Installing Backer Board On Floor For Tiling

First changes in humidity make solid wood shrink swell and cup more than plywood.

Installing backer board on floor for tiling.

Cutting fastening and taping and mudding. According to backer board manufacturers and tile setters installing backer board directly over an old solid wood subfloor is risky for a couple of reasons. To install ceramic tile over wood the wood surface must be structurally sound enough to support the weight of the tile. Chipboard cushioned vinyl flooring particle boards of any type oriented strand board osb interior grade plywood tongue and groove planking and hardwood floors are unsuitable substrates for direct installation of ceramic tile.

Half inch cement backer board is ideal for most tiling jobs including walls floors countertops and ceilings. Second the strength of wood boards isn t always consistent. Installing backer board involves three main steps. For flooring the backer board should be installed over a 5 8 inch thick osb or plywood base.

Use a trowel to spread the thinset but before you do that be sure you ve scraped off old adhesive from any existing flooring you removed and vacuumed and cleaned well. How to install tile backer board. Add more mortar as necessary to fill sunken areas in. Installations for floor tile and other horizontal surfaces like countertops require an extra step of applying thin set tile adhesive to the wood subfloor before laying down the cement board sheets.

Unlike wood or drywall sub surfaces cement backerboard will not rot warp or grow mold and mildew when exposed to water. Install a cement based backer board following the manufacturer s instructions. Never install new tiles over existing tiles or onto an unprotected wood or plywood floor. Use a polymer modified thin set a type of mortar to attach the backer board to the subfloor.

Lay the backer board according to the manufacturer s instructions. Thick 3 x 5 ft. This provides a solid surface under the tile that prevents flexing that could lead to cracking. Its made from cement and sand and is reinforced by fiberglass mats on both sides so it s impervious to water.

It s typically available in 1 2 in. Using a notched trowel apply a leveling bed of thinset mortar over the subfloor and embed the backer board sheets into the adhesive. Installation of cement backerboard is always preceded by application of thinset mortar which fills low spots in the subfloor and anchors the backer board sheets. Spread the mortar to about 3 16 thickness.

For countertops use 3 4 inch plywood beneath the backer board. Cement board is the most durable trouble free tile backer for tub surrounds showers floors and all other wet areas.