How To Lay Backer Board For Tile Floor

The primary benefit of cement board is that it doesn t break down or expand or warp if it gets wet.

How to lay backer board for tile floor.

Thick 3 x 5 ft. Second the strength of wood boards isn t always consistent. Placing cement boards over the concrete subfloor is an excellent way to create a solid and smooth subfloor. Cement board is a type of underlayment that is now standard for most tile installations but particularly for floor tile.

Never install new tiles over existing tiles or onto an unprotected wood or plywood floor. This is a distinct advantage over plywood and drywall. Lay the backer board according to the manufacturer s instructions. Cement board commonly sold under trade names such as durock hardiebacker and wonderboard is now the standard underlayment used for ceramic porcelain or stone tile laid with thinset mortar adhesive cement board is used for most floor tile and has all but replaced plywood and drywall backer materials for wall tile applications in wet areas like showers and tub surrounds.

According to backer board manufacturers and tile setters installing backer board directly over an old solid wood subfloor is risky for a couple of reasons. Whenever you re laying tile on a wood subfloor you need to first install cement backerboard to prevent leaks and water damage. First changes in humidity make solid wood shrink swell and cup more than plywood. Spread the mortar to about 3 16 thickness.

Add more mortar as necessary to fill sunken areas in. Floor tiles should be installed over smooth flat surfaces. Cement board also provides an additional layer over a plywood or particleboard subfloor adding stiffness to the tile. However a homeowner may need to raise the floor slightly before installing tile and lack the experience or time to install a mortar bed.

It s typically available in 1 2 in. The backer board comes in different sizes and you will pick the right one depending on the type of floor you are installing. To achieve the ideal flat surface most contractors rely on the backer board cement backer board is a thin layer of concrete designed to be setting surface upon which tile can be installed. Unlike wood or drywall sub surfaces cement backerboard will not rot warp or grow mold and mildew when exposed to water.

Its made from cement and sand and is reinforced by fiberglass mats on both sides so it s impervious to water. Using a notched trowel apply a leveling bed of thinset mortar over the subfloor and embed the backer board sheets into the adhesive.