How To Install Cement Board On Plywood Floor

This guide will teach you how to properly lay cement backerboard and use mortar to secure and level your subfloor before installing tile.

How to install cement board on plywood floor.

The 1 mistake most people make when installing cement board. If you have a concrete subfloor then you should not be contemplating installing cement board over it. Learn how to install hardiebacker cement board on wooden floors and the appropriate materials and tools that you ll need for the job. Then you attach the cement board with screws.

5 steps to a sound ceramic floor. For ceramic tile floors the cement board usually rests on a plywood subfloor minimum 5 8 inch thick exterior grade plywood or osb if new ceramic tile is being laid on an existing floor the cement board can usually be laid right over the existing floor finish provided it is in good shape and the extra floor thickness is not a problem. Before we go any farther on how to install cement board i am going to talk about a very common mistake most people make. Make a final check with the level to be sure all the high and low spots are gone.

Installing cement board over a concrete subfloor. Cement board also provides an additional layer over a plywood or particleboard subfloor adding stiffness to the tile. Cement board is a type of underlayment that is now standard for most tile installations but particularly for floor tile. Prepare a solid squeak free subfloor one of the keys to a long lasting tile installation is the underlying subfloor.

Before you install file flooring follow the directions above for fixing high spots and low spots in a wood or concrete subfloor. This is a distinct advantage over plywood and drywall. It has to be rock solid before you lay the 1 2 in. Ceramic tile and natural stone tile installations require some type of a cement based surface for a long term.

Unlike wood or drywall sub surfaces cement backerboard will not rot warp or grow mold and mildew when exposed to water. The primary benefit of cement board is that it doesn t break down or expand or warp if it gets wet. Never install new tiles over existing tiles or onto an unprotected wood or plywood floor. I know it seems like a smooth surface and it seems like it may fix some of the issues with the concrete floor but don t do it.