Do I Need Cement Board For Kitchen Floor Tile

Wood regular drywall and even green board have organic elements which will degrade in high moisture environments.

Do i need cement board for kitchen floor tile.

Because plywood expands and contracts beneath the ceramic tile grout and tile failure loose tiles and cracked crumbling grout is just a matter of time. Cement board should never be counted on to stiffen up your floor. Cement board is a type of underlayment that is now standard for most tile installations but particularly for floor tile. Unlike wood or drywall sub surfaces cement backerboard will not rot warp or grow mold and mildew when exposed to water.

Its made from cement and sand and is reinforced by fiberglass mats on both sides so it s impervious to water. This is a distinct advantage over plywood and drywall. Whenever you re laying tile on a wood subfloor you need to first install cement backerboard to prevent leaks and water damage. Half inch cement backer board is ideal for most tiling jobs including walls floors countertops and ceilings.

How to install tile backer board. Cement board cement board is the most durable trouble free tile backer for tub surrounds showers floors and all other wet areas. The floor needs to meet minimum requirements for tile before any tile backer board is installed. However these are the five that stood out in my unofficial memory as being the most common.

Backer board comes in four foot by eight foot and three foot by five foot rigid panels that contain a combination of cement fiberglass and sometimes crushed glass particles. The primary benefit of cement board is that it doesn t break down or expand or warp if it gets wet. These materials do not work because you need a cementitious base one that has the qualities of cement and masonry cousins of tile. Never install new tiles over existing tiles or onto an unprotected wood or plywood floor.

It s typically available in 1 2 in. Cement board also provides an additional layer over a plywood or particleboard subfloor adding stiffness to the tile installation to help prevent cracks. Thick 3 x 5 ft.