Do You Need Cement Board Under Tile Floor

Tile floors are beautiful durable and a fairly diy friendly option but for tile s good looks to really last it s vital to start with what you can t see the ideal underlayment.

Do you need cement board under tile floor.

It s available in sheets of many sizes with 3 foot by 5 foot sheets being the most common. 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. This provides a solid surface under the tile that prevents flexing that could lead to cracking. If you re working over a wood subfloor cement board is the right choice for your tile base.

Install a cement based backer board following the manufacturer s instructions. If it is a planked floor then y. Use a polymer modified thin set a type of mortar to attach the backer board to the subfloor. Installing cement board over a concrete subfloor.

Cement based backer board. I know it seems like a smooth surface and it seems like it may fix some of the issues with the concrete floor but don t do it. Cement board also provides an additional layer over a plywood or particleboard subfloor adding stiffness to the tile. If you have a concrete subfloor then you should not be contemplating installing cement board over it.

It is generically called cement board or backer board or it can also be referred to by one of the common brand names such as densshield hardiebacker and wonderboard. The primary benefit of cement board is that it doesn t break down or expand or warp if it gets wet. Cement board is a type of underlayment that is now standard for most tile installations but particularly for floor tile. Do it yourselfers can use either 1 2 or 1 4 inch cement board in certain applications while other scenarios mandate 1 2 inch board.

Installing over wood. It depends on the sub surface if it is a concrete slab then no but if it is a plywood decking yes. Cement backerboard is a thin layer of concrete with fiberglass mesh on both sides. If you want to replace an old cracked tile floor or other type of flooring with new ceramic tile it s absolutely imperative that you create a solid setting base for the new tile.

Whenever you re laying tile on a wood subfloor you need to first install cement backerboard to prevent leaks and water damage. What you need for a tile base. Cement board is an easily installed diy tile underlayment providing a stable dependable tile setting substrate while eliminating the complicated lath and mortar floating process. This is a distinct advantage over plywood and drywall.