Do I Need Concrete Backer Board For Laminate Flooring

Backerboard or cement board comes in sheets much like drywall and is used in a couple of ways.

Do i need concrete backer board for laminate flooring.

This is a distinct advantage over plywood and drywall. The primary benefit of cement board is that it doesn t break down or expand or warp if it gets wet. In this step i only take out a few pieces of cement board at a time. No thinset underneath the backer board.

For countertops use 3 4 inch plywood beneath the backer board. Good luck with your project. Cement board seams require mesh tape and thinset 1. It is used on flooring installations as a means of creating a stable and easier to work with subfloor.

For flooring the backer board should be installed over a 5 8 inch thick osb or plywood base. Whenever you re laying tile on a wood subfloor you need to first install cement backerboard to prevent leaks and water damage. Cement board is a type of underlayment that is now standard for most tile installations but particularly for floor tile. It is also used in shower and tub enclosures or anywhere with significant wetness issues as a means of helping to create a moisture barrier.

Step three how to install cement board on the floor. Now it s time to start installing the cement board. And for walls and ceilings apply 1 2 inch or 5 8 inch backer board screwed directly to the wall studs or joists. Once it s out i then spread thin set onto the floor.

Just the other day i saw a video featuring someone fastening hardibacker directly to the subfloor with nothing underneath it. Cement board also provides an additional layer over a plywood or particleboard subfloor adding stiffness to the tile. Unlike wood or drywall sub surfaces cement backerboard will not rot warp or grow mold and mildew when exposed to water.