How to Install Cement Board

By
Lee Wallender
Updated on 08/24/21
Reviewed by
Deane Biermeier

Cement board, commonly sold under trade names such as Durock, Hardiebacker, and WonderBoard, is now the
standard underlayment used for ceramic, porcelain, or stone tile laid with thinset mortar adhesive. Cement board
is used for most floor tile and has all but replaced plywood and drywall backer materials for wall-tile
applications in wet areas like showers and tub surrounds.

Cement board forms a durable, stable base for tile, and it has no organic materials (unlike drywall, greenboard,
or plywood) so it is not prone to mold, rot, shrinkage, or decomposition due to moisture. Ceramic tile laid over
cement board is one of the most durable floor or wall surfaces you can install.

What Is Cement Backer Board and How Is It Used?

The Surface Below the 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). If new ceramic tile is being laid on an existing floor, the
cement board can usually be laid right over the existing floor finish, provided the floor is in good shape
and the extra thickness is not a problem. There is no need to install backer board on a concrete substrate
—ceramic tile can be applied right over concrete, provided the surface is flat, smooth, and free of
significant cracks.
 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.) In such wet areas, never install cement board directly over drywall or green board.
Instead, first, remove the existing surface material, then install the cement board over the studs and
membrane, as applicable.

Sizes
Cement board is most commonly sold in 3 x 5-foot sheets and in thicknesses ranging from 1/4 inch to 5/8 inch.
A 3 x 5 panel of 1/4-inch cement board weighs about 30 pounds; a 1/2-inch sheet, 36 to 44 pounds. Larger, 4 x
8-foot panels are also available, but their weight makes them hard to manage for DIYers.

Choose a sheet thicknesses based on the application: 

 Floors: A 1/4-inch minimum thickness is needed, but thicker panels are also fine. 
 Walls: Use 1/2-inch or 5/8-inch-thick cement board, not 1/4-inch. The extra thickness is needed when
spanning the studs and it provides a solid base for the tile.
  Countertops: 1/4-inch, 1/2-inch, or 5/8-inch-thick panels are all suitable for countertops. 

Before You Begin

You will need to cut your cement board to various sizes to suit your project, and knowing how before you start
your project can keep you from making costly errors.

You can cut the cement board with a utility knife and a T-square. Score the cement board deeply with two or
three passes with the knife, using the square to ensure a straight line, then snap the waste area of the sheet back
to break the board along the cutting line. Cut the fiberglass mesh along the backside of the board, as applicable,
to complete the cut.

To make round or curved cuts, use a jigsaw with a carbide blade or a drill and a hole saw bit.

Click Play to Learn How to Properly Install Cement Board

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

 Bucket
 1/4-inch notched trowel
 Drill-driver
 T-square
 Utility knife
 4- or 6-inch drywall knife

Materials

 Cement board sheets

 Thinset mortar
 Cement board screws
 Self-adhesive cement board mesh joint tape

Instructions
Installing Cement Board on Floors
1. Plan the Installation

Make a rough plan for the cement board sheet layout, based on the area to be covered and the size of the
cement board sheets. The joints between the sheets should be offset by the joints in the plywood (or
other) subflooring by at least 8 inches, for maximum floor stiffness. If necessary, plan to start the first
row of sheets with a partial sheet to create the offset.

2. Mix and Apply the Mortar

 Mix a small batch of thin-set mortar as directed by the manufacturer, mixing the dry powder with water
in a bucket. Apply a mound of mortar to the subfloor, then spread it out in an even layer, using a 1/4-
inch notched trowel. Cover an area just large enough for the first cement board sheet. 

3. Install the First Sheet

Place the first sheet over the mortar bed. The rough or embossed surface of the sheet should face up, as
applicable. Allow a 1/4-inch gap between the edges of the sheets and all surrounding walls. Fasten the
sheet with cement board screws, using a drill-driver, making sure the screws are flush with the surface
of the sheet or are slightly recessed. Space the screws 8 inches apart across the entire sheet. 

Use only cement board screws and alkali-resistant cement board joint tape. Standard screws and drywall
joint tape will corrode or deteriorate from contact with cement board.

4. Add Subsequent Sheets

Use the same techniques to apply mortar and lay and fasten the remaining sheets in the first row, spacing
the sheets 1/4 inch apart and leaving a 1/4-inch gap at all walls.

5. Install the Remaining Sheets

Continue installing sheets to cover the entire area. Remember to offset the joints between the cement
board and any underlying plywood and to gap the cement board sheets by 1/4 inch. Mix fresh mortar
only as it's needed to prevent it from drying before you can use it up.

6. Tape and Mud the Joints

Apply cement board joint tape to all of the joints between sheets, adhering the tape with its self-adhesive
backing. Mix more thin-set mortar and, using a drywall knife, cover the taped joints with a thin layer,
much as you would do when mudding drywall joints. Tool the mortar with the knife so the tape is
covered and the joints are flat and smooth. Allow the mortar to cure completely, following the
manufacturer's recommended drying time.

Installing Cement Board on Walls and Countertops

Installing cement board on countertops is very similar to the process used on floors, but countertops usually
need an additional strip of cement board along the exposed edge of the countertop. This creates the built-up
edge for securing bull-nose or other forms of edge tile.
Cement board on walls also uses the same techniques, but in this case, there is no layer of mortar behind the
cement board as it is screwed directly into the wall studs. Consult the cement board manufacturer for
recommendations on using a moisture barrier between the board and the wall studs. This may be thick plastic
sheeting or another type of water-resistant membrane.