Need some tiling advice

[isuhunter]

Working on a tiling project and curious to what everyone's thoughts are on backerboard... I know its not garage related but figured there isn't a better group of do it yourselfers out there. Plus the sooner I get the job done, the sooner I can start working on my garage again!

What do you recommend for tub surround?

What do you recommend for floor?

 

[jake00]

I used DensShield® Tile Backer for both

 

[Requin6]

I've always used HardiBacker concrete backerboard for all my tile projects. Cut it with a circular saw equipped with a concrete blade.

I tend to use the 3/4in on floors in a bathroom that has a shower and 5/8in for everything else.

I find the floor joists and screw it down to the joists with the Hardibacker screws. I also use thinset in the joints applied with a margin trowel.

Hope that helps

 

[shoot summ]

You should check out the tile forums at johnbridge.com.

 

[Beaumont67]

What do you recommend for tub surround?
- I use 1/2" cement board (mould resistant & waterproof)

What do you recommend for floor?
- I stripped out all my retirement house floors down to leaving the original 1/2 inch thick sheeting.
- under tiling, I use 3/4" plywood (rough on both sides) in the bathroom, hallway and kitchen areas
- in the other rooms I have solid 3/4" thick hickory wide plank flooring, I use 3/8" plywood underneath as a secondary subfloor

FYI - So my two dissimilar floors are absolutely flush and no trip hazard and no beveled transition strip needed. Many people quess at the plywood thickness in one reno room and screw up the whole house, not treated as a complete flooring system. All my plywood subfloors are PL400 deck glued first and then screwed down in a 4" grid pattern.

isuhunter - good luck with your project.

 

[nmanitou]

I just finished a small job using the Schluter Ditra backer material. I am not an expert, but I thought it was easy to work with and the end result has been great. They have what looks like a great waterproof tub surround system, but I don't have any direct experience. My local home depot carries most of the product line if you want to check it out.

 

[Requin6]

You should check out the tile forums at johnbridge.com.

I second that. Tons of great tiling info on that site.

 

[Boomer343]

My own experience is the grout and silicon sealant are the two weak areas of a tiling job.
Now I only use epoxy grout and take twice as much time to do the caulking as I used to. The epoxy grout is a ***** to work with but is worth the effort and by taping off and taking my time with the caulking it turns into a totally sealed surface.

For floors I use 1/2" exterior grade fir plywood, yellow carpenters glue spread over 100% of area between the old subfloor and the 1/2" ply and screwed into the joists. I use a thinset made to go over plywood made by Mapai called Grannirapid. I also use expoxy grout on the floor tiles.

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

I'll add that for walls in the tub/shower area you want to put a 6 mill or thicker layer of poly behind the cement board.

For floors you should spread a bed of thinset out BEFORE you put your cement board down. Then use the recommended screws to secure it to the existing floor sheathing.