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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 size backer board do you use for floor tile?
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.
Can you use 1/4 inch cement board on floors?
1/4″ USG Durock® cement board is an ideal substrate for floor and countertop ceramic tile installations. The 1/4″ thickness helps eliminate transition trim when abutting carpet or wood flooring and minimize level variations with other finish materials.
Can you use 1/2 inch cement board on floors?
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. Manufacturers also recommend bonding cement board to floors with a 1/4-inch polymer-modified thinset coating.
How thick should Backerboard be for tile?
Cement-fiber, or similarly reinforced, backer board comes in standard 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch thicknesses. If you’re installing backer board over an existing subfloor, 1/4 inch is sufficient. If you’re installing backer board in new construction, attaching it directly to floor joists, opt for 1/2 inch sheets.
Is backer board required for floor tile?
Whenever you’re laying tile on a wood subfloor, you need to first install cement backer board. Backer board prevents leaks and water damage that could harm your flooring and the structure of your home. You also can’t safely install tile flooring over plywood subfloor or onto an unprotected wood floor.
Can you use 1/4 HardieBacker floors?
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.
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 is the difference between durock and Hardibacker?
Durock is a reliable cement product that contains glass mesh. It is the heavier of the two materials, which means it is more difficult to use and maneuver. 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.
Why do I need thinset under backer board?
Thinset is going to create a solid surface under tile and prevent flexing that could lead to cracking. Using thinset between the backerboard and subfloor will create additional strength, fill in any potential gaps that exist and lessen the possibility of movement.
Can you tile directly on subfloor?
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 thinset do I use for cement board?
An unmodified thinset (Masterblend) is fine between the Hardi and the subfloor. Tara, The reason for the layer of thinset between the cement board and the subfloor is to fill the voids/gaps between the two. It’ll keep the cement board from moving up and down.
How much height does thinset add to floor?
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.
What is the best thickness for floor tiles?
The thickness of a tile is dependent on the material it is made of and the manufacturing process. Although any floor tile can be used on the wall too, a good floor tile is at least 10mm thick. This will mean it is durable and suitable for heavy traffic areas.
What is the thinnest backer board for tile?
Fiber cement board is available in 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch thicknesses. The 1/4-inch-thick board is typically used on floors and countertops.
Can you tile straight onto backer board?
As a building material, interior fibre cement tile backer board products are especially suited as a tiling base for tiling wet areas such as bathrooms, kitchens and showers as it is resistant to permanent water damage and does not need to be treated before tiling.
Is Ditra better than 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.
Do you have to tape seams on Hardibacker?
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.
What side of Hardibacker goes up?
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?.
Do you need plywood behind Hardie board?
Fiber cement siding should be installed over plywood, OSB, or sheathing. Building codes will usually require installing siding over water-resistant barriers and nailed into the studs every 16 or 24 inches.
