I am tiling three walls of my shower, over a Swanstone shower pan. Do I have to install 1/2 inch cement board behind the tile or will a thinner cement board do the job? It seems so thick….Weight isn’t a problem; I’ve beefed up the joists underneath. I’m more of a carpenter, so tiling is new to me, thanks for the help. ‘
Wanda
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Replies
1/4" is fine if yo're laminating an existing surface, but 1/2" is required when installing directly to framing.
Weight isn't an issue. Unless you're framing is, and remains, perfectly flush, even slight bows are going to telegraph through 1/4" board.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
Thanks loads for the info. Now I can proceed, what a relief. Wanda
What do you have over the framing that you are applying the cement board to?
So far I have nothing over the framing. I can put anything there; say the word! Right now I am planning to install 1/2 inch cement backerboard over the framing and tile over that. Wanda
just remember
Step one-felt paper stapeled to studs
Step two- screw CBU ( I like "Wonderboard" personally for this application) using CBU Screws.
Step three-thinset all seems and keep the thinset very flush to the wall..no bulging allowed.
Step four- Use thinset and a liquid latex mortar addictive added to it. Be sure its the less expensive thinset that accepts the additive.
Backbutter the tiles after you apply it to the walls for the hest possible adhesion.
Let dry overnight and thinset. Be sure to lightly sponge the tile to wet it before applying the thinset.
Be well
andyThe secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides, I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace. I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.
Backbutter the tiles after you apply it to the walls for the hest possible adhesion.Let dry overnight and thinset. Be sure to lightly sponge the tile to wet it before applying the thinset.Do you mean grout where your saying thinset in the last sentence?kevin
yeh...sorryAfter you apply the thinset to the walls...back butter the tiles but you hardly have to get any on them...just enough to know the thinsets totally adhered to 100% of the tile. Enough to fill the lugs if there are any on the back of your tiles.The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides, I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace. I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.
Been round and round about back buttering :)
before just making a blanket statement wouldn't it be wise to know the size of the tile, what the back of the tile looks like, how flat the surface is (assuming pretty darn flat since it's new) and recommend first using the proper size notched trowel, all of which could make backbuttering un-necessary...?
Yeah Andy, why should she backbutter 4x4's?
She hasn't said what she is using so why offer that? Just gonna make it harder for her.
And why do you insist in all your posts re tile, on adding additive to the thinset?
Those days are pretty much over except in certain situations where the tile manufacturer recommends it. Buy the topshelf thinset and you don't need the additive.
Be a butter knife.
Eric[email protected]
It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
Yeah Andy, why should she backbutter 4x4's?She hasn't said what she is using so why offer that? Just gonna make it harder for her.BACKBUTTERING in a small area like a shower takes an extra twenty minutes tops and ensures 100% coverage.
Pull of fone that is backbuttered and one that isn't and see which sticks better....especially in a wet area like a shower......
Personally I back butter ALL my tile jobs unless its on mastic.And why do you insist in all your posts re tile, on adding additive to the thinset?Those days are pretty much over except in certain situations where the tile manufacturer recommends it. Buy the topshelf thinset and you don't need the additive.WHY DO YOU THINK thye sell the stuff? To me...it appears to be a better adhesion job...but thats just me. Ever get that stuff on you and try and get it off vs regular thinset?Be well bro
andyThe secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides, I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace. I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.
Andy,
The only time I find it nesessary to back butter (other than lugs) is when using LARGE tile and/or when the suface they are being attached to is not flat, and backbudderin' is the only way to get them 'ranged' with no lippage.
Ranging as I use it is much the same as the mason would do when laying block. They are laid to a line yes, but that does not mean the bottoms or one end cannot be kicked out.
Or perhaps when I put in a tile and have to take it back out to fix up the cut a bit, then it gets a budderin' before going back to where it belongs.
Did you see a post recently where someone was talking about NOT swirling the thinset or mastic as it is applied with a notched trowel? He said that he learned at a seminar that swirling the setting material will cause air to become trapped behind or beneath the tile thus preventing full coverage. Made LOADS of sense to me. I'm always looking to learn something.
Are you cleaning your notched trowels well after use? IE: are the notches full depth or are they clogged up with the last jobs setting material. Perhaps they are worn beyond a useful life?
Always nice to see you here Andy, I hope things are going well for you.
Hey, check out this station online WKZE. I've been doing a job in Sharon, CT and found it at 98.1. I'm like damn, this station is good AND it comes it GREAT!!
They are literally across the street fom where I am working!
Eric[email protected]
It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
Hey, check out this station online WKZE. I've been doing a job in Sharon, CT and found it at 98.1. I'm like damn, this station is good AND it comes it GREAT!!>>>>>>>>>>>>>Ever since I got Sirius Satellite a half year back.....I NEVER listen to terrestrial radio anymore. Its totally amazing radio...long overdo.
Next to no commercials and 150 channels of "fantastic" music and talk...
Andddddd no govt interference!!!!The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides, I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace. I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.
"Did you see a post recently where someone was talking about NOT swirling the thinset or mastic as it is applied with a notched trowel?"
U talking about "swirling" as in applying the stuff to the floor?
I learned that "swirling" in that manner can lead to cracking of more fragile tiles ... as it'll dry out in different directions ... I lay/trowel the thinset in one direction only ... so as to not swirl .. or curl.
either way ... I don't back butter either ... unless I gotta build something up.
I do how ever ... use the correct trowel and mix the thinset to the correct viscosity.
I even test a tile ever now and then ... just try to "pop" one mid-run ... usualy have to dig the trowel edge under ... then take a look-see at the thinset pattern.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Yeah, the OP said that he was told swirling the thinset can trap air beneath the tiles, it has no way to get out.
Learned me something new.[email protected]
It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
I think the standards for wall tile is 85% coverage, unless you plan on walking on the walls.
I personally back butter all my tiles in wet areas no matter how big or small...Dats jus' me...so sue me : )
Let me clarify a bit...In wet areas and on floors I "always" backbutter.
Not on backsplashes or non trafic areas such as walls.
Also, I'm not talking backbuttering the same amt of mud on the back of a tile that I put on the wall...I'm talking filling in the lug areas or on smooth tile I just spread it on paper thin...trowel it on and wide most of it off...just enough that I know the tile is adhearing one hundred percent.
Pulling a tile off the wall not backbuttered and you see the mud isnt stuck to the entire tile...right?
Be overkill???
andyThe secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides, I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace. I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.
Edited 1/16/2006 6:45 pm ET by andybuildz
1/2" CBU over studs but be sure to staple up felt paper first behind it.
The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides, I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace. I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.
W,
tar paper, 1/2 cement board( iprefer hardi board)
green board in place? then 1/2" on top of it (Use longer srews)
then trim with quarter round tiles or trim pieces
No board? screw 1/2" cement board and use bulnose trim ove lapping the drywall about half a tile for a nice clean edge
Center your back wall on either center tile or joint (whicheve gives you the biggest piece and tile it first.
Level horizontally on plumb wall and side wall, keep you lines straight
I usually start bottom course from the highest point on your tub (some tubs are wavy or not level)
If way off level, level a line around the walls about 1/4 to 1/2 inch less than a tile size then tack a 1x2 or 1x3 to the wall jut below that line, tile up full tile from this line(gives you a level ledge to start from)
then pull strips the next day and cut the bottom row to fit to the tub
good luck
Thank you, tilers! I say, if there's no reason NOT to back butter the tiles, then away I'll go, merrily buttering. It's a small project (the beauty of the bathroom remodel is it's impossible to get bored doing something, it's over so quick...). Wanda