How To Install Cement Board On A Wood Floor

How to install a cement backer board over a plywood subfloor in the bathroom.

How to install cement board on a wood floor. Cement backer board is more dimensionally stable than plywood and forms a better bond with the thin set adhesive used to glue the tile down. Cement board screws spaced every 4 in. The primary benefit of cement board is that it doesn t break down or expand or warp if it gets wet. Installing a cement backerboard is crucial when you want a waterproof tile floor that lasts for years without cracking.

Before we go any farther on how to install cement board i am going to talk about a very common mistake most people make. Notched trowel and use the notched edge to comb the mortar. Embed the cement board and screw it to the underlayment with special 1 1 4 in. The 1 mistake most people make when installing cement board.

It is very important to first spread thin set on the floor before placing the cement board to the floor. Cement board also provides an additional layer over a plywood or particleboard subfloor adding stiffness to the tile. Precut and fit all the cement board and then lift all of the cement boards out. This means that tile applied to cement backer board resists cracking and popping loose better than tile applied to a plywood subfloor alone.

Ceramic tile and natural stone tile installations require some type of a cement based surface for a long term. All the insider information on how to build and waterproof a. It s available in sheets of many sizes with 3 foot by 5 foot sheets being the most common. Cement board is a type of underlayment that is now standard for most tile installations but particularly for floor tile.

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. Anyone can enjoy the benefits of a cement board shower system if you follow these 3 easy steps. This is a distinct advantage over plywood and drywall.