Laying Cement Board On The Floor

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.

Laying cement board on the 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. Screws every 6 in. Installing cement board over a concrete subfloor. Whatever your subfloor is made of be sure it s squeak free before you install the cement board.

It is very important to first spread thin set on the floor before placing the cement board to the floor. If the subfloor doesn t have enough stability you can usually but not always remedy the situation by installing cement backer board also called cementboard. If you have a concrete subfloor then you should not be contemplating installing cement board over it. This is called staggering the joints and makes for a stronger tile base.

With the plywood in place install the backer board as you normally would. The plywood adds stiffness and stability to the floor. Leave a 1 4 inch gap between the board and any adjacent walls. Lay the first sheet of cement board onto the mortar so the rough side of the board is facing up.

Which will help prevent the tile from cracking. Whenever you re laying tile on a wood subfloor you need to first install cement backerboard to prevent leaks and water damage. The edges of the cement board should be no closer than 8 inches to the joints in the subflooring. Unlike wood or drywall sub surfaces cement backerboard will not rot warp or grow mold and mildew when exposed to water.

It has to be rock solid before you lay the 1 2 in. Prepare a solid squeak free subfloor one of the keys to a long lasting tile installation is the underlying subfloor. Add a layer of 1 2 in. Never install new tiles over existing tiles or onto an unprotected wood or plywood floor.

This step is crucial because it strengthens the floor and it helps prevent floor movement.