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Half-inch cement backer board is ideal for most tiling jobs, including walls, floors, countertops, and ceilings. 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.
How thick should backer board be for tile?
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.
What kind of board goes under ceramic 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 1/4-inch 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.
Can you use 1/4-inch Hardibacker walls?
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.
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. Replace any loose, warped, uneven or damaged sections of floor.
What is the thinnest backer board for tile?
It does suggest that 1/4-inch cement backerboards are generally useful for the underlayment of tiled floors.
Is backer board necessary for tile floor?
Whenever you’re laying tile on a wood subfloor, you need to first install cement backerboard to prevent leaks and water damage that could harm your flooring and the structure of your home. Unlike wood or drywall sub-surfaces, cement backerboard will not rot, warp or grow mold and mildew when exposed to water.
What is underlayment for tile?
An underlayment is the solid stabilizing layer directly below the tile and the tile adhesive (usually a thinset mortar). Using the wrong one can spell disaster for your tile installation.
What is the best underlayment for a bathroom floor?
Backer Board. This is the industry standard most preferred by construction pros when installing ceramic or porcelain tile. Trowel-able and Pourable Underlayment. A number of trowel-able and pourable tile underlayment options are available, each with its own purpose and best use. Membranes.
Can you use cement board as a subfloor 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.
Can you put cement board over subfloor?
If you’re working over a wood subfloor, cement board is the right choice for your tile base. Correctly installed cement board provides a very stable base that’s permanently bound to the tile with thin-set mortar so your new tile floor will last a very long time.
Which backer board is best for floors?
Half-inch cement backer board is ideal for most tiling jobs, including walls, floors, countertops, and ceilings. 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.
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.
Can you double up 1/4 cement board?
You can double it up, but I would not exceed 1/4″ as it may interfere with the tub/shower lip if you use 1/2″. 3×5 sheets of hardie or durock will be easier to handle. Seams are little worry, just use proper mesh tape and thinset. I used 1/2 not 1/4 – the Onyx is what is 1/4.
Can you use 6mm Hardibacker on walls?
Both 6mm and 12mm HardieBacker cement boards can be used on masonry walls whenever you are dealing with a confined space. The boards should be installed onto a clean and smooth surface and all remained dry lining removed prior to installation.
Do you have to put Thinset under Hardibacker?
The installation manual for HardieBacker suggests to embed it in thin-set and it should be installed over plywood. Thus I would suggest removing the current wood planks flooring, install a 3/4″ outdoor grade plywood, thinset and then your HardieBacker (screwed down).
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.
How thin can you get backer board?
Backer board is commonly available in four thicknesses—1/4, 1/2, 7/16, and 5/8 inch—and in two sizes: 3 feet x 5 feet and 4 feet x 8 feet.
What is better Ditra or cement board?
Ditra is waterproof, while cement board lets water through but won’t be damaged by it. This may make Ditra a better choice if moisture from below is a concern, such as with some outdoor applications or installations over concrete.
How thick is Thinset under tile?
How Much Thickness Should You Allow for Thinset when Tiling? Plan for a layer of thinset 3/16-inch to 1/8-inch thick beneath your tile. A 3/16-inch layer of thinset will be enough for tiles with a smooth back to bond the tile to the floor or backer board.
