Do I Need Cement Board For Tile Floor

Whenever you re laying tile on a wood subfloor you need to first install cement backerboard to prevent leaks and water damage.

Do i need cement board for tile floor.

In some cases it may not be feasible and you may need to settle for a thinner floor covering than ceramic tile such as vinyl tiles or laminate planks. If you re working over a wood subfloor cement board is the right choice for your tile base. Cement board is a type of underlayment that is now standard for most tile installations but particularly for floor tile. Cement backerboard is a thin layer of concrete with fiberglass mesh on both sides.

Install a cement based backer board following the manufacturer s instructions. The primary benefit of cement board is that it doesn t break down or expand or warp if it gets wet. Cement board also provides an additional layer over a plywood or particleboard subfloor adding stiffness to the tile. What you need for a tile base.

This is a distinct advantage over plywood and drywall. Cement board screws see fig. To attach the cement board to the studs you ll need special 1 1 4 in. Do it yourselfers can use either 1 2 or 1 4 inch cement board in certain applications while other scenarios mandate 1 2 inch board.

That s why it was named the most preferred brand of backer board by tile installers and contractors according to the 2019 tile and stone report conducted by clearseas research in partnership with the national tile contractors association and tile magazine. It s available in sheets of many sizes with 3 foot by 5 foot sheets being the most common. This provides a solid surface under the tile that prevents flexing that could lead to cracking. Use a polymer modified thin set a type of mortar to attach the backer board to the subfloor.

Uncoupling membrane cementboard has replaced a manually applied mortar bed to emerge as the standard underlayment for a tile floor. Hardiebacker cement board is made better to install better and perform better. If i thinset the cement board down using a 1 4 x 1 4 trowel and screw it every 8 will the thinset end up being 1 8 thick. I d like to get as close as possible to matching the height of the existing 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 setting base for the new tile. These screws have a coating to resist corrosion a special wide head with cutting flutes and hi low threads for a strong grip. Cement board is an easily installed diy tile underlayment providing a stable dependable tile setting substrate while eliminating the complicated lath and mortar floating process.