The smaller dimensions of cement board make the installation of it on large walls more difficult but cement board panels fit vertically in 3 foot wide showers or horizontally behind a standard 5 foot bathtub.
Shower backer board cement vs concrete wall.
Cement backerboards include hardiebacker durock fiberboard wonderboard and similar products.
Wonderboard is used specifically.
Fiberglass mats irritate bare skin.
Lighter in weight than cement board.
Backer board cement board comparison review written by fred daues on january 4 2013 in wedi shower systems this review was done to test the performance of 3 different cement boards for ceramic tile installation.
In this highly convenient inexpensive and popular application a moisture barrier of 4 or 6 mil thick plastic is installed directly over the wall studs.
When doing floors i use 1 4 x 14 notched trowel with thinset over the sub floor.
Cement backer board on concrete as a subfloor or underlayment is usually not recommended or needed.
There are other brand names of polystyrene backerboard as well as other materials to choose from including cement backerboard.
Easier to cut and fasten than cement board.
Will soften if water seeps through joints or gets behind the waterproof surface.
All of these backerboard options have advantages and disadvantages.
When installed properly they will give you many many years of durable shower construction.
The wedi backer board hardibacker and wonderboard.
The core of these boards is made up of a combination of cement and concrete that will not absorb any water and therefore will undergo no damage even if exposed directly to water.
The name backer board comes from its use as a subsurface for tile installation especially in showers and tub enclosures.
Then the cement board is installed on top of the plastic sheeting.
Drywall panels fit between wall studs spaced 16 inches or 24 inches apart.
Cement backer board is often used as a tile base on plywood or osb subfloor.
I have been using various types of 1 2 cement board on tub and shower walls and 1 4 fiber cement boards on bathrroom floors with 1 8 inch gap.
Any of them can work well if properly detailed.
Cement board and plastic sheeting.
Screws secure the cement board to the wall studs.
Cement board is easily cut with a hand saw or a power saw.
Can t support all types of floor tile see product specification sheet.
Cement board is porous so grout and mortar adhere to it well.
These materials bridge the gap between expense and effectiveness.
In most cases you can apply tile directly to the concrete.
I use 15 lb felt with 100 overlap over the studs on walls.
Kerdi board by schlüter is one brand name of polystyrene backerboard for tile.