Is Backer Board Required For Floor Tile

For countertops use 3 4 inch plywood beneath the backer board.

Is backer board required for floor tile.

Installing tile raises the surface level of the floor. Second the strength of wood boards isn t always consistent. Works under interior floors to provide a solid foundation for tile vinyl wood and other flooring. Tile flooring is water resistant and durable when combined with backer board which is impervious to moisture and helps create a flat base.

Use a polymer modified thin set a type of mortar to attach the backer board to the subfloor. This includes bathroom floors and any other tile flooring in your house what builders call the wet areas. Install a cement based backer board following the manufacturer s instructions. For flooring the backer board should be installed over a 5 8 inch thick osb or plywood base.

This provides a solid surface under the tile that prevents flexing that could lead to cracking. Cement backer board is often used as a tile base on plywood or osb subfloor. Backer board is also used under floor tile when there s a wood sub floor. Cement board is a cement backerboard designed for use with floors and countertops.

When backer board is selected as a floor tile underlayment and is installed correctly it provides an excellent substrate for tile in kitchens entries foyers bathrooms and more. Cement board will also work as a countertop backerboard and underlayment for tile granite and other stone surfaces. Half inch cement backer board is ideal for most tiling jobs including walls floors countertops and ceilings. And if you re building a new house or remodeling a kitchen you ll also want to put backer board behind the backsplash.

How to install tile backer board. Backerboard or cement board comes in sheets much like drywall and is used in a couple of ways. Cement backer board on concrete as a subfloor or underlayment is usually not recommended or needed. First changes in humidity make solid wood shrink swell and cup more than plywood.

James hardie hardiebacker 1 4 in. Cement board is james hardie hardiebacker 1 4 in. It is used on flooring installations as a means of creating a stable and easier to work with subfloor. If you have a larger area to cover with the underfloor heating then installing backer board is necessary to prevent the floor giving way.

Tile backer boards can be used with underfloor heating systems and are preferable to xps boards which are much less able to bear weight and can only be used in small areas. It is also used in shower and tub enclosures or anywhere with significant wetness issues as a means of helping to create a moisture barrier. Make sure to tape the seams and corners of the backer board according the manufacturer recommendations.