Do I Need Concrete Backer Board For Laminate Flooring

Never install new tiles over existing tiles or onto an unprotected wood or plywood floor.

Do i need concrete backer board for laminate flooring.

Unlike wood or drywall sub surfaces cement backerboard will not rot warp or grow mold and mildew when exposed to water. For countertops use 3 4 inch plywood beneath the backer board. Cement board also provides an additional layer over a plywood or particleboard subfloor adding stiffness to the tile. The primary benefit of cement board is that it doesn t break down or expand or warp if it gets wet.

In this step i only take out a few pieces of cement board at a time. Good luck with your project. Just the other day i saw a video featuring someone fastening hardibacker directly to the subfloor with nothing underneath it. Now it s time to start installing the cement board.

Once it s out i then spread thin set onto the floor. Cement board is a type of underlayment that is now standard for most tile installations but particularly for floor tile. It is also used in shower and tub enclosures or anywhere with significant wetness issues as a means of helping to create a moisture barrier. I do this so it goes back in the exact place that it was in before i moved it.

And for walls and ceilings apply 1 2 inch or 5 8 inch backer board screwed directly to the wall studs or joists. It is used on flooring installations as a means of creating a stable and easier to work with subfloor. Backerboard or cement board comes in sheets much like drywall and is used in a couple of ways. This is a distinct advantage over plywood and drywall.

Cement board seams require mesh tape and thinset 1. If your cement backer board is smooth and flat you may need to tape the seams and fill in any low spots i can t see any reason why you couldn t apply vinyl flooring over it. No thinset underneath the backer board.