and so will a backerboard scoring knife, which works like a standard razor knife but with a carbide cutting edge.
Do you have to pre drill cement board?
Fiberboard cement siding can be hand-nailed, but because it’s so much harder and more brittle than wood, you have to predrill holes near any edge. You can save yourself a bunch of time by using a pneumatic coil siding nail gun.
What kind of blade do you need to cut cement board?
Fit your circular saw with a carbide-tipped wood-cutting blade (view example on Amazon), choosing one with as few teeth as possible in order to minimize the amount of dust given off as you saw. Operate your circular saw as you typically would, pushing it slowly and evenly through your cement backer board.
What is the best way to cut durock?
To cut DUROCK Brand Cement Board, mark desired size on the board with a rule and pencil. Score both sides and edges with a utility knife through the glass-fiber mesh, and snap the board to size. Smooth cut edges with wood rasp.
Do you have to tape cement board before tiling?
If you are going to tile over the cement board, you should tape the seams. This should not be that difficult. Pack in thinset, lay on the tape, and flat-knife to get it set in. In the corners, use a corner knife.
Is concrete board waterproof?
Most concrete backer-boards on the market today are not water-resistant, but all are waterproof. Since many people confuse the terms, it is a common misconception that this is the best material for use inside a shower or tub area.
How do you screw cement board?
Drill cement board screws through the backer board sheets every 6 to 8 inches. Position the screws at least 1/2-inch, but no more than 2 inches, from the edge of the sheet. Drive the screws in so that the heads are slightly below the surface of the backer board sheet.
Can I use liquid nail on cement board?
LN-907 Liquid Nails is recommended for cement board and most other common building materials. The application temperature is from 22 to 120 Fahrenheit and the service temperature is -20 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes it ideal for just about any DIY project and on most construction projects.
