Cement Sheet Subfloor

Don t use regular drywall or wood screws which corrode in cement board.

Cement sheet subfloor.

To prepare a concrete subfloor for installing tile you ll need to do a different kind of preparation. To prepare a wood subfloor for installing tile install a cement based backerboard following the manufacturer s instructions. The dry product is mixed with water to a liquid consistency and poured on. To begin you ll need two layers of 3 8 inch minimum cd exposure 1 plywood subfloor panels cdx 4 foot by 8 foot sheets.

The paper comes in rolls typically 3 feet wide. Installing a vinyl tile or vinyl plank floor is easier than installing sheet vinyl and any damage to the floor can be repaired easily simply by replacing a tile or two. Use this home depot guide how to install a tile floor for more information. Most types can be installed over concrete or over a subfloor.

It s available in sheets of many sizes with 3 foot by 5 foot sheets being the most common. Whenever you re laying tile on a wood subfloor you need to first install cement backerboard to prevent leaks and water damage. Fasten the cement board sheet to the subfloor with 1 1 4 inch cement board screws. Plywood panels should be set down with 1 8 inch gaps between sheets.

These are specially coated corrosion resistant screws that have notches under their heads that help the screws burrow into the board so the heads sit flush with the panel. Buying a large roll of vinyl gets you a new floor for a very affordable price. For the last 40 years cdx tongue and grooved plywood has been the most commonly used exterior structural subfloor material used in homes. This plywood is made from thin sheets of usually southern pine veneer that are cross laminated and glued together forming 4 x 8 sheets that are either 5 8 or 3 4 thick.

Do not fasten and leave 3 4 of an inch of space between the wall and plywood. On wood frame floors the subflooring provides a continuous structural surface over the floor joists. First position the plywood layer with its edges parallel to the wall. Pourable self leveling products help to flatten and level a wood subfloor or a concrete slab before the tile is installed.

In basements and in homes with slab on grade foundations the subfloor may simply be a concrete slab. Cement backerboard is a thin layer of concrete with fiberglass mesh on both sides.