Floor Tile Backer Board Installation

According to backer board manufacturers and tile setters installing backer board directly over an old solid wood subfloor is risky for a couple of reasons.

Floor tile backer board installation.

When installing floor tile or any tile for that matter the most important aspect of the installation is always the preparation. Install a cement based backer board following the manufacturer s instructions. To achieve the ideal flat surface most contractors rely on the backer board cement backer board is a thin layer of concrete designed to be setting surface upon which tile can be installed. Not using mesh tape on the seams of your cement board installation.

Use a polymer modified thin set a type of mortar to attach the backer board to the subfloor. The backer board comes in different sizes and you will pick the right one depending on the type of floor you are installing. Cement board is the most durable trouble free tile backer for tub surrounds showers floors and all other wet areas. Don t skip this.

This provides a solid surface under the tile that prevents flexing that could lead to cracking. Never install new tiles over existing tiles or onto an unprotected wood or plywood floor. Some backer boards will have the fastener locations printed on the board. Congratulations you now have a perfect floor for your perfect tile installation.

Installing backer board involves three main steps. 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. In this video i ll show you how to install hardie backer board to prepare a floor for tile. Floor tiles should be installed over smooth flat surfaces.

Unlike wood or drywall sub surfaces cement backerboard will not rot warp or grow mold and mildew when exposed to water. This is more of a little known fact but most cement board manufacturers want fiberglass alkaline resistant mesh tape embedded in thinset mortar over the backer board seams. I m using a 6 inch galvanized metal flashing screwed into the backer board and on the back into the densglass with drywall. Second the strength of wood boards isn t always consistent.

Cutting fastening and taping and mudding. Installations for floor tile and other horizontal surfaces like countertops require an extra step of applying thin set tile adhesive to the wood subfloor before laying down the cement board sheets.