Do I Need Cement Board For Kitchen Floor Tile

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Do i need cement board for kitchen floor tile.

Cement board is a type of underlayment that is now standard for most tile installations but particularly for floor tile. Thick 3 x 5 ft. These materials do not work because you need a cementitious base one that has the qualities of cement and masonry cousins of tile. Half inch cement backer board is ideal for most tiling jobs including walls floors countertops and ceilings.

Whenever you re laying tile on a wood subfloor you need to first install cement backerboard to prevent leaks and water damage. 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. Never install new tiles over existing tiles or onto an unprotected wood or plywood floor. Wood regular drywall and even green board have organic elements which will degrade in high moisture environments.

Cement board also provides an additional layer over a plywood or particleboard subfloor adding stiffness to the tile installation to help prevent cracks. Cement board should never be counted on to stiffen up your floor. Cement board cement board is the most durable trouble free tile backer for tub surrounds showers floors and all other wet areas. However these are the five that stood out in my unofficial memory as being the most common.

How to install tile backer board. For flooring the backer board should be installed over a 5 8 inch thick osb or plywood base. This is a distinct advantage over plywood and drywall. 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.

Its made from cement and sand and is reinforced by fiberglass mats on both sides so it s impervious to water. The primary benefit of cement board is that it doesn t break down or expand or warp if it gets wet. For countertops use 3 4 inch plywood beneath the backer board.