#What side of hardibacker faces out install

Properly mixed concrete or cement board is not harmed by the presence of water.

You should absolutely use a tile backer board that is also unaffected by water. Ensure you do not overdrive the screws and the screw remains flush with the front of the board. Screws should remain 100mm from the top and bottom edges and 50mm from the left and right edges. HardieBacker can take up to 200kg of tile hanging weight per m2 so almost any tile can be fixed. – Step 2 – Determine the Center of the Room. Even if you use this extra adhesive, you should still apply the nails or screws. In general, 1 1/2-inch galvanized nails will hold the board firmly in place. Can you screw down cement board?Ĭement board attached to plywood or similar underlayment will hold with only 1 1/4-inch screws for thick or heavy metal fixtures, use 1 5/8-inch screws.

#What side of hardibacker faces out install

Always install cement board with the grid facing out. The back of cement board is plain, has no manufacturer-defining stickers and is void of the front-featured grid. Is there a front and back to cement board?Īlso, cement board typically has a label or manufacturer sticker on the front of the board. However, they recommend smooth side to be up and nailed every 8″ on center. According to the James Hardie Website FAQ, either side is fine to use.

To waterproof cement boards, a liquid or membrane waterproofing material is applied over its surface.ĭoes it matter which side of Hardibacker board faces out?ġ Answer. Can you get cement board wet?Ĭement boards may be classified as water resistant as they are not affected by water exposure however, they do allow penetration and passage of water and water vapor. Prior to setting the tile, fill all joints with the same mortar used to set the tiles. Keep fasteners between 3/8″ and 3/4″ from board edges and 2” from board corners. Do you nail or screw cement board?įasten HardieBacker cement board with specified nails or screws (as listed in “Materials Required”) every 8″ over the entire surface. Ceramic tile laid over cement board is one of the most durable floor or wall surfaces you can install. Can you tile straight onto cement board?Ĭement board forms a durable, stable base for tile, and it has no organic materials (unlike drywall, greenboard, or plywood) so it is not prone to mold, rot, shrinkage, or decomposition due to moisture. It is extremely hard and waterproof, meaning it will not deteriorate over time when exposed to water, making it ideal for use in high-traffic areas that are susceptible to the adverse effects of moisture. Most brands of concrete backer-board consist of a fibrous reinforcement cement composition molded into sheets. Additional Questions Can cement board be left exposed? Who makes Wonderboard cement backerboard? Jackie Wright of Custom Building Products ( ), makers of another cement backerboard product called Wonderboard, told me that it makes no difference which side of their product faces out. Before you install the backer-board, check that the sub-floor is not bouncy, weak or rotted concrete backer-board has thousands of pounds of compression strength but very little tensile strength, since it is not designed to carry spanned loads. SEAL IT GOOD.Next, seal all seams with a suitable caulking, and finally, seal the entire exposed surface to inhibit water penetration before or during your tile installation to render the concrete backer board water resistant. Make sure the backer-board is fastened to the wall studs with galvanized screws or rustproof concrete backer-board screws. First, you should provide a waterproof/resistant membrane against the wood studs before installing the concrete backer-board to protect the wood studs from moisture absorbed through the backer-board. The difference between concrete backer-board and water-resistant gypsum board lies in the former’s strength.

Most concrete backer-boards on the market today are not water-resistant, but all are waterproof. When discussing wall sheathings, I find people are confused by the terms “Waterproof” and “Water-resistant.” Concrete backer-board certainly is waterproof in that it will not disintegrate when exposed to moisture for long durations. Face the rough side out if you will be using thin-set mortar adhesive to install the tile but the smooth side out if you will be using latex mastic. Cement board has a smooth side and a rough side.