Floor Backer Board Without Thinset

Cement board commonly sold under trade names such as durock hardiebacker and wonderboard is now the standard underlayment used for ceramic porcelain or stone tile laid with thinset mortar adhesive cement board is used for most floor tile and has all but replaced plywood and drywall backer materials for wall tile applications in wet areas like showers and tub surrounds.

Floor backer board without thinset. Installing a cement backerboard is crucial when you want a waterproof tile floor that lasts for years without cracking. Typically i will follow manufacturers recommendations but i will not thin set under cement backer board. I go by the room where he setting tile on the way to the carpeted rooms i did see that he put down thinset before he put down the backer board should he worry should he pull it up. I need to match the height of the existing tile in the bathroom.

Just screw down and tape joints like manufacturer recommends. Yes it is needed unmodified is fine for this it s there to fill any voids if the floor is out of level this should be fixed after the board is down thinset under the boards won t help there the boards will follow any contour of the floor when screwed down. You will be taking up the floor down to the floor joists if you ever want to remodel. Cement backerboard is a thin layer of concrete with fiberglass mesh on both sides.

My friend put is putting in a granite floor he put backerboard down without thinset what will happen. It s available in sheets of many sizes with 3 foot by 5 foot sheets being the most common. Spread thinset over a seam between backer board sheets with the short flat edge of the trowel. If you have ever tried removing thin set installed backer board then you will know why.

I plan on thinsetting and screwing cement board to the subfloor then redgard then thin set and tile. Lay alkali resistant fiberglass mesh tape on the thinset and cut the end of the tape with a utility. Many do it yourselfers simply mistakenly nail down the backer board without any adhesive behind it to help anchor it to the subfloor.