How do you attach cement board to studs?

Use special mesh tape on seams



Cut drywall to fill in between the existing wall or ceiling and the cement board. Screw the drywall to the studs. Cover all of the corners, joints and seams, including the joint where drywall and cement board meet, with the fiberglass mesh tape.

What size cement board screws do I need?





Cement board attached to plywood or similar underlayment will hold with only 1 1/4-inch screws; for thick or heavy metal fixtures, use 1 5/8-inch screws. In general, 1 1/2-inch galvanized nails will hold the board firmly in place.

How do you shim backer board for tile?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: You want it as flat as possible. So if you put get get your your backer board and you just throw it to the walls. If once that is in and once that is that you're gonna cause a wave in the wall.

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

Can I use 1/4 cement board on floors? Both 1/4- and1/2-inch cement board are appropriate for floors. To install cement board on floors, cement board manufacturers mandate a 5/8-inch plywood subfloor or OSB underlayment. They also require a 3/4-inch subfloor where tile size exceeds 12 inches.

Can you put cement board directly on studs?

Walls: For highly wet areas, such as showers and bathtub surrounds, cement board typically is attached directly over the wall studs, although the studs may be covered with an intervening moisture membrane. (Some cement board products may not require the underlying membrane if the seams are properly waterproofed.)

Can you use 1/4 cement board walls?





1/4″ hardibacker alone is an unsuitable substrate for shower wall tile. If it were attached to properly waterproofed drywall, plywood, or plaster it would be fine. Think about it, one wayward elbow, knee, or hip bump and you may get flexion which would cause the grout (or tile) to crack.

How long should durock screws be?

Sizes: DUROCK Wood Screws come in two lengths: 32 and 57 mm (1-1/4 and 2-1/4). DUROCK Steel Screws come in two lengths: 32 and 42 mm (1-1/4 and 1-5/8).

What do you do with a gap between tub and cement board?

Technically, after the tile is installed over the backer board that gap between it and the tub ledge should be filled with an ASTM C920 sealant (caulking e.g. silicone). Although some say you should have weep holes along this gap so any water behind can weep out into the tub.

Do you need to pre drill cement board?

If you are using a smaller board where there is no center screw you should start with a screw near the middle of the sheet. You must pre-drill holes in the material before attaching the screws.

Can you use 1/4 durock 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.

Can I just 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.

Do I really need thinset under backer board?

Thinset is going to create a solid surface under tile and prevent flexing that could lead to cracking. Using thinset between the backerboard and subfloor will create additional strength, fill in any potential gaps that exist and lessen the possibility of movement.

Can you install cement board without thinset?



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.

What kind of thinset goes under cement board?

An unmodified thinset (Masterblend) is fine between the Hardi and the subfloor. Tara, The reason for the layer of thinset between the cement board and the subfloor is to fill the voids/gaps between the two. It’ll keep the cement board from moving up and down.

What kind of screws do you use for backer board?

The Backer-On 1-5/8 in. Cement Board Screws are designed for attaching HardieBacker or equivalent fiber cement backerboard to wood or light gauge steel studs.

Are drywall screws OK for cement board?

You don’t want to use regular drywall screws for cement boards. They can corrode, they can break down the edges of the boards, and they won’t drive in flush properly. Use ITW’s ROCK-ON and BACKER-ON screws instead.

How many screws do you need for backer board?



We recommend referring to the cement board manufacturers guidelines for screw pattern. In floor applications, screws should be placed every 8″”. You will use approximately 55 screws per 3′ x 5′ cement board and 91 screws per 4′ x 8′ cement board. In ceiling applications, screws should be placed every 6″”.

Can I use construction screws for cement board?

Cement board screws are engineered for—and should only be used with—cement boards. Using a cement board screw in, say, drywall (or using a drywall screw in cement boards) could lead to potential damage later down the line because the screws are not compatible with these other materials.

Will Hardie board hold a screw?

What type of fastener do you recommend for floor and wall applications of HardieBacker® cement board? In compliance with the tile industry, James Hardie recommends 1-1/4” long galvanized or stainless steel roofing nails (0.121” shank x 3/8” HD) or 1-1/4” long corrosion resistant ribbed waferhead screws (No.

What are the best screws for concrete?

There are two kinds of screw heads for work with concrete — hex head or flat head Phillips. Hex screws are easier to drive in, but they don’t look as nice because the caps are raised and they can’t be flush to the surface; so your choice depends on the location of the screw.