Laying Durock for tile floor starts with choosing the thicker option for the cement board.

Cleaning as you go will make the work area safer. Use the wood rasp to smooth the edges and make the attachment more seamless.īefore going any further, clean up any dust or debris accumulated in the area. Step 4: Follow-Up and Clean-upĪfter cutting or snapping, the edges of the Durock may be jagged or uneven. If you routinely DIY projects, a standard size hole-saw bit is worth the purchase and is useful in many different applications. An alternative is to buy a hole-saw bit in the size you need for the fixture, attach it to a power drill, and make the cut that way. You can mark and score the areas that need to be removed for fixtures and then punch them out by hand or with a hammer. However, for thicker floor pieces, it is more efficient to use a circular saw to make light work of the process.įor cut-outs, the options are similar. Step 3: Cutting Optionsįor thinner pieces of Durock, like those for walls and ceilings, you will likely be able to score the cement sheet with your utility knife and then snap the pieces off as you need. Take measurements for the appropriate sizing and mark where to cut in pencil. Will it be for the wall, the floor, or the ceiling? Once you have determined the purpose, lay your cement boards to take accurate measurements. If you can walk on theĮxisting subfloor and notice that it is flexing or moving up and down while you are walking on it then you need to stabilize the sub floor before applying the self leveling compound.First, decide what purpose your Durock is fulfilling. Also the tile and grout will start to crack as well if they are installed on top of this type of flexing subfloor. If you apply the self leveling compound to a floor that is flexing then it will crack and shift as the floor is being walked on. Also a second thicker layer ofĪ wooden subfloor will also help to stabilize a flexing subfloor. Stabilizing a subfloor may involve adding more floor joists or sistering the existing floor joists.

Stabilize the subfloor before applying the self leveling compound. Self leveling compounds will not add any stability to a sub floor that is flexing or shifting. You can also use self leveling compounds when installing tile over top of an existing tile installation. Osb, concrete, cement board, hardibacker and many other types of subfloor materials. You can apply self leveling compound to plywood, A self leveling compound can be applied to most types of subfloor materials.

Install hardibacker board on subfloor