Ceramic Floor Tile Backer Board

Ceramic tile backer board also called cement board or tile backer is a rigid panel material that installs over wood framing much like drywall.

Ceramic floor tile backer board.

Doesn t deteriorate when wet. 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. Made of cement and reinforced on the top and bottom with fiberglass this waterproof backer board is generally used for tiled shower surrounds and floors in wet areas. Backer board is everything that drywall is not.

Both layers together can add another 1 8 inch to the finished floor. Georgia pacific s densshield is one such product. 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. Another layer is necessary for installing the tiles.

Backer board installs to a subfloor with a layer of thinset. This is the industry standard most preferred by construction pros when installing ceramic or porcelain tile backer board comes in four foot by eight foot and three foot by five. It s available in sheets of many sizes with 3 foot by 5 foot sheets being the most common. 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 s made primarily with cement and sand and it has no paper that can deteriorate or promote mold growth if it gets wet. Here s how to choose the best tile backer board for your project. Make sure to tape the seams and corners of the backer board according the manufacturer recommendations. One type of tile backer board is made with a water resistant facing on both sides of the board.

But that s pretty much where the similarity ends. Whenever you re laying tile on a wood subfloor you need to first install cement backerboard to prevent leaks and water damage. Membrane faced board only. The facing serves as an integrated waterproofing membrane so you don t need to install a separate layer of plastic behind the tile backer or a sheet membrane over the backer.

Cement backer board is also called cement board and it s the most commonly used backer board for all manner of ceramic and porcelain tiles.