Which side of Hardibacker board goes out?

Either is acceptable, but we recommend that the smooth side with the nailing pattern of every 8″ on center go up.

Does it matter what side of cement board is out?





No, it doesn’t matter. Regardless of which side faces out during installation, you can expect the same great performance that has made USG Durock® Brand Cement Board the preferred choice of professionals and do-it-yourselfers for decades.

Which side do you tile on Hardibacker?

8. Which side of HardieBacker should be tiled on? Either is acceptable, but we recommend the EZ grid® side of the 6mm board, and the smooth side of the 12mm board.

What side of backer board goes up?

Cement board has a smooth side and a rough side. Face the rough side out if you will be using thin-set mortar adhesive to install the tile but the smooth side out if you will be using latex mastic.

Is Hardie board reversible?

You can’t mount it backwards; the back side of it isn’t smooth.

How often do you screw cement board?





every 8 in

Fasten HardieBacker cement board with specified nails or screws (as listed in “Materials Required”) every 8 in over the entire surface. Keep fasteners between 3/8 in and 3/4 in from board edges and 2 in from board corners.

Can I use drywall mesh tape for cement board?

Although paper tape generally leads to a cleaner finish on drywall, you can still achieve a smooth look if you use mesh tape on a drywall/cement board joint. Use this self-adhesive joint tape where cement board and drywall meet. Never use paper drywall tape on cement board.

Does Hardie backer board need waterproofing?

Hardiebacker (James Hardie): the use of a waterproof membrane, vapor barrier or vapor. retarding membrane is optional unless the local building code requires it.

What do you put on seams of cement board?



Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: And he said on the one side so we're just going to put that on you want to make sure all your cement board joints have cement board tape on them doesn't matter if some of the cement board tape

How do you seal Hardie board seams?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: This area right here what you wanna do is you want to take some of the thin set mortar you want to just put it on the teeth and then sweep it off so that you get a nice thin layer on the teeth.

Do you have to use thinset under backer board?

Not only is thinset a critical component underneath cement board but the other critical component is the fasteners. And you won’t have the fasteners if you are trying to install it over concrete.

Can I just screw down cement board?



Doing this will require that you remove the existing surface material before installing backer board over the studs. Cement board can also be used on countertops when laying tile. However, the process will involve using an extra sheet of backer board. Never use standard screws when installing cement board.

Do you have to tape seams on Hardibacker?

For tile backer boards such as Durock, Wonderboard, Hardiebacker, Permabase, and others the seams between the board need to be treated with 2-inch alkali-resistant mesh tape. Then a coat of thinset gets flat troweled over the seam. What this does is tie the two boards together and help prevent flexing.

Can you screw down backer board?

Screw and Joints



Do not use drywall screws as they are not recommended to be used to hold the backer board in place. All of your backer board pieces should be cut before they are placed on​ the floor. Along the perimeter, screws should be installed at least ½ inch from the edge, but no more than 2 1/4 inches.

Can you tile straight onto HardiBacker?

The Hardibacker will be fine to tile straight onto.

Does Liquid Nails work on cement board?



LN-907 Liquid Nails is recommended for cement board and most other common building materials. The application temperature is from 22 to 120 Fahrenheit and the service temperature is -20 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes it ideal for just about any DIY project and on most construction projects.

Do you put plywood under cement board?

Because cement board can be used either for floors or walls, the surface below the cement board will vary: Flooring: For ceramic tile floors, the cement board usually rests on a plywood subfloor (minimum 5/8-inch-thick exterior-grade plywood or OSB).

Can you use 1/4 inch cement board on floors?

1/4″ USG Durock® cement board is an ideal substrate for floor and countertop ceramic tile installations. The 1/4″ thickness helps eliminate transition trim when abutting carpet or wood flooring and minimize level variations with other finish materials.

Do I need to seal cement board before tiling?

Although most backerboards currently available won’t fall apart when exposed to moisture and are somewhat water-resistant, they aren’t waterproof. To prevent moisture from seeping through to the wood or metal studs beneath the tile, a barrier or sealant must be used on porous materials.