Tub Surround Backer Board

The best approach when installing cement board or other tile backer around a tub is to keep the cement board out of the lip area.

Tub surround backer board.

The panels are nasty to handle because of their sharp edges so wear heavy leather gloves. I often get questions on what sort of tile backer board to use for showers and tub surrounds. Tub surround adhesive with low odor low voc and easy water cleanup is an ideal interior construction adhesive. Hold the sheet against the wall and insert 1 4 inch spacers to keep the cement board 1 4 inch.

Above the lip of the tub. In this case the backer board you use on the tub surround needs to transition to the drywall evenly. The types that are the most difficult to install tend to work fine and are fairly economical. Greenboard is just regular drywall with a coating.

Loctite powergrab 10 fl. Proper way to install backer board in tub area no matter what the board is made of it should not sit on top of the tub flange. It s typically available in 1 2 in. When it comes to installing a tile backer board the easiest to install is usually the worst choice or most expensive option.

Cement board cement board is the most durable trouble free tile backer for tub surrounds showers floors and all other wet areas. Greenboard is ok for regular walls in a bathroom but doesn t really add anything that proper priming and painting would but for a shower tub surround use cement backerboard. When the bathtub is installe. Install the first full sheet of cement board lengthwise against the back wall long edge of the tub.

Then apply a generous amount of thin set to the bottom bathtub tile and position it 1 8 in. Thick 3 x 5 ft. To do this you need backer board that is 1 2 inch thick or to build up a thinner board with. Apply it to the wall with the bottom edge about 1 4 in.

The ideal underlayment for ceramic tile is cement backerboard which comes in 1 4 and 1 2 inch thick panels measuring 3 x 5 feet and 4 x 8 feet.