DIY Suggestions for Putting in Cement Backerboard

When tiling over plywood, it’s best to at all times put down a layer of cement backer board first, which is able to present the mandatory assist for the tile. Listed below are eight vital steps to bear in mind when putting in cement backer board:

1. Test the plywood subfloor for any motion and squeaks. Use 2 inch drywall screws to lock down any hassle spots, driving the screws by way of the plywood and into the ground joists under.
2. Use a notched trowel to unfold thin-set mortar over the plywood subfloor.
3. Lay the cement backer board into the thin-mortar, ensuring to overlap any seams within the plywood subfloor by at the very least 4 inches.
4. Fasten the backer board utilizing an impression driver and backer board screws; area the screws 4 inches aside across the perimeter of the backer board sheet and eight inches aside throughout the middle.
5. Go away a one-eighth inch hole between the backer board sheets and stagger the sheets in order that 4 corners don’t meet at a single intersection.
6. Cowl the seams between the backer board sheets with fiberglass mesh tape.
7. Unfold a skinny layer of thin-set mortar over the taped joints.
8. As soon as the mortared joints have cured, you can begin setting the tile.