14
votes
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How do I correctly install ceramic floor tile?
Disclaimer: I am not an expert. I have worked on about a half dozen seperate tile floors, though! These instructions are not meant for a shower wall or floor, just every day use floors like bathroom, ...
- 1,318
9
votes
Can I install heat mat and backer board over cork flooring?
When I am redoing a bathroom and adding the needed backer board to a subfloor assembly, I would remove all existing finish floors no matter how many to get back down to the original subfloor. Then ...
- 31.2k
5
votes
Do I need to lay plywood before I lay down cementboard?
If those T&G boards are your subfloor, you'll be fine putting the cementboard panels right over them. Just screw them down to the wood subflooring with plenty of screws; don't use thinset for that....
- 12.2k
5
votes
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Where exactly does backer board need to reside in a bathroom?
Backer board, HardieBacker, or cement board is used on any surface that is to be tiled.
- 128k
4
votes
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Should I redo this wall to avoid a mold sandwich?
For a pure shower (not bathtub), I always put a membrane on over the backerboard. Redgard is my preferred choice right now so I would be fine with that choice.
I really don't think there is anything ...
- 46.2k
4
votes
How do I attach natural stone to backerboard in a shower
Normally the stone is applied directly to the backer board once the pieces are set a grout is used between the stones (today I would recommend epoxy grout). After grout a sealer can be used , I have ...
- 95.8k
3
votes
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How to flatten a plywood subfloor for tile?
Yes, your plan sounds perfectly fine, initially. But, that deep of a divot for such a small area is concerning to me. I'd take the plywood up or drill an inspection hole in the ceiling below to see ...
- 9,779
3
votes
Seaming HardiBacker to Drywall
When I did my shower, I lined it up so the Hardi/drywall seam was about 1" before the edge of my shower tiles. Then I just covered this seam with mesh tape and thinset. So when I laid tile, it ...
- 861
3
votes
Can I install heat mat and backer board over cork flooring?
I've never had to do this (install tile over cork), but I think you need to remove the cork.
Backer/cement boards needs to be firmly fastened to the sub-floor. Any kind of softness, give, or "...
- 3,959
2
votes
Nailing down hardibacker on walls
Depending on what is behind your backer you need long roofing nails. I use HB 30-40 times a year and and I use the HB screws and long roofing nails. For shower walls that are a little tough I will ...
- 46.2k
2
votes
Retiling a tub surround, not sure how to shim it
I see that the floor tile (and possibly the plumbing, a cement bed, or whatever) prevent you from moving the tub. That was going to be my first suggestion. If it's a possibility, do that. Move it only ...
- 104k
2
votes
Backer board bowing on 24" inch steel studs for rock ledger panel installation
This question is either subjective (based on opinion and personal standards of quality) or is a warranty issue. In either case it's probably off-topic. That said, here are my thoughts.
Yes, adhering ...
- 104k
2
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How should I prepare subfloor for backerboard installation in bathroom tiling project?
If you have single-layer plywood, you might want to consider Schluter Ditra membrane. It serves as crack isolation and waterproofing:
Designed specifically for ceramic tile and dimension stone ...
- 2,345
2
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How should I prepare subfloor for backerboard installation in bathroom tiling project?
1) Safe assumption. Your floor trusses are carrying the load of the entire room. A little extra tile weight isn't going to matter.
2) You want a relatively level surface but the thinset itself ...
- 25.6k
2
votes
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Retiling a tub surround, not sure how to shim it
Some basic comments on what I would do:
First I see that you cut out a 18-24 inches beyond the tub. That is fine. But I like to see a 2x4 right where you would put a shower curtain up and another ...
- 46.2k
2
votes
Accepted
Would you put heavy tile floor-to-ceiling over this "blueboard"?
What you have is done all the time. In some cases it is set on regular drywall, a little weaker than the blueboard. The loading tests the shear strength of the screws and glue that holds the drywall ...
- 31.2k
2
votes
Should I redo this wall to avoid a mold sandwich?
DensShield is a Class II vapor retarder (at least, after tiling), which should meet your code requirement (YMMV). I would recommend tearing out the plastic membrane vapor barrier, using only the ...
- 1,172
2
votes
Replacing particle board underlayment and building up floor height to lay tile
Plywood would be a very good choice. You should consult the ditra literature for your particular joist spacing, however, generally the bare minimum thickness for plywood/T&G subfloor under ditra ...
- 41
2
votes
What backer board for Kohler Choreograph in the shower - osb or greenboard?
According to this video produced by Kohler, you should use greenboard or other water resistent backer material. I wouldn't use OSB, and cement board seems like overkill but could help if you needed ...
- 26.6k
2
votes
What backer board for Kohler Choreograph in the shower - osb or greenboard?
Kohler recommends water resistant drywall or green board. Make sure you have blocking at the height needed if installing things like hand rails.
- 95.8k
2
votes
Can I install heat mat and backer board over cork flooring?
If you read James Hardie installation you need to thinset the board down with modified thinset so over cork no don't do it
- 21
2
votes
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Efficiently remove backer board screws
If the heads of screws are in good condition(clean) a drill/driver probably best bet to remove. Dirty or damaged heads, a hammer is useful, either pull them up or hammer them down. If hammering them ...
- 5,761
2
votes
Accepted
HardieBacker with Hydrodefense very difficult to drill
My guess is it is just more resistance than you are used to. It is probably worth taking an extra/scrap piece of the Hardiebacker, setting it flat on a couple of 2x4s on a workbench or flat surface, ...
- 962
2
votes
Accepted
What should I use for a smooth surface wall board for quilting layout?
You could obtain a 4'x8' piece of coated hardboard and hang that on the wall. (You could also build a frame for around it as Ed Beal suggested in his comment.)
The hardboard has a smooth, white, ...
- 3,480
1
vote
Not level where drywall and backer board meet
Once you tile, it wont' be that far off. However, if you aren't planning to use thick tile, you may worry about that edge potentially seeing a lot of water. However, there's a lot of ways to deal with ...
- 2,377
1
vote
Removing bathroom tile from cement backerboard
If the backer board is attached with screws, the easiest solution would be to find them, remove them and take the floor out in chunks. However, that's not gonna happen since there isn't a good way to ...
- 346
1
vote
Jigsaw Blade for Hardibacker
Score with a utility knife, clamp between scraps of wood, and snap.
If you don't have enough extra length to snap with, the best tool I've found is a grinder with a diamond blade. (Use outdoors with ...
- 15.7k
1
vote
Accepted
Possible application to backboard in shower
I would let that dry the best you can, heat or fan...once that is done, paint it with kilz or similar and, of course, wait for that to dry, then install backer board up the wall. The reason I would ...
- 2,292
1
vote
Retiling a tub surround, not sure how to shim it
OP's comment: "The flooring is coming up next."
So this is a gut job. Remove the rest of that wall's drywall and shim every stud with 2x4s attached to their sides, letting them project as needed (a ...
- 12.7k
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