What is a Cement Tile Backer Board?

 

A cement tile backer board is a heavy-duty, engineered underlayment made from Portland cement, aggregated sand, and reinforced fiberglass mesh. Specifically designed for high-moisture environments like bathrooms, wetrooms, and kitchens, it serves as the ultimate rigid substrate for wall and floor tiling.

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Beyond moisture resistance, installing backer boards allows us to quickly and effectively level uneven walls, creating a perfectly flat and plumb surface. By eliminating the time-consuming process of traditional wall rendering or plaster curing, we can significantly accelerate the preparation phase. This ensures strict quality control while keeping the entire project strictly on schedule.

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Unlike traditional plasterboard or plywood, cement backer boards are completely dimensionally stable; they will not warp, rot, or degrade when exposed to water. While they provide an exceptional, high-grip bonding surface for tile adhesives, it is vital to note that cement boards are water-resistant but not waterproof—meaning a dedicated tanking slurry or liquid waterproofing membrane (such as Mapei Aquafense) must still be applied to the joints and surfaces before tiling to ensure a fully tanked, leak-proof installation.