Is Tile Backer Board Right for You?
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
For most do-it-yourselfers,tile installationis tough to master.
Only after many tries do you hone the craft to a fine edge.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Professional tile installers have many tries and they learn on site.
Do-it-yourselfers have very few tries and are forced to learn in their own homes.
For these reasons, you need all the help you’ve got the option to get.
Tile backer board is the perfect tiling assistant that you need.
Tilebacker board reduces the need for creating a thick bed of wet mortar under your tile.
Maintenance and Repair
Tile backer board is extremely durable.
It can last for decades if maintained properly.
Some tile backer boards are moisture-resistant, adding to its longevity.
Beyond regular cleaning, ensure to seal periodically to keep it in top shape.
You’ll also want to seal the joints.
Tile backer board is relatively easy to maintain.
Design
Tile backer board tends to come in a limited number of sizes on the consumer market.
It is possible to find backer boards that are 4 feet wide by 8 feet long.
The most common thickness of tile backer board is 1/2-inch.
Quarter-inch and 5/8-inch thicknesses can also be found.
Use 1/4-inch backer board on curved applications or on vertical surfaces such as fireplaces.
Use 5/8-inch backer board as a fire-rated material similar toType X drywall.
Tile Backer Board Installation
Tileneeds a rock-solid base, orsubstrate, to last for years without cracking.
Not just any throw in of material will work as a substrate, though.
Ordinary milled wood, regular drywall, and evenwater-resistant drywallcontain organic elements which will degrade in high-moisture environments.
A better route is to go with a cementitioustilebase, one that has the qualities of cement and masonry.
Installing a tile backer board is a substitute for troweling on these thick layers of mortar as a base.
Top Brands of Tile Backer Board
HardieBacker
James Hardie Industries manufactures HardieBacker.
Unlike purecement board, HardieBacker’s fiber is almost invisibly integrated into the board, making for cleaner cuts.
HardieBacker is composed of 90-percent Portland cement and sand, along with James Hardie Industries' patented MoldBlock technology.
DensShield is denser than HardieBacker.
DensShield is waterproof, eliminating the need for a plastic barrier, plus it ismold resistant.
This makes DensShield a good tile backer for those high-moisture applications: no plastic barrier necessary.
Wonderboard
Custom Building Products manufactures the tile backer board called Wonderboard.
Wonderboard can be cut with a utility knife or with a low-speed power tool such as a jigsaw.
Wonderboard tends to crumble easily and should be treated gingerly.
Wonderboard is often less expensive than HardieBacker, making it more cost-effective for large installations such as whole-housefloor tileprojects.
Tile backer board can be a good choice for many different situations.
They can also be helpful in leveling out uneven floors.
