Backer Board: The Final Information

For those who’ve ever tackled a tiling venture, you’ve probably heard of cement backer board. It’s just like the trusty sidekick of tiles—all the time there, silently doing its job so the primary star (your stunning tiles) can shine. However what precisely is it, and why do you have to care?

Let’s break down the nitty-gritty of backer board, discover set up methods, and assist you to make knowledgeable choices on the very best product in your subsequent massive venture. You prepared?

What’s Backer Board?

Backer board, generally referred to as cement board, is a development materials used as a sub-surface for tiling initiatives. Backer board is a mixture of cement and reinforcing fibers fashioned into sheets (often 3’x5’ and 4’x8’) of various thickness. It gives a stable, moisture-resistant floor, guaranteeing your tiles don’t find yourself popping off or turning into uneven.

Consider it because the unsung hero that helps you obtain that flawless tiled look in your bogs, kitchens, and past. If it’s put in correctly (we’ll focus on that in a bit) you’ll by no means see it and your tile will final a really very long time.

For smaller tile initiatives like mosaic tiles, and particularly on older homes, backer board is uber vital. With out it you get uneven tiles that transfer and crack as your home strikes. Don’t skip this crucial product.

Strengths

1. Water Resistance: Cement backer boards are extremely immune to moisture, making them good for moist areas like bogs and kitchens. In spite of everything they’re product of cement.
2. Sturdiness: They supply a sturdy basis, stopping tiles from cracking or shifting over time.
3. Versatility: Appropriate for flooring, partitions, and counter tops, they can be utilized in numerous tiling initiatives.
4. Simple to Reduce: Regardless of their toughness, they are often simply lower to suit any form or dimension wanted in your venture.

Weaknesses

1. Weight: Cement backer boards will be heavy, making set up a little bit of a exercise.
2. Mud: Chopping them generates a variety of mud, which will be messy and a well being hazard if inhaled. A masks is your finest pal right here.
3. Worth: They are often dearer than different underlayment choices, like drywall.

What Thickness Backer Board Do You Want?

The thickness of cement backer board you select is essential to the success of your tiling venture. Completely different purposes name for various thicknesses.

A giant factor to think about when selecting a thickness is what the completed flooring top must be. Ideally, you need a tile set up to be flush with any flooring it intersects with to keep away from the necessity for reducers or different unattractive transitions. This additionally eliminates journey hazards.

1/4-inch Thickness

Finest for: Ground tiling over present subfloors.

• Use it when: You want a secure underlayment that doesn’t considerably increase the peak of your flooring. Very best for installations over plywood subfloors.
• Professionals: Light-weight and straightforward to put in, appropriate for many flooring tiling initiatives the place top issues are an element.
• Cons: Not really helpful for wall installations on account of inadequate structural help.

1/2-inch Thickness

Finest for: Partitions, counter tops, and flooring the place added power or top is required.

• Use it when: You’re putting in tiles on partitions or want additional sturdiness on flooring. This thickness is customary for many vertical purposes and the place tiles want robust backing. The 1/2” thickness strains up nearly completely with drywall which makes this an awesome selection for bathe surrounds.
• Professionals: Offers higher help and stability, particularly in high-moisture environments like showers.
• Cons: Heavier and may add extra top to the flooring, which could require changes to transitions between rooms.

5/8-inch Thickness

Finest for: Heavy-duty flooring and industrial purposes.

• Use it when: You’re coping with areas that require additional power and help, equivalent to industrial kitchens or high-traffic areas. An awesome choice to match industrial drywall thicknesses of 5/8”
• Professionals: Provides the very best sturdiness and resistance to bending or flexing beneath heavy hundreds.
• Cons: Heaviest and most difficult to put in, requiring extra effort and talent.

Set up Strategies and Finest Practices

Putting in cement backer board is comparatively simple, nevertheless it’s important to do it proper to make sure the longevity of your tiles. I simply completed a subway tile bathtub encompass utilizing 1/2” backer board for those who wanna verify that out right here. Right here’s a fast information:

1. Collect Your Instruments: You’ll want a drill, backer board screws, a pointy utility knife, a trowel, and thin-set mortar.
2. Put together the Floor: Make certain your floor is clear and dry. Take away any outdated adhesive or particles.
3. Reduce the Backer Board: Measure and lower your backer board to suit the area. Use a utility knife or a round noticed with a carbide-tipped blade for bigger cuts. Have additional blades if utilizing a utility kniofe as a result of they are going to boring shortly!
4. Apply Skinny-set Mortar: Unfold a layer of thin-set mortar on the floor utilizing a trowel. This helps to bond the backer board to the subfloor or wall. Extra on this under.
5. Lay the Backer Board: Place the lower items of backer board onto the mortar. Go away a small hole (about 1/8 inch) between sheets for enlargement.
6. Screw It Down: Safe the backer board with backer board screws, inserting them each 6-8 inches. Make certain they’re flush with the board’s floor.
7. Seal the Joints: Use fiberglass tape and thin-set mortar to seal the joints between the sheets. This step is essential to stop moisture penetration.

Do I Should Apply Skinny-set First?

Go and ask this query on Reddit and see what occurs? Individuals will go straight nuts. Some tile setters will say they’ve completed it for 20 years with out thin-set and by no means had an issue and the remainder of the web thinks they’re insane.

The producers all require that backer board be set right into a layer of thin-set after which screwed down if you need them to honor their guarantee. In my expertise, I’ve completed it each methods over 15 years and haven’t seen a distinction in efficiency between putting in backer board in thin-set and skipping the step.

Finest apply, sure. Do you need to dwell on the sting like me? Possibly. Possibly not.

What Screws Do I Want?

Every of the manufacturers of backer board under have a really particular screw that’s designed to be used with their cement combine. Do I perceive it absolutely? No. Is it probably a advertising and marketing gimmick? Positive. Does it void your guarantee for those who use the flawed screws? Sure.

Backside line decide the backer board you favor and purchase the screws which can be designed to be used with that backer board. The prices variations are negligible.

Now what varieties of backer board can be found? Right here’s are the three massive ones you’ll be capable to discover nearly anymore.

Durock Cement Board

Finest for: Loos and different high-moisture areas.

Professionals: Recognized for its superior moisture resistance and sturdiness. It’s additionally comparatively light-weight in comparison with different cement boards.

Cons: May be pricier, and reducing will be dusty.

Screws: Rock-On

HardieBacker Cement Board

Finest for: Flooring and counter tops.

Professionals: Simpler to chop and set up, with nice water resistance. It’s additionally mold-resistant, which is a big plus in moist areas. The grid sample on this makes straight cuts really easy too.

Cons: Barely heavier than different choices, and like all cement boards, it may be dusty to work with.

Screws: Backer-On

WonderBoard Lite

Finest for: Partitions and ceilings.

Professionals: Light-weight and straightforward to deal with, making it excellent for vertical installations. I discover this one to be by far the simplest to chop and deal with.

Cons: Whereas sturdy, it’s barely much less so in comparison with Durock and HardieBacker in high-traffic areas. Screws across the edges can blow out extra simply.

Screws: Rock-On

Making the Proper Selection

When selecting a cement backer board, contemplate the surroundings the place will probably be put in and the particular wants of your venture. Excessive-moisture areas will profit from Durock’s water resistance, whereas HardieBacker’s ease of set up makes it excellent for DIY initiatives. For vertical purposes, the light-weight WonderBoard Lite is a good selection.

No matter you do don’t tile immediately onto you drywall or plywood subfloor if the tile has any potential of getting moist. Plywood is simply too unstable and can break your tile with motion and drywall fails early and sometimes when it will get moist.

For those who’re putting in on prime of concrete flooring then you definitely don’t want any backer board as a result of the cement is already there. Simply ensure the ground is stage and if you want to use some mortar or self-lever to perform that be happy, however skip the additional step of backer board.

Congratulations, you will have simply graduated from backer board college. Now go forth and tile like a professional!

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Founder & Editor-in-Chief

I like outdated homes, working with my arms, and instructing others the excitment of doing it your self! All the things is teachable for those who solely give it the prospect.