I plan on installing about 400 square feet of ceramic tile in a kitchen. I wanted to know if I need to put down a cement backer board before laying the tile?
If so, how do I determine if I should use 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch?
Finally, what is the preferred method of securing it to the subfloor? Is is it glued somehow or nailed to the floor joists (I suspect nailed, but I've never used it before).
The subfloor is plywood and seems secure. I am not sure how thick the plywood is yet (haven't gone to the basement and looked for any stamps on it).
I've done ceramic tile before, but it has always been a small area with mosaic tile, so I never put much thought into the backer board.
Thanks
Fate5432009-04-15T12:10:54Z
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RE: Do I need a Cement Backer board for Ceramic Tile? I plan on installing about 400 square feet of ceramic tile in a kitchen. I wanted to know if I need to put down a cement backer board before laying the tile?
If so, how do I determine if I should use 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch?
Finally, what is the preferred method of securing it to the subfloor? ...
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If the tile is stuck to plywood. Chip out a single row of tile down the length of the floor and another row across the width, with the intersection of the two rows somewhere in the middle of your floor. This will expose the plywood underlayment. Now fit a reciprocating saw with a 12-inch-long wood-cutting blade and make a shallow plunge cut into the plywood. Just as the blade starts to cut through the plywood, pull the saw toward you and make a continuous, low-angle cut just through the plywood underlayment, not the subfloor. (As awkward as a reciprocating saw may seem, a circular saw is actually harder to control and kicks up too much dust.) Once you've finished the cut, work your flatbar under the underlayment and rip it up, tile and all. Tile that's attached to cement backerboard needs the same kind of treatment as tile stuck to plywood. Just use a recip saw with a carbide-grit masonry cutting blade and work in one small area at a time. If the backerboard is glued down, the plywood subfloor may be damaged during the removal process. Any panels that are damaged will have to be ripped out and replaced.
Advantages of using backerboard instead of wood is its ability to withstand moisture, steam, and other types of wetness common to rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms where ceramic tile is usually installed. The cement backer board can be screwed or nailed to the wood framing. Always follow the instructions printed by the manufacturer. I use hot-dipped ring-shanked nails if I am nailing. Corrosion-resistant screws can also be used