Do I Need Concrete Backer Board For Laminate Flooring

For countertops use 3 4 inch plywood beneath the backer board.

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. Never install new tiles over existing tiles or onto an unprotected wood or plywood floor. 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. 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. Cement board is a type of underlayment that is now standard for most tile installations but particularly for floor tile. Whenever you re laying tile on a wood subfloor you need to first install cement backerboard to prevent leaks and water damage.

No thinset underneath the backer board. Just the other day i saw a video featuring someone fastening hardibacker directly to the subfloor with nothing underneath it. 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. Now it s time to start installing the cement board.

For flooring the backer board should be installed over a 5 8 inch thick osb or plywood base. In this step i only take out a few pieces of cement board at a time. Unlike wood or drywall sub surfaces cement backerboard will not rot warp or grow mold and mildew when exposed to water. This is a distinct advantage over plywood and drywall.

Step three how to install cement board on the floor. Once it s out i then spread thin set onto the floor. Good luck with your project.