Installing Cement Board On Concrete Floors

The primary benefit of cement board is that it doesn t break down or expand or warp if it gets wet.

Installing cement board on concrete floors.

Precut and fit all the cement board and then lift all of the cement boards out. 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. Concrete is usually a good subfloor on which to install ceramic tile. If you have a concrete subfloor then you should not be contemplating installing cement board over it.

Cement board is a type of underlayment that is now standard for most tile installations but particularly for floor tile. It is very important to first spread thin set on the floor before placing the cement board to the floor. Cement board also provides an additional layer over a plywood or particleboard subfloor adding stiffness to the tile. Yet this application does make sense since concrete is heavy solid and is typically thought of as an unbending uncompromising material.

Placing cement boards over the concrete subfloor is an excellent way to create a solid and smooth subfloor. I know it seems like a smooth surface and it seems like it may fix some of the issues with the concrete floor but don t do it. The 1 mistake most people make when installing cement board. No sir installing cement boards over concrete just isn t a very practical idea.

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. Installing cement board over a concrete subfloor. Ceramic and porcelain tile are so frequently installed at or above grade level on a cement board underlayment or directly on plywood that it almost seems novel to install tile directly on concrete. Then you attach the cement board with screws.

However a homeowner may need to raise the floor slightly before installing tile and lack the experience or time to install a mortar bed. Installing a cement backerboard is crucial when you want a waterproof tile floor that lasts for years without cracking. It s available in sheets of many sizes with 3 foot by 5 foot sheets being the most common. Cement backerboard is a thin layer of concrete with fiberglass mesh on both sides.

Concrete floors should be mechanically abraded by some means. Before we go any farther on how to install cement board i am going to talk about a very common mistake most people make. In fact i think it would create more problems than it would solve. Installing tile directly on concrete.

This is a distinct advantage over plywood and drywall.