Do I Need Concrete Backer Board For Laminate Flooring

For flooring the backer board should be installed over a 5 8 inch thick osb or plywood base.

Do i need concrete backer board for laminate flooring.

Backerboard or cement board comes in sheets much like drywall and is used in a couple of ways. It is also used in shower and tub enclosures or anywhere with significant wetness issues as a means of helping to create a moisture barrier. I do this so it goes back in the exact place that it was in before i moved it. Cement board also provides an additional layer over a plywood or particleboard subfloor adding stiffness to the tile.

And for walls and ceilings apply 1 2 inch or 5 8 inch backer board screwed directly to the wall studs or joists. Cement board seams require mesh tape and thinset 1. For countertops use 3 4 inch plywood beneath the backer board. If your cement backer board is smooth and flat you may need to tape the seams and fill in any low spots i can t see any reason why you couldn t apply vinyl flooring over it.

Unlike wood or drywall sub surfaces cement backerboard will not rot warp or grow mold and mildew when exposed to water. Just the other day i saw a video featuring someone fastening hardibacker directly to the subfloor with nothing underneath it. Good luck with your project. Step three how to install cement board on the floor.

No thinset underneath the backer board. Once it s out i then spread thin set onto the floor. Cement board is a type of underlayment that is now standard for most tile installations but particularly for floor tile. Never install new tiles over existing tiles or onto an unprotected wood or plywood floor.

This is a distinct advantage over plywood and drywall. The primary benefit of cement board is that it doesn t break down or expand or warp if it gets wet. It is used on flooring installations as a means of creating a stable and easier to work with subfloor.