Do I Need Cement Board For Kitchen Floor Tile

Correctly installed cement board provides a very stable base that s permanently bound to the tile with thin set mortar so your new tile floor will last a very long time.

Do i need cement board for kitchen floor tile.

Cement board is a type of underlayment that is now standard for most tile installations but particularly for floor tile. Never install new tiles over existing tiles or onto an unprotected wood or plywood floor. Whenever you re laying tile on a wood subfloor you need to first install cement backerboard to prevent leaks and water damage. These materials do not work because you need a cementitious base one that has the qualities of cement and masonry cousins of tile.

Cement board should never be counted on to stiffen up your floor. However these are the five that stood out in my unofficial memory as being the most common. Because plywood expands and contracts beneath the ceramic tile grout and tile failure loose tiles and cracked crumbling grout is just a matter of time. This is a distinct advantage over plywood and drywall.

For countertops use 3 4 inch plywood beneath the backer board. How to install tile backer board. It s typically available in 1 2 in. Cement board also provides an additional layer over a plywood or particleboard subfloor adding stiffness to the tile installation to help prevent cracks.

Its made from cement and sand and is reinforced by fiberglass mats on both sides so it s impervious to water. The floor needs to meet minimum requirements for tile before any tile backer board is installed. Thick 3 x 5 ft. For flooring the backer board should be installed over a 5 8 inch thick osb or plywood base.

Unlike wood or drywall sub surfaces cement backerboard will not rot warp or grow mold and mildew when exposed to water. The primary benefit of cement board is that it doesn t break down or expand or warp if it gets wet. Wood regular drywall and even green board have organic elements which will degrade in high moisture environments.