Protect Wet Areas in Your Home with Hardiebacker Cement Floor and Wall Boards
HardieBecker Innovative Solutions
If you are looking for a perfect substitution for plywood or plasterboard
as a substrate for any type of tiles and finishes, you have come to the right place. HardieBacker cement boards present a great solution due to the innovative manufacturing techniques applied. Namely, the alternatives,
such as upper mentioned plywood or plasterboard are not able to prevent
or react to potential issues, such as moisture and damp, why they can lead to or cause tile cracking, can promote mould growth which can have serious consequences for your health, they will easily disintegrate and deteriorate when overexposed to water which will only increase your costs, and finally the timber not protected from moisture will eventually expand and contract which will cause loosening of the applied adhesive and tile and
grout cracking in time. Well, all these issues can be prevented and put under control with HardieBacker wall boards due to the fact that
a special Mouldblock Technology is applied in the manufacturing of the boards, resulting in superior moisture and mould resistance. Thus, it is applicable in the wettest conditions, since it will not wrap, rot nor disintegrate when exposed to water, offering the necessary protection for the tiles.
The boards are available in two standard sizes of and 12mm, and corresponding fire-resistance of 250 and 500 minutes. Both available options possess the same characteristics and benefits, mostly differing in application due to the different installation method and different strength and robustness, whereas the 6mm board also includes recessed fastening pattern for easier installation. The 6mm HardieBacker boards are especially designed to be used internally on floors and countertops, the 12mm boards are applicable to walls while both boards can be used on top of masonry walls, whenever you are dealing with limited and confined spaces. The secret of their durability and stability also lays in their composure, since made from cement, cellulose, sand and selected additives.
Although the boards can be applied to any type of floor or wall within your home, they are most commonly used in wet areas such as bathrooms and kitchens due to their improved moisture resistance. Namely, although you might initially think that is not such a big and serious problem and that it can easily be dealt with, this is usually not the case. Basically, although some level of mould is a pretty common appearance in almost any home, it should never be left untreated since it can colonise and thus cause serious health issues including asthma and various allergic reactions. Apart from health issues, mould, if not put under control can also endanger the stability of the wall or floor construction, cause additional costs since it is not easy to remove and seriously decrease the resale value of your home.
It is also good to know that HardieBacker boards are very easy to cut and shape, and the installation requires no primer since the boards should be simply wiped down in order of removing any dust prior to adding the tiles. The boards can be even used or multi fuel and log burning stoves, and combined with underfloor heating (6mm boards). However, the boards are not designed for but only internal application and should not be used over concrete. On the other hand, they can be covered with not only different types of tiles, but also paint, plaster or wallpaper. The installation is quite simple, since it includes adding some adhesive to the existing surface, installing the boards, and finally adding your choice of tilling or finish with a small amount of tile adhesive applied. For more detailed information on the HardieBacker cement boards installation process please refer to our installation guidelines.
