Do I Need Concrete Backer Board For Laminate Flooring

And for walls and ceilings apply 1 2 inch or 5 8 inch backer board screwed directly to the wall studs or joists.

Do i need concrete backer board for laminate flooring.

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. This is a distinct advantage over plywood and drywall. For flooring the backer board should be installed over a 5 8 inch thick osb or plywood base. Step three how to install cement board on the floor.

It is used on flooring installations as a means of creating a stable and easier to work with subfloor. Whenever you re laying tile on a wood subfloor you need to first install cement backerboard to prevent leaks and water damage. Unlike wood or drywall sub surfaces cement backerboard will not rot warp or grow mold and mildew when exposed to water. Just the other day i saw a video featuring someone fastening hardibacker directly to the subfloor with nothing underneath it.

Cement board seams require mesh tape and thinset 1. Good luck with your project. The primary benefit of cement board is that it doesn t break down or expand or warp if it gets wet. In this step i only take out a few pieces of cement board at a time.

Now it s time to start installing the cement board. I do this so it goes back in the exact place that it was in before i moved it. For countertops use 3 4 inch plywood beneath the backer board. Cement board is a type of underlayment that is now standard for most tile installations but particularly for floor tile.

Cement board also provides an additional layer over a plywood or particleboard subfloor adding stiffness to the tile. No thinset underneath the backer board. If your cement backer board is smooth and flat you may need to tape the seams and fill in any low spots i can t see any reason why you couldn t apply vinyl flooring over it.