What Thickness Backer Board For Floor Tile

Fiber cement board is a thin layer of concrete that is installed as a sturdy surface subfloor for tile setting.

What thickness backer board for floor tile. Backer board is made up of a sheet of cement mixed with sand that has a fiberglass mesh placed on each side of the board for durability. Cement backer board comes in two standard thicknesses 1 2 inch and 1 4 inch. Use 1 5 8 inch screws for 1 2 inch backer board. Backer board installs to a subfloor with a layer of thinset.

It serves as solid surface for the thin set mortar to adhere to for a solid tile to floor bond. Tile is laid onto the cement board with thinset mortar or mastic. Its made from cement and sand and is reinforced by fiberglass mats on both sides so it s impervious to water. How to install tile backer board.

If you re installing backer board in new construction attaching it directly to floor joists opt for 1 2 inch sheets. Cement board cement board is the most durable trouble free tile backer for tub surrounds showers floors and all other wet areas. Uncoupling membranes aren t recommended for tiles smaller than 2 inches square and should not be used when covering old hardwood flooring due to adhesion problems. In this highly convenient inexpensive and popular application a moisture barrier of 4 or 6 mil thick plastic is installed directly over the wall studs.

A 3 4 inch plywood subfloor on a joist structure with 24 inch spacing needs the extra thickness of cementboard or the floor will flex and the tiles will crack. While using 1 4 thick rather than 1 2 thick cement backer board is acceptable how you install the backer board and attach it to the plywood subfloor is as important as how you lay the tile on top of it. Half inch cement backer board is ideal for most tiling jobs including walls floors countertops and ceilings. Here s the right way to attach cement backer board to a plywood subfloor.

Use 1 1 4 inch screws for 1 4 inch backerboard. 1 1 2 high like a backsplash where the floor tile comes to the brick to the prevent weeping from the brick the brick is already flashed. It s typically available in 1 2 in. The industry standard is to use 1 2 inch thick backer board on wall tile installations such as a tub surround.

Backer board comes in 3 x 5 foot sheets in a variety of thickness ranging from 1 4 inch to 5 16. Drive screws every 8 inches around the perimeter of each board 1 2 inch from the edges and 2 inches from the corners. Screws secure the cement board to the wall studs. Tile backer boards like hardibacker board wonderboard permabase and durock cement backer board installs.

Thick 3 x 5 ft. For countertops use 3 4 inch plywood beneath the backer board. Walk gently on the panels as you begin to screw the backer board into the subfloor using special backer board screws.