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Installing cement backer board is
easy to do, with the exception of lifting and carrying it. Cement backer board
is quite heavy so ideally you should plan on having a spare pair of hands nearby
when installing it.
Cement backer board is used in
ceramic tile installation projects where heavy amounts of moisture are expected.
Cement backer board should be installed as a backer board material for ceramic
tile shower and tub enclosures, tile or stone kitchen countertops, and tile
floor applications. |
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Cement Backer Board Alternatives
There are alternatives to cement
backer board that are also specifically designed for ceramic tile
installation, such as water resistant greenboard, and specialized gypsum
core based products where there is a rough fiberglass surface covering a
gypsum center. In my opinion, however, I believe these products are not
suitable for heavy moisture environments such as a shower unit or kitchen
countertop.
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Photo by Mark Donovan |
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As soon as water penetrates the
surface of these alternative materials, via a simple wicking action for example,
the center gypsum core material will begin to break down. Inevitably this will
lead to water leaks and a failed tiled surface.
Cement backer board on the other hand
is a cementitious product, as the name suggests, and can literally be submerged
in water and it will not break down.
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Cement Backer Board Dimensions
Cement backer board is available in
¼” and ½” thicknesses and is commonly found in 3’x5’ dimensions. I recommend
using ½” on shower walls and either ¼” or ½” on kitchen countertops and floor
surfaces.
Installing Cement Backer Board
When installing cement backer board
it is important to install it on surfaces that are plumb and flat. Cement backer
board is a rigid material that has limited flexibility.
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Consequently it is imperative that
wall studding be constructed using quality framing material and techniques. Wall
studs, for example should be constructed out of non-twisted lumber and should be
located on a maximum of 16 inch centers. In addition, always install a moisture
barrier, e.g. 15 lb felt paper or plastic, over the wall studs prior to
installing the cement backer board.
When installing cement backer board
always have the rough surface facing the tile when using thin-set mortar and the
smooth side facing the tile when using an adhesive. In shower and tub enclosure
applications thin-set mortar should be used, and consequently the rough side
should be facing the tile.
To fasten the cement backer board to
the walls I prefer to use corrosion resistant screws, such as Rock-On screws
which are specifically designed as fasteners for cement backer board.
Alternatively you can use hot dipped ring shanked nails. Make sure that screws
or nails are installed every 6-8 inches along the length of the wall studs.
| Also make sure to leave about a 1/8” space between panels
when installing them. In addition, leave approximately a ¼” gap between the
bottom edge of the cement backer board and the surface of the shower or tub
enclosure. If the backer board comes in contact with the shower or tub
enclosure, moisture could possibly wick up behind the backer board and onto
the wall studs. Rot, mold and mildew could then begin to form.
After installing cement backer board use a trowel to tape and fill the
seams between panels. |
Photo by Mark Donovan |
Use a 2” wide alkaline resistant
fiberglass tape and thinset mortar to fill the seams. By doing this you can smooth out the
transition between cement backer board panels that are of uneven heights.
Cutting Cement Backer Board
When cutting cement backer board you can use a circular skill saw however I do
not recommend it, as dust will fly everywhere. Instead use a scoring knife for
cutting straight lines and a drill and jigsaw with a carbide tipped blade for
making punch-hole cuts. When making straight cuts use a scoring knife to score
the smooth side of the cement backer board and then stand the board up and apply
pressure to the back side of the board (rough side). The board will snap along
the scoring line. For punch-hole cuts use the drill to make pilot holes and a
jigsaw to cut between the pilot holes.
See
My Shower Pan Installation Ebook to Learn How to Install a Mortar Shower Pan: For a detailed set of
instructions on building a shower pan, including pictures and a detailed
cross-sectional view of the make-up of a shower pan, see my “Shower Pan Membrane
Liner Ebook”.
For more
information on tiling a custom ceramic tile shower, see the
How to Tile a Custom Ceramic Tile Shower Ebook
from HomeAdditionPlus.com. It provides detailed instructions for every
step in the process of tiling a custom ceramic tile shower and is loaded with
instructional pictures!
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