Is Backer Board Required For Floor Tile

Installing tile raises the surface level of the floor.

Is backer board required for floor tile.

Cement board is a cement backerboard designed for use with floors and countertops. Works under interior floors to provide a solid foundation for tile vinyl wood and other flooring. For flooring the backer board should be installed over a 5 8 inch thick osb or plywood base. For countertops use 3 4 inch plywood beneath the backer board.

If you have a larger area to cover with the underfloor heating then installing backer board is necessary to prevent the floor giving way. In most cases you can apply tile directly to the concrete. Install a cement based backer board following the manufacturer s instructions. Use a polymer modified thin set a type of mortar to attach the backer board to the subfloor.

Cement backer board is often used as a tile base on plywood or osb subfloor. It is used on flooring installations as a means of creating a stable and easier to work with subfloor. It is also used in shower and tub enclosures or anywhere with significant wetness issues as a means of helping to create a moisture barrier. James hardie hardiebacker 1 4 in.

Backerboard or cement board comes in sheets much like drywall and is used in a couple of ways. When backer board is selected as a floor tile underlayment and is installed correctly it provides an excellent substrate for tile in kitchens entries foyers bathrooms and more. Backer board is also used under floor tile when there s a wood sub floor. First changes in humidity make solid wood shrink swell and cup more than plywood.

Make sure to tape the seams and corners of the backer board according the manufacturer recommendations. This includes bathroom floors and any other tile flooring in your house what builders call the wet areas. Tile flooring is water resistant and durable when combined with backer board which is impervious to moisture and helps create a flat base. Half inch cement backer board is ideal for most tiling jobs including walls floors countertops and ceilings.

Tile backer boards can be used with underfloor heating systems and are preferable to xps boards which are much less able to bear weight and can only be used in small areas. Cement board is james hardie hardiebacker 1 4 in. This provides a solid surface under the tile that prevents flexing that could lead to cracking. Second the strength of wood boards isn t always consistent.

How to install tile backer board. Manufactured veneer stone is another use for cement backer board. Cement board will also work as a countertop backerboard and underlayment for tile granite and other stone surfaces.