How To Lay Tile On Uneven Backer Board Wall

Repair uneven seams with mortar.

How to lay tile on uneven backer board wall.

Use tile spacers if necessary to keep the tile lines straight in the layout. Cement board commonly sold under trade names such as durock hardiebacker and wonderboard is now the standard underlayment used for ceramic porcelain or stone tile laid with thinset mortar adhesive cement board is used for most floor tile and has all but replaced plywood and drywall backer materials for wall tile applications in wet areas like showers and tub surrounds. Here s how to choose the best tile backer board for your project. Tile needs to be installed on a backer board to keep the assembly stiff otherwise the assembly will flex at the grout joints allowing water to seep behind the tile and rot the substructure.

Do a dry run and lay the backerboard down to fully cover the area you plan to tile. A strip of tile backer can help you get the build out just right. Snap a grid to the subfloor using a chalk line to mark your backerboard placement. If you are using the cement board as tile backer use the same mortar you are using to affix the tiles.

Otherwise use latex or acrylic modified thin set mortar. Just slather one side with thin set or mastic and stick it in place. Proper way to install backer board in tub area no matter what the board is made of it should not sit on top of the tub flange. For the vertical layout begin your pattern at the top of the wall so there ll be full uncut tile at the top.

Here the trim wasn t quite thick enough to overhang the tile below so we set the trim over a strip of 1 4 in. When the bathtub is installe. Score the board with a utility knife then cut it using a jig saw with a carbide blade. If so adjust your layout to have wider tile on the sides.

Doesn t deteriorate when wet. Any kind of backer board will do. Spread the mortar with the flat edge of the trowel then groove. Keep in mind that inch backer board is frequently less than inch thick.

If needed cut the backerboard to fit in small spaces or around obstructions. Spread thinset mortar on the bottom center of the wall.