Cement board is brittle and is not suitable for unsupported use as a floor. When it is supported by plywood or such it is much more resilient provided they are sufficiently bonded (screws work fine as iLikeDirt mentioned, but some like to supplement that with construction adhesive for a quieter floor.
Can you use cement board for flooring?
Because cement board can be used either for floors or walls, the surface below the cement board will vary: Flooring: For ceramic tile floors, the cement board usually rests on a plywood subfloor (minimum 5/8-inch-thick exterior-grade plywood or OSB ).
Can you use cement board for underlayment?
Cement board (used in tile underlayment) is now standard for most tile installations, but particularly for floor tile. The primary benefit of cement board is that it doesn't break down or expand or warp if it gets wet. This is a distinct advantage over plywood and drywall.
Can you use plywood as backer board for mortar?
Plywood is porous, and not designed for use with most of today’s latex-based thinset mortars. Cement backerboard is designed specifically for this use. You get a smoother application, and better adhesion so your tile job is less likely to fail when the backerboard is made of cement.
What are the advantages of cement board over plywood?
This is a distinct advantage over plywood and drywall. Cement board also provides an additional layer over a plywood or particleboard subfloor, adding stiffness to the tile installation to help prevent cracks.
Do you need subfloor under cement board?
Concrete backer board is not structural; it is an "underlayment" that must be placed on top of a structural plywood or OSB sub-floor.
Can you use cement board instead of plywood for a subfloor?
No, Hardie cement board is not meant to be structural, and it will not work in place of a subfloor. The board is very strong in compression and very stable so that the tiles applied to it do not crack, but it has very little shear strength. There are treatments you can put on wood to make it less attractive to insects.
Can you just screw down cement board?
Doing this will require that you remove the existing surface material before installing backer board over the studs. Cement board can also be used on countertops when laying tile. However, the process will involve using an extra sheet of backer board. Never use standard screws when installing cement board.
What do you put behind cement board?
Use an appropriate waterproof or moisture-resistant backing material behind grouted tile or stone or segmented plastic or fiberglass tub and shower surrounds. Appropriate materials include cement board which has a cementitious core and glass mats on both sides to strengthen the board.
Can I tile directly on cement board?
There is no need to install backer board on a concrete substrate—ceramic tile can be applied right over concrete, provided the surface is flat, smooth, and free of significant cracks.
Can cement board be installed on joists?
Cement board is not meant to span the distance between joists and support the floor load above it. It is strictly designed to creat a good solid substrate for laying tile to help prevemt cracking and separating in your finished floor.
Can you lay cement board without thinset?
Not only is thinset a critical component underneath cement board but the other critical component is the fasteners. And you won't have the fasteners if you are trying to install it over concrete.
Can I use 1/4 cement board on floors?
1/4" USG Durock® cement board is an ideal substrate for floor and countertop ceramic tile installations. The 1/4" thickness helps eliminate transition trim when abutting carpet or wood flooring and minimize level variations with other finish materials.
How do you secure cement board to the floor?
0:152:41How to Install Cement Backer Board for Floor Tile Installation - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipApply thinset between the cement board and the subfloor. With the flat side of a quarter inchMoreApply thinset between the cement board and the subfloor. With the flat side of a quarter inch notched trowel spread enough thinset for one sheet of backer. Board.
Is a vapor barrier necessary behind cement board?
If it's a cement board, you need a vapor barrier, because cement retains moisture, which means the wood next to it is always damp. It does retain moisture, but the advice given by others here is to move the waterproofing between the tile and cement board with products like Redguard or Ditra.
Is cement board waterproofing necessary?
You need to apply waterproofing over cement board in wet areas such as a shower. However, in areas that don't get wet you don't need it. Mortar, tile and grout provide some protection against water as well as the cement board itself. It's enough to resist water in areas that don't get that wet like a tiled floor.
Can you use 1/4 cement board walls?
1/4" hardibacker alone is an unsuitable substrate for shower wall tile. If it were attached to properly waterproofed drywall, plywood, or plaster it would be fine. Think about it, one wayward elbow, knee, or hip bump and you may get flexion which would cause the grout (or tile) to crack.
Should I use cement board or plywood?
Generally speaking, if you are laying tile on top of it, then cement board is the better option. However, for wood and other types of floors, it is plywood that is generally the preferred choice.
Can you use 1/4 inch cement board on floors?
1/4" USG Durock® cement board is an ideal substrate for floor and countertop ceramic tile installations. The 1/4" thickness helps eliminate transition trim when abutting carpet or wood flooring and minimize level variations with other finish materials.
Does cement board add strength?
Cement board adds impact resistance and strength to the wall surface as compared to water resistant gypsum boards. Cement board is also fabricated in thin sheets with polymer modified cements to allow bending for curved surfaces.
Can you use durock as a subfloor?
Subfloor should be minimum 5/8" APA span-rated plywood or OSB with an Exposure 1 classification or better. Minimum 3/4" APA span- rated plywood or OSB with an Exposure 1 classification or better. Cover base with USG Durock™ Brand Tile Membrane, 15 lb. felt or 4-mil polyethylene and attach with 1/4" galvanized staples.
What is the advantage of cement board over plywood?
One big advantage that cement board has over plywood, especially when it comes to attaching tile for vertical applications, is that its very smooth finish allows for easy adhesion, plus it can bear a lot of weight too.
What is cement board made of?
As you can tell by the name of it, cement board is indeed made out of cement. This building material is made by combining cement with various reinforcing fibers, such as fiberglass, into large sheets. Now, something important to keep in mind is that there are two main types of cement boards, which include cement-bonded particle boards, ...
What is the best material to put tile on?
Generally speaking, if you are laying tile on top of it, then cement board is the better option. However, for wood and other types of floors, it is plywood that is generally the preferred choice. Plywood is also the preferred choice for roofing underlayment, as it is much lighter in weight. Simply put, if tile goes on top, then cement board is ...
What are the two common building materials?
If you are building walls, floors or anything in between, two of the common materials that you may run into are plywood and cement board . Yes, both of these materials come in the form of thin sheets, but other than that they are not at all the same things. While both cement board and plywood are great building materials, ...
What type of cement board is used for reinforcement?
Now, something important to keep in mind is that there are two main types of cement boards, which include cement-bonded particle boards, which use wood flakes as reinforcement, as well as cement fiberboards, which use plant extract for reinforcement.
How many layers of wood veneer are there?
Strips of wood veneer are laid beside each other to create layers. A piece of plywood can be made out of as many as 21 layers of wooden veneers. All of the layers are perpendicular to one another, or in other words, one layer of the strips left to right, and the next layer faces front to back, and so on and so forth.
How is engineered wood made?
For those of you who don’t know, engineered wood is made by breaking down solid wood, mixing it with special types of adhesives, and then reforming it back into solid pieces. Plywood specifically is made by taking solid lumber and breaking it down into very thin strips, also known as wood veneers.
How thick is cement board?
Laying a cement board under a tile. When using a cement backer board, you can go with whether a ½ inch thickness or a ¼ inch thickness. It depends on how high you want to raise your floor. After you have decided on the thickness and purchased your cement backer board, spread adhesive on both the plywood subfloor and the one side of the cement board.
What to do if plywood subfloor is bending?
The first thing you’ll want to do is check your plywood subfloor for any bending or deflection. These two issues can cause grout joints to pop or the tile to crack and/or become loose. You can try and examine the subfloor with your eyes, but sometimes it’s hard to see a bent or deflected subfloor.
How to use fiberglass reinforced paper mats instead of cement?
If you’re planning on using mortar instead of cement boards, you’ll want to start by spreading your adhesive and then lay fiberglass reinforced paper mats down onto the adhesive. Use a wide joint knife or putty to press the paper down firmly onto the adhesive.
How to tell if subfloor is bent?
Instead, lay a glass of water on the subfloor, walk across it, and look and see if the water is moving at all. If not, you know you’re in the clear.
How thick should subfloor be?
In addition to a flat surface, your subfloor must also be at least 1 ½ inch thick. This is the standard size for tiling. If you add a second layer of plywood, locate the seams where the two sheets meet and offset them from each other. This will add extra strength while also helping prevent flexing.
What is mortar made of?
Mortar is a paste made up of a mixture of sand, water, and a binder. You spread it on a particular surface, and after it dries, it acts as a concrete surface. Tile tends to bond to the primer-like surface quite well. Plus, it’s inexpensive and easy to use.
How much space between sheets for tiling?
Lastly, make sure there’s a 1/16th-inch gap present between sheets. This gives them room for expansion. By neglecting to do this, you can cause the sheets to bend or warp. Once you have marked all these preparations off your list, the tiling process can begin.
What is the best material to put tile on?
While plywood has many uses, and was once the only material to install tile on, it can’t compare to the smooth, even surface of cement backerboard, or the stability that cement can bring to the job. Settle the plywood vs cement backerboard underlayment debate in favor of completing your job successfully by using cement backerboard every time.
Can plywood be used for tile?
While it is possible to find very smooth, consistent pieces of plywood, most of these are reserved for furniture grade applications, and aren’t usually used for installing beneath tiles where they won’t be seen. Therefore, the plywood usually sold for this purpose may be rough, have knot holes, and other inconsistencies that can affect the final tile installation.
Can cement backerboard be cut?
Cement backerboard is easy to cut; score it with a utility knife and snap. It can be done right at the site it will be installed on, and takes seconds to do.
Is cement backerboard good for tile?
This makes cement backerboard a good choice for large format tile floors, as well as for older homes that may have more uneven subfloors.
Do you need a skim coat of mortar before installing glass tile?
While some tiles can handle an uneven substrate, others need a very smooth surface for the best results. Glass tiles, onyx tiles, and other translucent materials need a skim coat of mortar before installation; cement backerboard makes this coat easy, providing a smooth, even surface. Plywood requires a thicker back buttering to even out inconsistencies, which makes the installation more time consuming.
Can you install tile with cement backerboard?
Cement backerboard has a greater load capacity, so it’s possible to install any tile anywhere and get the same great results.
Is cement backerboard better than plywood?
Cement backerboard is more stable than plywood in high humidity and other wet environments. It won’t swell and buckle the way that plywood does, so it’s safe to use in mudrooms and bathrooms where things like spills and puddles are normal, as well as in areas with high levels of moisture in the air.
What is plywood for concrete countertops?
The plywood for cast in place concrete countertops is a permanent portion of the formwork. The plywood simply serves only as a form bottom, to keep concrete out of the cabinets, and it ceases being necessary once the concrete cures. Note that you do need to protect the plywood with a moisture-proof barrier, or it will swell.
Do you need to protect plywood?
Note that you do need to protect the plywood with a moisture-proof barrier, or it will swell. You could also use a sheet good other than plywood that is already moisture-proof.
Is plywood a structural support?
Plywood of any practial thickness (including ¾” material) is far more flexible than the concrete placed above it, and thus provides little or no structural support. Plywood should never be relied upon as the structural support for an improperly reinforced countertop.
Is plywood stronger than concrete?
To understand this further, note that plywood actually has higher flexural strength than concrete, so it does seem like it would help. However, plywood is also much more flexible than concrete. There’s a difference between flexural strength and flexibility. Placing a weaker and more brittle material on top of a stronger ...
How to plan cement board?
Make a rough plan for the cement board sheet layout, based on the area to be covered and the size of the cement board sheets. The joints between the sheets should be offset by the joints in the plywood (or other) subflooring by at least 8 inches, for maximum floor stiffness. If necessary, plan to start the first row of sheets with a partial sheet to create the offset.
How thick is cement board for walls?
Walls: Use 1/2-inch or 5/8-inch-thick cement board, not 1/4-inch. The extra thickness is needed when spanning the studs and it provides a solid base for the tile.
What is cement board used for?
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. Cement board forms a durable, stable base for tile, and it has no organic materials (unlike drywall, greenboard, or plywood) so it is not prone to mold, rot, shrinkage, ...
What type of screws should I use for cement board?
Use only cement board screws and alkali-resistant cement board joint tape. Standard screws and drywall joint tape will corrode or deteriorate from contact with cement board.
How much does a 3x5 panel of cement board weigh?
A 3 x 5 panel of 1/4-inch cement board weighs about 30 pounds; a 1/2-inch sheet, 36 to 44 pounds. Larger, 4 x 8-foot panels are also available, but their weight makes them hard to manage for DIYers.
Can you put cement board over concrete?
If new ceramic tile is being laid on an existing floor, the cement board can usually be laid right over the existing floor finish, provided it is in good shape and the extra floor thickness is not a problem. There is no need to install backer board on a concrete substrate —ceramic tile can be applied right over concrete, ...
Is there mortar behind cement board?
Cement board on walls also uses the same techniques, but in this case, there is no layer of mortar behind the cement board. Consult the cement board manufacturer for recommendations on using a moisture barrier between the board and the wall studs.
What are some examples of cement board?
Examples of cement board are: Wonderboard, Durock, and Permabase
What is a deck in a house?
The deck is a covered deck with an open straight gable roof. The Deck is enclosed on 3 sides by the brick house and only open on the 4th. that side faces west. Both the bottom (under the deck ) and top (on the deck) have a brick column and archway system supporting the deck structure.
Can you use mesh tape on cement board?
Not using Mesh Tape on the Seams of your Cement Board Installation. This is more of a little known fact but most cement board manufacturers want fiberglass alkaline-resistant mesh tape embedded in thinset mortar over the backer board seams. Mesh Tape: Don’t Skip this Step.
Can you put cement board over concrete?
If you have a concrete subfloor then you should not be contemplating installing cement board over it.
Can you run cement board seams in one direction?
You can run them in one direction or another but as long as the corners don’t all come together it’s OK. Additionally, you don’t want the cement board seams to line up with the subfloor seams.
Can panels be run in either direction?
The panels can be run either direction as long as the seams are offset
Do cement board screws hold nails?
The problem is that those fasteners don’t have the holding power that cement board screws and roofing nails have. Some examples of the different cement board screws on the market. Additionally, people also mess up fasteners by not using enough of them and driving them too deep.
How far apart should cement board be?
Leave a 1/4-inch gap between the board and any adjacent walls. The edges of the cement board should be no closer than 8 inches to the joints in the subflooring. This is called "staggering" the joints and makes for a stronger tile base.
What is cement board?
Cement board is a type of underlayment that is now standard for most tile installations, but particularly for floor tile. The primary benefit of cement board is that it doesn't break down or expand or warp if it gets wet. This is a distinct advantage over plywood and drywall. Cement board also provides an additional layer over a plywood ...
Can water pass through cement board?
Water and vapor can pass right through it, just like with other cement-based materials. For this reason, cement board should be installed over a moisture barrier, such as heavy plastic sheeting, in wet areas like showers and bathtub alcoves.
Is cement board waterproof?
Cement board often is called "waterproof" or " water-resistant," but neither description is accurate.
