Best answer
Cement board is the most common and widely-known backer board. ... On the downside, the cement boards are heavy, somewhat difficult to cut and can leave abrasive sandy crumbs that can damage tubs and shower bases if you're not careful. Cement board is a good, reliable backer board that works well on both floors and walls.
Do you need to waterproof cement board before tiling?
So, if you're looking for durability and strength, concrete backer-board will probably be your choice. First, you should provide a waterproof/resistant membrane against the wood studs before installing the concrete backer-board to protect the wood studs from moisture absorbed through the backer-board.
Is backer board and cement board the same?
Also called a cementitious backer unit or CBU, backer board is made of cement, water, silica, limestone flour, and fibers such as Kevlar or fiberglass for strength. Because cement backer board is porous, thinset, grout, and mortar adhere well to it.1 Dec 2019
Is cement board needed for floor tile?
In short, tile and grout are not inherently waterproof. Cement backer board is often used as a tile base on plywood or OSB subfloor. Cement backer board on concrete as a subfloor or underlayment is usually not recommended or needed. In most cases, you can apply tile directly to the concrete.1 Dec 2019
Can you paint cement board in shower?
Can you paint cement board in shower? Not likely. but Hardie backer board's official installation tutorial says it can be finish with paint. Use the backer board on the tiled part, and use the moisture resistant drywall on the rest.
Can you put cement board over concrete?
Technically, cement board can be laid over a concrete slab as the base for a tile installation. ... A better solution is to prepare and resurface the concrete slab so that it can accept thin-set adhesive or a mortar base onto which to lay tile.
Do you have to use thinset under cement board?
No Thinset underneath the backer board “The thinset goes ON TOP of the cement board to stick the tiles!” ... Cement board is a different product and it needs to be installed in its own way. Additionally, screws don't take the place of thinset either.
Do I need to waterproof cement board in shower?
Here's what the TCNA handbook has to say about the matter: “A waterproof membrane or vapor retarder membrane must be specified to prevent moisture intrusion and protect adjacent building materials.” ~B412 Bathtub or shower with prefabricated receptor. Cement board or Fiber-cement board.
Can I use deck screws for cement board?
It's best to use the cement board screw, but a deck screw will do just fine. ... Use screws designed for cement board like Rock-On screws. They start easier than drywall screws in CBUs. They're easier to use, don't rust as easily and hold better.
Do you need green board behind cement board?
Because cement board can be used either for floors or walls, the surface below the cement board will vary: ... In such wet areas, never install cement board directly over drywall or green board. Instead, first, remove the existing surface material, then install the cement board over the studs and membrane, as applicable.
Do you need to put a vapor barrier behind cement board?
You should NOT place a vapor barrier BEHIND the backer board. Where, pray tell, would any such collected vapor/water go? Answer:There's nowhere proper for such moisture to egress. The current best practice is to place waterproofing OVER the backetboard and just UNDER the tile.
Related Question Answers

BatyrCan
ProfessorDoes cement board have to be waterproofed?
So, if you're looking for durability and strength, concrete backer-board will probably be your choice. ... First, you should provide a waterproof/resistant membrane against the wood studs before installing the concrete backer-board to protect the wood studs from moisture absorbed through the backer-board.

FDuhen
ProfessorDoes mortar stick to cement board?
Cement backer board is commonly used to form a base for ceramic tile. ... Because cement backer board is porous, thinset, grout, and mortar adhere well to it. Backer boards can be nailed or screwed into studs or cinderblock, brick mortar, or concrete.

Ates Goral
ProfessorWhat do you put behind cement board in shower?
Cement Board and a Liquid Membrane No plastic sheeting goes behind the cement board.
A liquid waterproofing membrane, such as RedGard or Hydro Ban, is applied to the cement board and allowed to cure.
Then, tile is installed over the membrane..

Jérôme Richard
ProfessorIs backer board the same as cement board?
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. 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.

Alvaro Montoro
ProfessorCan you use cement board in a shower?
In showers, the standard substrate is tile backer, also called cement board or cement backer board. Ceramic and porcelain tile, more than almost any other surface material, needs a stable, flat, flex-free substrate. Even the slightest amount of movement in a building structure can telegraph to the tile and crack it.

David Hellsing
ProfessionalIs there a front and back to cement board?
Also, cement board typically has a label or manufacturer sticker on the front of the board. The back of cement board is plain, has no manufacturer-defining stickers and is void of the front-featured grid. Always install cement board with the grid facing out.

kimbaudi
ProfessionalCan I use 1/4 cement board on floors?
Both 1/4- and1/2-inch cement board are appropriate for floors. To install cement board on floors, cement board manufacturers mandate a 5/8-inch plywood subfloor or OSB underlayment.

dan1st
ProfessionalCan you lay tile without cement board?
In either case you use whatever tools are necessary to get it back to a clean subfloor. The second way to interpret your question is, after you've removed and cleaned off the old floor, can you install new tile without backer board. Well yes.

haim770
ProfessionalCan you tile directly onto cement board?
Cement backer board is often used as a tile base on plywood or OSB subfloor. Cement backer board on concrete as a subfloor or underlayment is usually not recommended or needed. In most cases, you can apply tile directly to the concrete. Manufactured veneer stone is another use for cement backer board.

Sri Murthy Upadhyayula
ProfessionalWhat can I use instead of cement board?
Glass mat gypsum board is a better choice. Sheets of glass mat gypsum are made from water-resistant silicone-treated gypsum, reinforced on both sides by fiberglass mats. DensShield is one common brand. It is easier to cut than cement board, it is mold resistant, and it has a built-in moisture barrier.

Christos Lytras
UserCan I render onto cement board?
Cement particle boards or render boards are normally fitted on timber frame builds and then the rendering is normally carried out over the board. A lightweight render system is best suitable simply because it bonds better to the cement particle board and secondly it is more flexible.

Amir Makram
UserCan you just screw down cement board?
If you have ever tried removing thin-set installed backer board then you will know why. You will be taking up the floor down to the floor joists if you ever want to remodel. Just screw down and tape joints like manufacturer recommends.

Radim Köhler
UserCan you put cement over silicone?
Yes, silicone will stick to cement board.
In fact I highly recommend that you use cement board such as 'Durock' as your backer board.
Use proper screws.
Such as the specific cement board screw..

brian-brazil
UserCan you use cement board instead of drywall?
Regular drywall is not appropriate. Many professional installers even recommend against using water- or mold-resistant drywall in high-moisture areas. In sharp contrast, cement backer board does not rot, warp, grow mold, or deteriorate when subjected to water.

BobMorane
UserCan you're tile over old cement board?
Undamaged cement backer board does not need to be replaced.
If tile has not been attached directly to the backer board, and it has not been dented or punctured, it can be reused without any special preparation..

Quinn Comendant
GuestDo I have to use cement board under Wall Tile?
In short, tile and grout are not inherently waterproof. ... Cement backer board is often used as a tile base on plywood or OSB subfloor. Cement backer board on concrete as a subfloor or underlayment is usually not recommended or needed. In most cases, you can apply tile directly to the concrete.

Vaishali
GuestDo you have to replace cement board under tile?
Undamaged cement backer board does not need to be replaced.
...
It is difficult to remove tile from a cement backer board, and even more difficult to avoid damaging the board in the process.
Since backer board is relatively inexpensive, it's not normally worth the time and labor it would take to remove the tile to save it..

G M
GuestDo you need plywood under cement board?
The Surface Below the Cement Board Flooring: For ceramic tile floors, the cement board usually rests on a plywood subfloor (minimum 5/8-inch-thick exterior-grade plywood or OSB). ... In such wet areas, never install cement board directly over drywall or green board.

jgauffin
GuestDoes cement board go over lip of shower pan?
The best approach when installing cement board or other tile backer around a tub is to keep the cement board out of the lip area.
Apply it to the wall with the bottom edge about 1/4 in.
above the lip of the tub.
...
Fill the gap between the tile and the tub with caulk..

Alex Miller
GuestDoes cement board need to be sealed?
While you don't always need to seal backer board, it sometimes make sense to do so. If you are installing backer board in an area that will be subject to a great amount of moisture, like in a shower, then it makes sense to put a waterproofing sealer on it.

Paul Verest
GuestDoes silicone stick to cement board?
Yes, silicone will stick to cement board. In fact I highly recommend that you use cement board such as 'Durock' as your backer board. Use proper screws. Such as the specific cement board screw.30 Sep 2015

GibboK
GuestWhat is the weight of cement board?
The weight of one square meter of a standard fiber cement board 8 mm thick is 13,2 kilograms.

Pratik Butani
GuestDoes concrete board burn?
The backer board will burn out eventually. You also need to build an insulated heat riser for best performance. ... You want to use brick or other heat resistant thick masonry for the bells. A bell around/over the heat riser cannot be cement board as the heat in parts of that will be much too intense.

kritzikratzi
GuestWhat thickness cement board should I use?
Half-inch cement backer board is ideal for most tiling jobs, including walls, floors, countertops, and ceilings.
For flooring, the backer board should be installed over a 5/8-inch thick OSB or plywood base..

Rachel
GuestWhich way does cement board go?
One nice thing about tile backer board is that it doesn't matter which way that you run the sheets. You can run them one direction or another but as long as the corners don't all come together it's OK. Additionally, you don't want the cement board seams to line up with the subfloor seams.

Manish Khatri
GuestWill silicone adhere to cement board?
Yes, silicone will stick to cement board. In fact I highly recommend that you use cement board such as 'Durock' as your backer board. Use proper screws.

tvanfosson
GuestHow do I attach concrete board to plywood?
Position each piece of backer board in the thin-set, press in place, and attach using special backer board screws on the spacing recommended by the backer board manufacturer.
Cover the joints in the backer board with fiberglass tape embedded in thin-set adhesive and allow to set before tiling..

Blindman67
GuestDo I need cement board for kitchen backsplash?
But for a tile backsplash, if your wall is good and plumb, without any major ridges or problems, you don't always need to use a backer board, often you can just apply thinset to the walls and put your tiles in place.

Nguyen Minh Binh
GuestDoes cement board go over tub lip?
The best approach when installing cement board or other tile backer around a tub is to keep the cement board out of the lip area. Apply it to the wall with the bottom edge about 1/4 in. above the lip of the tub. ... Fill the gap between the tile and the tub with caulk.

blowdart
GuestCan you install cement board over drywall?
Because cement board can be used either for floors or walls, the surface below the cement board will vary: ... In such wet areas, never install cement board directly over drywall or green board. Instead, first, remove the existing surface material, then install the cement board over the studs and membrane, as applicable.

StudioTime
GuestWhat is the best way to cut cement board?
Score-and-Snap The simplest way to cut cement backer board is to score the surface and snap the sheet along the scored line, similar to the way you'd cut drywall.
In fact, you can use a drywall utility knife to score backer board, but a better option is a carbide-tipped scoring tool..

Ihar Aliakseyenka
GuestAre cement sheets heat resistant?
Cement Fibre Board Characteristics: The cement fibre board has excellent heat insulation properties; it is fire resistant with lower thermal conductivity for better heat insulation. Water and moisture proof: an ideal material for interior partition walls of kitchens, washing rooms and so on and also for exterior walls.

Sнаđошƒаӽ
GuestIs a vapor barrier necessary behind cement board?
Cement board is heavy enough and breathable enough to take the moisture without a problem. By having the vapor barrier behind the cement board you stop the moisture going further into the wall. ... You should NOT place a vapor barrier BEHIND the backer board.

halfdan
GuestCan I reuse cement backer board?
Undamaged cement backer board does not need to be replaced. If tile has not been attached directly to the backer board, and it has not been dented or punctured, it can be reused without any special preparation.

David Moles
GuestDo I need plywood under cement board?
Because cement board can be used either for floors or walls, the surface below the cement board will vary: Flooring: For ceramic tile floors, the cement board usually rests on a plywood subfloor (minimum 5/8-inch-thick exterior-grade plywood or OSB).

pRaNaY
GuestHow do you remove cement board screws?
Remove all of the visible screws from the backer board with a drill/driver. Some of them be covered with mortar or mastic. Look for patterns or screw heads. Use the tip of a pry bar or sharp end of a claw hammer to chip away the material to reveal screw heads and remove them.

Anthony Forloney
GuestHow long does Thinset take to dry on cement board?
This is normally 12 hours but may be up to 24 hours in some cases. After the mortar is dry the backer board is ready to receive the mortar for the tile.

Johannes
GuestCan you caulk cement board in shower?
In the event the caulk seal between the bottom row of tile and the tub/shower fails, water can get behind the tile. If the backer board is touching this ledge, it will readily soak up this water like a sponge. ... Then, before installing the tile, apply a bead of pure silicone caulk between the backer board and the ledge.

Damn Vegetables
GuestDo you have to glue down cement board?
You cannot put a cement backer board over that. You need to put a layer or plywood, minimum 5/8 IIRC, over those boards, then mortar the backer to the plywood. Those 1x8 boards won't give a solid foundation and will flex. Over time, that will cause tile to pop loose or crack.

Matt Joiner
GuestHow much space should be between cement board and tub?
1/4"The backer board should overlap the tub flange so the tile has a stable backing to attach to. This requires shimming the backer board out from the studs so the wall is plumb. There should be a 1/4" gap between the tub ledge and the backer board.

BentOnCoding
GuestWhere do you put cement board in a bathroom?
Cement backer board is mainly used as a sub-surface for tiling. Cement backer board is often used as a tile base on plywood or OSB subfloor. Cement backer board on concrete as a subfloor or underlayment is usually not recommended or needed. In most cases, you can apply tile directly to the concrete.

Samira
GuestIs concrete board waterproof?
As a tile backing board, cement board has better long-term performance than paper-faced gypsum core products because it will not mildew or physically break down in the continued presence of moisture or leaks.
...
Cement board is not waterproof.
It absorbs moisture as well, but it has excellent drying properties..

Dominique
GuestDoes cement board need to be waterproofed?
Concrete backer-board, once commonly referred to in the field by the brand name Wonderboard(r), is a cement product designed as a sheathing material for walls and floors. ... Most concrete backer-boards on the market today are not water-resistant, but all are waterproof.

Fabio
GuestWhat do you cut cement board with?
The simplest way to cut cement backer board is to score the surface and snap the sheet along the scored line, similar to the way you'd cut drywall. In fact, you can use a drywall utility knife to score backer board, but a better option is a carbide-tipped scoring tool.

Everett
GuestIs Hardibacker better than cement board?
HardieBacker is much more light, and it is also the best selling brand of cement board available. It is much cleaner because it does not have any glass in it. It allows for a smooth job with minimal mess. As a bonus, HardieBacker board has an EZ Grid pattern so you can cut perfect lines.

Juliano
GuestIs it OK for cement board to get wet?
Most brands of concrete backer-board consist of a fibrous reinforcement cement composition molded into sheets. It is extremely hard and waterproof, meaning it will not deteriorate over time when exposed to water, making it ideal for use in high-traffic areas that are susceptible to the adverse effects of moisture.

sfgroups
GuestShould you wet cement board before tiling?
The concrete is unaffected by any water that manages to get behind the ceramic tile. But these concrete products are heavy, problematic to cut and can wick water, causing wood rot. ... If you use cement backer board, you have to install a separate moisture barrier between the board and any wood it's attached to.

amit
GuestWhat is the best cement backer board?
Foam boards are lightweight, easy to cut, and a completely waterproof. Pictured: Wedi Board tile backer board.Schluter approves Kerdi over drywall.Hardibacker is the best known fiber cement board.Cement board has improved over the years and is easier to work with.Dec 29, 2015

Frode F.
GuestWhat is the best cement board for shower walls?
Styrofoam backer board is extremely lightweight, and it's strong and waterproof. It's also easier to cut than other backer boards, and it's dust-free. It's ideal for wet areas like the shower walls or floor.

rynop
GuestWhat is the difference between cement board and gypsum board?
Advantages. As a tile backing board, cement board has better long-term performance than paper-faced gypsum core products because it will not mildew or physically break down in the continued presence of moisture or leaks. Also cement board provides a stronger bond and support with tiles than typical gypsum board.