How Thick Should Backer Board Be For Wall Tile

For flooring the backer board should be installed over a 5 8 inch thick osb or plywood base.

How thick should backer board be for wall tile.

Tile backer boards like hardibacker board wonderboard permabase and durock cement backer board installs. That s why it was named the most preferred brand of backer board by tile installers and contractors according to the 2019 tile and stone report conducted by clearseas research in partnership with the national tile contractors association and tile magazine. Thick 3 x 5 ft. Maximum stud spacing on walls is 16 inch off center.

Cement fiber or similarly reinforced backer board comes in standard 1 4 inch and 1 2 inch thicknesses. Hardiebacker cement board is made better to install better and perform better. If you re installing backer board over an existing subfloor 1 4 inch is sufficient. The exception to this rule allows 1 4 inch cement board on walls only where there is minimum 5 8 inch exterior grade plywood sheathing or oriented strand board osb subfloor.

The extra thickness is needed to span the studs and provide a solid base for the tile. So you ll need to add a waterproofing membrane that goes over the surface into the cost of this steam shower. It s typically available in 1 2 in. In this highly convenient inexpensive and popular application a moisture barrier of 4 or 6 mil thick plastic is installed directly over the wall studs.

Cement board cement board is the most durable trouble free tile backer for tub surrounds showers floors and all other wet areas. Then the cement board is installed on top of the plastic sheeting. Is it okay to use 1 4 thick cement board as a backer or is 1 2 preferred. And for walls and ceilings apply 1 2 inch or 5 8 inch backer board screwed directly to the wall studs or joists.

Screws secure the cement board to the wall studs. The industry standard is to use 1 2 inch thick backer board on wall tile installations such as a tub surround. Its made from cement and sand and is reinforced by fiberglass mats on both sides so it s impervious to water. Tile is laid onto the cement board with thinset mortar or mastic.

By the way you want 1 2 inch thickness for wall backer board. For countertops use 3 4 inch plywood beneath the backer board. The cement board both walls and floor will get redgard before tile.