Ceramic Tile Floor Cement Board
Installation
If you are installing a ceramic tile
floor it is imperative that you consider a ceramic tile
floor cement board installation first. For the most
successful ceramic tile floor project a fibrous cement backer board
or cement board that is mesh-reinforced needs to be
installed first with special backer board screws. The
same backer board should be installed for tie wall tile and
shower tile.
If the sub-floor is 3/4 inch
plywood it is not necessary to attach the backboard to the
floor joists. Simply screwing the backer board, cement
board, to the
plywood sub–floor is adequate. However, screwing the
cement board to the floor joist is an acceptable method for
sub-floors that are not ¾ inch plywood. Start by locating
where the floor joist and snap chalk lines to indicate their
location.
Arrange the sheets to avoid four
corners meeting in the same place. Leave 1/8 inch between
backer board sheets and 1/4 inch between the sheets and the
base of the wall.
Installing the cement board:
- Sweep
the floor until it is free of dirt and debris. Lay down a
backer board sheet, measure and mark it top to bottom for
the cut, and then subtract 1/4 inch. With a straightedge
against the mark, score the line with a cement-backer board
knife.
- Turn the sheet over, hold one
side down, and pull the other side up. Place the sheet on
its side and score the reverse side along the same line as
the first. Snap the sheet back to separate the two pieces.
Sand the edge with a tile stone if it is very rough.
- Screw the backer board to the
sub-floor using 1 inch screws. Where there are joists below,
drive screws every 6 inches or as specified by the
manufacturer, through the backer board into the joist. If
the sub-floor is 3/4 inch plywood drive the screw through
the backer board into the sub-floor. Drive screws along the
edges every 6 inches (or as recommended). Mix thinset mortar
and, after sweeping up, apply it to the joints separating
the backer board with a trowel.
- Let dry thoroughly before
beginning to install tile.
Related articles:
Buying
Ceramic Tile
Ceramic Tile
Floor Installation
Ceramic Tile Floor Mortar Installation
Porcelain and Ceramic tile
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