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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.
Can I use 1/4 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.
Do you need thinset under cement board?
Using thinset under cement board is a commonly skipped step amongst many contractors. However, many manufacturers including, both Durock and Hardiebacker not only recommend that you use thinset under their backerboard, but they specify it and will void the warranty on their product if it’s not used.
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 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.
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.
Can I screw cement board to subfloor?
Cement board can be installed over a plywood subfloor using an appropriate construction adhesive and screws for a quicker project that’s less messy than taping and mudding.
What do you do with a gap between tub and cement board?
Technically, after the tile is installed over the backer board that gap between it and the tub ledge should be filled with an ASTM C920 sealant (caulking e.g. silicone). Although some say you should have weep holes along this gap so any water behind can weep out into the tub.
What do you put on seams of cement board?
Use special mesh tape on seams Cover all of the corners, joints and seams, including the joint where drywall and cement board meet, with the fiberglass mesh tape.
How long before you can walk on cement board?
However, after you mount the backer board to the floor you simply have to seal the seams with mortar and wait until the mortar dries. This is normally 12 hours but may be up to 24 hours in some cases.
Should you tape cement board joints?
The thinset and mesh tape are to strengthen the seams. If you are going to tile over the cement board, you should tape the seams. This should not be that difficult.
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.
Is backer board needed 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 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.
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.
Does cement board need waterproofing?
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.
What kind of thinset goes under cement board?
An unmodified thinset (Masterblend) is fine between the Hardi and the subfloor. 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.
Can you use cement board for flooring?
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. “Correctly installed” is the key.
