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.
Installing hardibacker on floor.
That s why it was named the most preferred brand of backer board by tile installers and contractors according to the 2019 tile and stone report conducted by clearseas research in partnership with the national tile contractors association and tile magazine.
If installing hardiebacker cement board over existing floor ensure the floor is flat.
Keep fasteners between 3 8 and 3 4 from sheet edges and 2 in from sheet corners.
If you re preparing to do a ceramic floor or wall installation it s recommended that you install hardiebacker cement board on your subfloor or wall before you begin to lay the tile.
Hardiebacker cement board is made better to install better and perform better.
The other is foam backer board which is ok to install over concrete.
Fasten the backer board to the floor using proper nails or screws as recommended by the manufacturer every 8 around the perimeter and all supporting the studs.
To avoid building up the floor too high you can use 1 4 in thick backer board instead of 1 2 in.
Required tools for this project.
Hardiebacker is available in both 1 4 inch and 42 inch thick hardiebacker 500 versions and is designed to add mold and moisture resistance to tile installations.
For best results remove existing floor covering especially if it is in poor condition.
The plywood adds stiffness and stability to the floor.
Floor tiles should be installed over smooth flat surfaces.
Check with wedi schluter laticrete goboard or whichever manufacturer to see how they want their product installed over a concrete subfloor.
Never install new tiles over existing tiles or onto an unprotected wood or plywood floor.
The backer board comes in different sizes and you will pick the right one depending on the type of floor you are installing.
Unlike wood or drywall sub surfaces cement backerboard will not rot warp or grow mold and mildew when exposed to water.
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.
This can be beneficial if you are wanting to insulate concrete from an electric floor heating system above it.