Do You Use Backerboard For Bathroom Floor Tile

Alternatively instead of backer board you can use two layers of plywood topped with a waterproof uncoupling membrane which is a lightweight plastic underlayment that allows independent movement between the tile and the plywood to prevent cracks in the tiles and grout.

Do you use backerboard for bathroom floor tile.

Required tools for this project. Never install new tiles over existing tiles or onto an unprotected wood or plywood floor. Otherwise you could use a membrane over the backer board walls similar to how you would go over a concrete floor that has cracks in it. Doesn t deteriorate when wet.

Some homeowners believe that painting or priming plywood will render it suitable to use as shower tub backer board. It is used on flooring installations as a means of creating a stable and easier to work with subfloor. Nobleseal ts is one example. Since plywood is often used as an underlayment for floor tile some do it yourselfers may believe that it can also be used in shower wall applications.

Backerboard or cement board comes in sheets much like drywall and is used in a couple of ways. Slaking time may vary by brand so be sure to read and follow the manufacturer s instructions. Here s how to choose the best tile backer board for your project. Cement backer board is a mineral based pre fabricated wall unit usually 1 4 inch or 1 2 inch thick and 3 feet by 5 feet long.

Tile needs to be installed on a backer board to keep the assembly stiff otherwise the assembly will flex at the grout joints allowing water to seep behind the tile and rot the substructure. It is made of cement water silica limestone flour and fibers such as kevlar or fiberglass for increased strength. To avoid building up the floor too high you can use 1 4 in thick backer board instead of 1 2 in. Unlike wood or drywall sub surfaces cement backerboard will not rot warp or grow mold and mildew when exposed to water.

Backer board is usually a simpler way to go than plywood. This is not true. Make sure to tape the seams and corners of the backer board according the manufacturer recommendations. 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.

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. With the plywood in place install the backer board as you normally would. Redgard would be another. The membrane would have to be a crack isolation membrane a118 10 and also a waterproofing membrane.