Foam Tile Backer Board Vs Cement Board

The biggest disadvantage will be the cost.

Foam tile backer board vs cement board.

First it s super lightweight compared with the rest. Any of them can work well if properly detailed. The wedi backer board hardibacker and wonderboard. You ve probably heard of hardiebacker tile backer board.

Fiberock is another popular product in this category. Fiberglass mats irritate bare skin. In addition because showers. A 1 2 inch thick 3 x 5 foot sheet weighs just 7 1 2 pounds compared with 45 pounds for a similar size sheet of cement board.

Just reading the definitions alone doesn t provide too much of a difference as both uncoupling mats and backer board are used to prep the subfloor to help prevent loss of bond. Will soften if water seeps through joints or gets behind the waterproof surface. The synthetic foam will last longer than traditional concrete and produce significantly less dust when cutting and installing. Even the slightest amount of movement in a building structure can telegraph to the tile and crack it.

Easier to cut and fasten than cement board. There are other brand names of polystyrene backerboard as well as other materials to choose from including cement backerboard. Some quick google ing turned up about 10 sheet for 5 x3 x1. In showers the standard substrate is tile backer also called cement board or cement backer board.

All of these backerboard options have advantages and disadvantages. Xps foam boards like jackoboard marmox weidi etc or cement boards lile hardie no more ply etc with tanking where applicable or plasterboard just to throw it in there tanking where needs be. Fiber cement board and cement board are closely related. And second since it s foam the board is super easy to cut with just a utility knife.

Ceramic and porcelain tile more than almost any other surface material needs a stable flat flex free substrate. Foam core tile backing board has two big advantages over other backer boards. Can t support all types of floor tile see product specification sheet. Backer board is a thin layer of concrete that has fiberglass mesh on its sides and is used under the tile to provide a firm and even surface for the tile to adhere to.

Kerdi board by schlüter is one brand name of polystyrene backerboard for tile. Lighter in weight than cement board. It s a sort of gray beige colored board and is available at any hardware box store. Dont know how you would put this thing to a vote maybe admin coould help out with that one.