Underlayment For Tile Over Concrete

Installing tile directly on concrete.

Underlayment for tile over concrete.

Concrete backer board has a solid concrete core and both sides are faced with fiberglass. When installing a tile floor a layer of cement backer board is usually put down over a plywood subfloor to provide a firm stable surface. Cement based backer board. It is generically called cement board or backer board or it can also be referred to by one of the common brand names such as densshield hardiebacker and wonderboard.

I m putting ceramic tile flooring in my kitchen and live on a 10 year old ground level concrete slab. Tape over holes and cracks in the wood subfloor or slab before pouring on the self leveling tile underlayment to keep it from seeping through and leaving indentations. Made of lightweight polyethylene the membrane is only 1 8 thick and can be cut easily with a. Concrete backer board durock and wonderboard which is the standard material for tile underlayment.

However you still need an underlayment to isolate the tiles from the concrete subfloor and prevent cracks from telescoping through. Now largely regarded as the very best underlayment for ceramic tile in any application floors walls and countertops cement based backer board goes by many names. If you re installing tile over an existing concrete pad or on a traditional mortar bed cement board would be redundant. A waterproof underlayment membrane like ditra from schluter systems can be substituted for backer board.

Ceramic and porcelain tile are so frequently installed at or above grade level on a cement board underlayment or directly on plywood that it almost seems novel to install tile directly on concrete. The most popular underlay for this purpose is known by its brand name. Underlayment in a tile project can mean the difference between a project that lasts for years and one you have to redo because an unexpected crack develops in your concrete slab. Tile floors remain a popular choice especially for bathrooms entryways and other places a water resistant surface is desired.

Tile underlayment must provide solid support so the tile and grout won t crack when walked on. Most tile installation experts consider that underlayment is like an insurance policy. The following backer boards are commonly used for tile flooring in wet or dry areas over wood subfloors.