Shower Backer Board Cement Vs Concrete Wall

Cement backerboards include hardiebacker durock fiberboard wonderboard and similar products.

Shower backer board cement vs concrete wall.

The name backer board comes from its use as a subsurface for tile installation especially in showers and tub enclosures. Then the cement board is installed on top of the plastic sheeting. Kerdi board by schlüter is one brand name of polystyrene backerboard for tile. Backer board cement board comparison review written by fred daues on january 4 2013 in wedi shower systems this review was done to test the performance of 3 different cement boards for ceramic tile installation.

The smaller dimensions of cement board make the installation of it on large walls more difficult but cement board panels fit vertically in 3 foot wide showers or horizontally behind a standard 5 foot bathtub. Cement backer board is often used as a tile base on plywood or osb subfloor. Fiberglass mats irritate bare skin. There are other brand names of polystyrene backerboard as well as other materials to choose from including cement backerboard.

When doing floors i use 1 4 x 14 notched trowel with thinset over the sub floor. Installing cement backerboard is one of the more popular choices for a shower wall substrate. Cement backer board on concrete as a subfloor or underlayment is usually not recommended or needed. These materials bridge the gap between expense and effectiveness.

Drywall panels fit between wall studs spaced 16 inches or 24 inches apart. Easier to cut and fasten than cement board. All of these backerboard options have advantages and disadvantages. I have been using various types of 1 2 cement board on tub and shower walls and 1 4 fiber cement boards on bathrroom floors with 1 8 inch gap.

Wonderboard is used specifically. The wedi backer board hardibacker and wonderboard. The core of these boards is made up of a combination of cement and concrete that will not absorb any water and therefore will undergo no damage even if exposed directly to water. Can t support all types of floor tile see product specification sheet.

Cement board and plastic sheeting. Lighter in weight than cement board. When installed properly they will give you many many years of durable shower construction. Any of them can work well if properly detailed.

In most cases you can apply tile directly to the concrete. Cement board is porous so grout and mortar adhere to it well. Screws secure the cement board to the wall studs. I use 15 lb felt with 100 overlap over the studs on walls.

It can be nailed or screwed into almost any material including cinderblock brick and concrete. Cement board is easily cut with a hand saw or a power saw.