How To Install Backer Board To Concrete Floor

Plan the placement of the cement backerboard sheets.

How to install backer board to concrete floor.

Then spread thinset mortar with the flat side of a 1 4 in. These convenient panels of cementitious board provide an instant flat hard surface that bonds with the thin set adhesives or mortars used to install tile. There is no need to install backer board on a concrete substrate ceramic tile can be applied right over concrete provided the surface is flat smooth and free of significant cracks. The plywood adds stiffness and stability to the floor.

Add a layer of 1 2 in. Lay the backer board according to the manufacturer s instructions. Screws every 6 in. Use a chalk line to mark the dimension of the backer board sheets onto the floor.

Add more mortar as necessary to fill sunken areas in. You are only cutting through the fiberglass mesh on the surface. Spread the mortar to about 3 16 thickness. Cement board screws spaced every 4 in.

The various brands of cement board such as hardiebacker durock denshield and wonderboard have become a standard tile backer material for nearly all ceramic porcelain and stone tiles for floor wall and countertop applications. Notched trowel and use the notched edge to comb the mortar. Measure and cut the cement board to fit in around the whole sheets. Embed the cement board and screw it to the underlayment with special 1 1 4 in.

Using a notched trowel apply a leveling bed of thinset mortar over the subfloor and embed the backer board sheets into the adhesive. The backerboard should completely cover the subfloor joints. With the straight edge in place over your mark cut through the surface of the board with the knife. For highly wet areas such as showers and bathtub surrounds cement board typically is attached directly over the wall studs and the studs may be covered with an intervening moisture membrane.

Plan so the joints in the backerboard won t line up with the joints in the subfloor. Mark the cut on the cement board using the straight edge and pencil. Using the trowel spread adhesive and ridge it with the notched side of the trowel. Do a dry run and lay the backerboard down to fully cover the area you plan to tile.

Bc plywood over the old subfloor using construction adhesive and driving 1 1 4 in. Next place a sheet of the backer board over the wet adhesive. Leave 1 8 inch between sheets and cuts.