Once and for all (hopefully!) CEMENT Boards Explained - Tile Advice

[Colour Republic]

I agree with a lot of that impish but there are times you might want a solid style cement board over and above a foam cored version.

Especially on floors

Solid cement boards are by their nature stronger and stiffer so can be used to rectify small amounts of deflection where as you may have to strengthen the subfloor first if using foam cored boards.

Also point loading. Foam cored boards do have a minimum tile size suitable, so a mosaic floor could be out of the question unless going for a solid cement board.

So there are a few more 'positives' with solid cement boards than just the sheer weight they can carry.

But like I say, agree with most points you mention.

 

[One Day]

20mm mosaics are ok on Wedi (although I would only do that in a bare-foot area myself)
but I take your point - I do occasionally use cement board on floors!

 

[average]

It feels like there is a constant asking about the suitability of cement board in wet areas.
"Will they be ok in my wet room?" "Should I tank them?" etc etc etc
Can I attempt to clear up the confusion - much of which comes from the manufacturers and the builder's merchants who sell the stuff?

First of all: WATERPROOF vs WATER-RESISTANT
I honestly want to bang my head against a wall when this comes up.

1) Waterproof means water cannot get past the board.
2) Water-resistant means ONLY that water will not damage the board's integrity.
BUT - water can still soak through the board to the background.

Cement / Silica board - I class as Hardibacker / AquaPanel / NoMorePly
These are NOT WATERPROOF. They are sold as suitable for showers / wet areas etc and in my opinion they should not be sold as such. They are only "suitable" in as much as they won't get damaged by water - but unfortunately in my experience they will allow water to damage everything else - your tiling, your timbers and your rooms next to and below the one they're in!

The negatives of these boards:
- Heavy
- Difficult to cut
- Slow to install
- Contain silica dust (v harmful)
- NOT WATERPROOF - require tanking to make waterproof.
(note that tanking will reduce inherent weight-bearing though)

The positives:
- very strong and can take great amounts of weight

OK - Waterproof Boards now:
I class as Schluter's Kerdi board / Wedi board / Marmox board / Delta Board - there are others claiming the same properties but I can't vouch for them.
These boards are WATERPROOF. Water will not pass through the board, unless you leave open gaps or puncture with fasteners.
If you seal the gaps and fastener holes with these - water cannot get through and cause unseen damage.

The negatives of these boards:
- require specific washers and fasteners.

The positives:
- Lightweight
- Very easy to cut
- No harmful dust (zero with Kerdi board)
- Very fast to install
- TOTALLY WATERPROOF when installed correctly
- Very strong and can take great amounts of weight

Hopefully for some not so familiar with these board-types this will help to show that using a cement board in a wet area is a total waste of your time and money.
Not only are you working with a difficult board, but you then need to tank them too.
If you use a waterproof board, not only are they far easier to work with, but you don't need to tank them either.

I install loads of wet rooms (and replace loads too) and I've learnt over the years that you MUST keep learning.
Keep asking WHY as well as HOW. Go on the manufacturer's training days.

Any questions???

Nomoreply is waterproof.

 

[One Day]

Nomoreply is waterproof.

Are you sure about that?!
Please back up your statement?

 

[Dan]

This says water "resistant" No More Ply Boards available from Tile Giant - http://www.tilegiant.co.uk/tools-accessories/no-more-ply.html

Bit misleading really.

 

[One Day]

Definition of IMPERVIOUS - https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impervious

I guess they are picking definition no.2 because no.1 sure as heck doesn't apply.

I have a bath sponge which is also impervious to water.

 

[One Day]

Nomoreply is waterproof.

This kind of statement really proves my point though doesn't it?!

 

[Old Mod]

Iv'e dug a little deeper @Dan
Like you've shown, first thing they say.


The word impervious, depends on the context.
Read definition 2.




And to waterproof completely, by definition has to mean they're not.

 

[Old Mod]

I guess they are picking definition no.2 because no.1 sure as heck doesn't apply.

Snap

 

[Dan]

G'wan lad.

 

[average]

This kind of statement really proves my point though doesn't it?!

Its what Ive been getting told from tike stores from day 1 I started using it.

 

[One Day]

Its what Ive been getting told from tike stores from day 1 I started using it.

And that's the point of this thread! They don't know or they lie, or the manufacturer misleads them.

 

[Flintstone]

I don't believe that two coats of sbr is going to water proof anything!

 

[One Day]

I don't believe that two coats of sbr is going to water proof anything!

I think a decent SBR would actually form a waterproof layer, but it would be very weak mechanically.
The act of troweling on it would compromise it immediately.

 

[Flintstone]

That's what I mean, it's not a propper water proof system, might stop a splash but that's about it