Introduction
Installing cement board correctly is the most critical part of a first-class tiling project. Here's how to do it.Move over solid mortar bed, and say hello to cement boards. The traditional method of installing ceramic tile called for setting it in a solid mortar bed. Troweling a perfectly flat bed required great skill, but the reward was a tile job that lasted for decades. Today, most professional tile setters back their tile with cement board instead, because it offers almost the same durability with a lot less work. And the best part? Do-it-yourselfers can use it too.
Cement board is a thin layer of mortar sandwiched between sheets of fiberglass mesh cloth. The 1/2-in. thick board is unaffected by water, making it a great substitute for a mortar bed.
In this article, we’ll show you how to create a strong, durable and waterproof tile base around your bathtub using cement board. We chose the tub surround because it’s highly leak-prone, and an ideal spot for cement backer board. Although cement board is heavy and a bit awkward to cut, even a novice should be able to complete a professional-quality tub surround, ready to tile, in a day.
Allow half a day to tear out the old tile and perhaps several more days to let damp wood dry out.
Figure A: Cement Board Installation Details
Add blocking and other framing details before hanging the cement board.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7p63MoqOyoJGjsbq5wKdlnKedZL2zu8memq1nk5q6prrTZpmomaKZeqSx0ZqkoptdqbatsY4%3D