Wall Tile Backer Board Needed

Whether it s a wall floor or countertop tile installation using the right substrate is crucial for preventing cracks and breaks in the tile and grout.

Wall tile backer board needed.

Do a dry run and lay the backerboard down to fully cover the area you plan to tile. Backer board is the best substrate for tile. Fiberock is another popular product in this category. Secondly once the self leveler is dry you can adhere tile directly to it.

Cement backer board comes in two standard thicknesses 1 2 inch and 1 4 inch. It s a sort of gray beige colored board and is available at any hardware box store. Doesn t deteriorate when wet. If needed cut the backerboard to fit in small spaces or around obstructions.

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. Choose a backer board that s the same thickness as the drywall so you have a seamless transition from one to the other. Fiber cement board and cement board are closely related. Tile needs to be installed on a backer board to keep the assembly stiff otherwise the assembly will flex at the grout joints allowing water to seep behind the tile and rot the substructure.

The backerboard should completely cover the subfloor joints. The facing serves as an integrated waterproofing membrane so you don t need to install a separate layer of plastic behind the tile backer or a sheet membrane over the backer. Georgia pacific s densshield is one such product. Ardex liquid backer board is an example of a self leveler that doesn t need reinforcement.

My contractor has told me that there is no need to put backer board on the wall for a tile backsplash in the kitchen. Plywood and osb substrates can warp and mold with water damage but tile backer board will do neither. Here s how to choose the best tile backer board for your project. To cut a backer board mark the board score it with a knife and snap it along the cut.

The industry standard is to use 1 2 inch thick backer board on wall tile installations such as a tub surround. Score the board with a utility knife then cut it using a jig saw with a carbide blade. It s hard flat and incredibly stable. Hardibacker is the best known fiber cement board fiber cement board.

One type of tile backer board is made with a water resistant facing on both sides of the board. Membrane faced board only. You ve probably heard of hardiebacker tile backer board. You don t need to use a backer board in the entire bathroom just in the wet shower area.