Can you use cement board as a subfloor instead of plywood?

1 Answer. No, Hardie cement board is not meant to be structural, and it will not work in place of a subfloor. The board is very strong in compression and very stable so that the tiles applied to it do not crack, but it has very little shear strength.

Is cement board a subfloor?

Concrete backer board is not structural; it is an “underlayment” that must be placed on top of a structural plywood or OSB sub-floor.

Can I use cement board for flooring?

Cement board is a type of underlayment that is now standard for most tile installations, especially for floor tile. When the mudded joints are dry, it’s time to lay your tile!

Does cement board add strength?

Cement backer board does NOT add rigidity. By removing the top 1/2″ plywood, the installer will be weakening the flooring system. The deflection rating of the subfloor construction (5/8″ plywood over wood joists) may not be rigid enough to handle the removal of the extra 1/2″ plywood.

Can durock be used as a subfloor?

Backerboard, be it Durock, Wonderboard or Hardi are not designed to strengthen/stiffen the floor. They are only for providing a surface to tile on. The joist size/spacing and thickness of the subfloor is what matters for strength/stiffness.

Can I just screw down cement board?

Screw and Joints Do not use drywall screws as they are not recommended to be used to hold the backer board in place. All of your backer board pieces should be cut before they are placed on​ the floor. It is important to highlight that screws shall not be installed all the way down to the floor joists.

Can I use durock as a subfloor?

Is plywood stronger than cement board?

If you compare the two configurations using identical thinset mortars, tiles installed over cement backerboard have greater shear-bond strength than those that are installed over plywood. …

Can you walk on cement board?

Some cement boards are “softer” than others, so dragging a refridge over it will crush or damage some. the main thing is just be carefull of it. Thank you.

Does cement board break easily?

Stronger than plywood and less susceptible to damage from rot, cement backer board makes for a reliable, more durable building material than wood. Its strength and cement construction, however, present more challenges than wood-based materials do when it comes time to do the cutting.

Is Ditra better than cement board?

Ditra is waterproof, while cement board lets water through but won’t be damaged by it. This may make Ditra a better choice if moisture from below is a concern, such as with some outdoor applications or installations over concrete. Some tile setters also prefer Ditra for its relatively quick installation.