Best Tile Backer Board For Walls

Hardibacker is the best known fiber cement board fiber cement board.

Best tile backer board for walls.

Fiber cement board and cement board are closely related. Doesn t deteriorate when wet. Here s how to choose the best tile backer board for your project. Whether it s a wall floor or countertop tile installation using the right substrate is crucial for preventing cracks and breaks in the tile and grout.

Plywood and osb substrates can warp and mold with water damage but tile backer board will do neither. You ve probably heard of hardiebacker tile backer board. Wedi building panels are so much more than a simple tile backer board and offer endless installation opportunities. Score the board with a utility knife then cut it using a jig saw with a carbide blade.

Georgia pacific s densshield is one such product. Tile needs to be installed on a backer board to keep the assembly stiff otherwise the assembly will flex at the grout joints allowing water to seep behind the tile and rot the substructure. It s hard flat and incredibly stable. If needed cut the backerboard to fit in small spaces or around obstructions.

The backerboard should completely cover the subfloor joints. The facing serves as an integrated waterproofing membrane so you don t need to install a separate layer of plastic behind the tile backer or a sheet membrane over the backer. Wedi building panels are lightweight internally waterproof and dimensionally stable making them fast clean and simple to work with. One type of tile backer board is made with a water resistant facing on both sides of the board.

Fiberock is another popular product in this category. Membrane faced board only. It s a sort of gray beige colored board and is available at any hardware box store.