Installing Backer Board On Floor For Tiling

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 backer board on floor for tiling.

Installing backer board involves three main steps. Chipboard cushioned vinyl flooring particle boards of any type oriented strand board osb interior grade plywood tongue and groove planking and hardwood floors are unsuitable substrates for direct installation of ceramic tile. It s typically available in 1 2 in. Add more mortar as necessary to fill sunken areas in.

Installing over wood. 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. Unlike wood or drywall sub surfaces cement backerboard will not rot warp or grow mold and mildew when exposed to water.

For countertops use 3 4 inch plywood beneath the backer board. Spread the mortar to about 3 16 thickness. This provides a solid surface under the tile that prevents flexing that could lead to cracking. Use a trowel to spread the thinset but before you do that be sure you ve scraped off old adhesive from any existing flooring you removed and vacuumed and cleaned well.

Cutting fastening and taping and mudding. Cement board is the most durable trouble free tile backer for tub surrounds showers floors and all other wet areas. Install a cement based backer board following the manufacturer s instructions. Its made from cement and sand and is reinforced by fiberglass mats on both sides so it s impervious to water.

Lay the backer board according to the manufacturer s instructions. To install ceramic tile over wood the wood surface must be structurally sound enough to support the weight of the tile. For flooring the backer board should be installed over a 5 8 inch thick osb or plywood base. Use a polymer modified thin set a type of mortar to attach the backer board to the subfloor.

Using a notched trowel apply a leveling bed of thinset mortar over the subfloor and embed the backer board sheets into the adhesive. How to install tile backer board. Installation of cement backerboard is always preceded by application of thinset mortar which fills low spots in the subfloor and anchors the backer board sheets. Installations for floor tile and other horizontal surfaces like countertops require an extra step of applying thin set tile adhesive to the wood subfloor before laying down the cement board sheets.

Second the strength of wood boards isn t always consistent. Thick 3 x 5 ft.