Is there any reason to select “Wonderboard” over “Hardieboard” for a steam shower cementatious backerboard application? We planned to cover the backer with appropriate thinset and tile. We are having a debate with a sub who claims that Hardie will expand and ruin the tile over 3-5 years. Is this true?
Steve Kasower
Replies
1: Don't think so.
2: Dunno, but, again, don't think so.
Why? Are you stuck on Hardieboard? If so, why?
Wonderboard has been around for years. It may be worth it to give in just to keep your installer happy so he does happy work. The debate is just like the "Who makes the better car, Toyota or Nissan" arguments.
SamT
What job is the sub doing? Who is laying the tile??
I'm thinking that you should use the product the person laying the tile wants you to use. If you insist the tile installer lives with a different product and then a problem arises, what will the installer say??? "If you had let me use the backer board I wanted to...."
Rich Beckman
"You sometimes don't get accolades for the good things you do because the universe is balancing out the bad things you got away with." - Leslie Powell
You need to contact the manufacturers of the products you are going to use... backer board, grout, thinset... and specifically ask them if their products will work for your application. Most manufacturers have an 800 number for tech support.
There is some info in Michael Byrne's book about steam installations.... suggest you buy and read it.
There is ALOT more to building a steam shower than using cement board. There are HUGE vapor and moisture issues that need to be addressed. Also pitching the ceiling correctly is important.
I would second davidmeiland 's comment about the book or getting informed in general.
Eric
I left wonderboard out in my yard for 6 months. It disintegrated. It was filled with tiny styrofoam pellets to fill space. Its crap and I wouldn't use it anywhere near moisture. When I confronted the manufacturer and home depot, they both denied its wonderboard. Bottom line, wonderboard is crap.
I got some hardi board that been in my back yard for over two years and it still like new, except some green stuff growing on it. And we get over 50 inches of rain a year.