Cement board also provides an additional layer over a plywood or particleboard subfloor adding stiffness to the tile.
Laying cement board on floor.
Installing cement board over a concrete subfloor.
With the plywood in place install the backer board as you normally would.
The plywood adds stiffness and stability to the floor.
To install ceramic tile over wood the wood surface must be structurally sound enough to support the weight of the tile.
The primary benefit of cement board is that it doesn t break down or expand or warp if it gets wet.
Then you attach the cement board with screws.
You must first dry lay the entire floor with cement board before adhering and nailing the floor down.
Installing over wood.
Before we go any farther on how to install cement board i am going to talk about a very common mistake most people make.
It is very important to first spread thin set on the floor before placing the cement board to 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.
Unlike wood or drywall sub surfaces cement backerboard will not rot warp or grow mold and mildew when exposed to water.
Whenever you re laying tile on a wood subfloor you need to first install cement backerboard to prevent leaks and water damage.
Lay down full sheets of backer board where they will fit first.
We show you how to install a first class tile base.
Laying cement board is the easiest way to assure a solid durable base for a ceramic tile floor.
Never install new tiles over existing tiles or onto an unprotected wood or plywood floor.
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.
If you want to replace an old cracked tile floor or other type of flooring with new ceramic tile it s absolutely imperative that you create a solid.
If you have a concrete subfloor then you should not be contemplating installing cement board over it.
Cement board is a type of underlayment that is now standard for most tile installations but particularly for floor tile.
To avoid building up the floor too high you can use 1 4 in thick backer board instead of 1 2 in.
The 1 mistake most people make when installing cement board.