I'm getting ready to lay 12" x 12" tiles in a kitchen floor (read details)?
Question:I'm getting ready to lay 12" x 12" tiles in a kitchen floor, should I use Durarock or Hardibacker? and if I use Durarock, should I use 1/2" or 1/4"?
Answers:
Either brand is a good choice. Cutting Durarock seems to give off more dust than cutting hardibacker.
1/4 is best because it doesn't raise the floor too much. You don't want a big transition from tile to carpet (or wood).
I assume you're NOT doing this over concrete (since you don't need the backer board over concrete). Just be sure you drill (not nail) down the boards. There are specific places marked in the boards that you MUST nail down.
If you don't nail it down completely the board might come up and the tile will peel/crack away from the boards.
Floors and other horizontal surfaces get 1/4". Half is is to match wallboard thickness.
Either is a high quality backer but the Hardi is easy to cut with a circular saw and carbide blade.
I prefer Durock. Most pros in SC do.
God Bless
If the floor is not concrete use hardibacker. You can tile on top of concrete floor.
Although you use hardibacker you need to level the floor, don't leave any space between the board and floor.
Use any many screws as the manufacture recommend. Then use thinset to seal all the joins before you put tile on.
Tips: apply thinset to an area of four tiles at a time so you can easily put the tile on. (a square)
I used 1/4". Be sure to mix the tiles from different boxes or you will end up with some interesting patterns like I did the first time.
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