Floor Tile Backer Board Or Subfloor

Lay the backer board according to the manufacturer s instructions.

Floor tile backer board or subfloor.

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. Do a dry run and lay the backerboard down to fully cover the area you plan to tile. Using a notched trowel apply a leveling bed of thinset mortar over the subfloor and embed the backer board sheets into the adhesive. Good luck with your project.

Now largely regarded as the very best underlayment for ceramic tile in any application floors walls and countertops cement based backer board goes by many names. Leave a 1 4 inch gap between the edges of the backer board and the walls to allow for subfloor expansion and contraction. 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. An additional layer of thinset is then applied to the surface of the backer board and used to set the tiles.

Its made from cement and sand and is reinforced by fiberglass mats on both sides so it s impervious to water. The backer board is then secured with screws to the subfloor beneath. Floor tiles should be installed over smooth flat surfaces. So the answer is yes you would need to install a plywood subfloor under the cement backer board before applying the tile.

First changes in humidity make solid wood shrink swell and cup more than plywood. Cement board is the most durable trouble free tile backer for tub surrounds showers floors and all other wet areas. When installing a ceramic tile floor on a concrete subfloor you don t have to worry about flexing as long as the concrete slab is at least 1 1 8 inch thick which most slabs are. If the subfloor doesn t have enough stability you can usually but not always remedy the situation by installing cement backer board also called cementboard.

Second the strength of wood boards isn t always consistent. Also if your subfloor runs east to west lay your backer boards in the opposite direction north to south. After all backer board sheets are in position remove the 16d common nails. Cement based backer board.

Add more mortar as necessary to fill sunken areas in. The thickness of the subfloor including the cement backer board should be a minimum of 1 1 8 thick so if you use 1 2 backer board you would need at least 5 8 plywood. The backerboard should completely cover the subfloor joints. The backer board comes in different sizes and you will pick the right one depending on the type of floor you are installing.

Spread the mortar to about 3 16 thickness.