Cement Board

Excellent moisture resistant underlayment for tile applications anywhere water is present

Want to really spice up a bathtub surround with tile?

Always use cement board as a sturdy underlayment when considering a tile floor or tub/shower surround in the bathroom.

"What about a tile back splash in the kitchen behind the counter top?", you may ask.

Whatever you're decor dilemma may be, insist that your contractor uses a cement backer-board for outstanding protection from moisture, insects, and other things. Wherever there may be water involved, this is what you want underneath your tile - not drywall.

Even if you aren't going to tile the bathroom shower wall, you should still use a cement-type backer-board for several reasons:

Is impervious to insects (specifically termites).

There are other reasons but we think you are getting our drift here. It's just a wise thing to do, and also, depending upon which part of the country (world) you live in, enforceable building code requirements using cement board may already be in place for your municipality. Check with your local plumbing codes to make sure.

If you are going to install it yourself, you'll find that sheets of cement board generally come in (2) sizes:

a.) 3' x 5' x 1/4" ($10/sheet) - This thickness is ideal for use when tiling a floor or counter top.

b.) 3' x 5' x 1/2" ($12/sheet) - Half inch thickness is ideally suited for use as a backer-board in a shower or tub surround.

And always use specially designed backer-board screws for securing to sub-floor or framing studs.

Price per box is $8 plus tax.

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