STRONG, WATERPROOF, VERSATILE FOAMBOARD: A Great Way to Set Ceramic Tiles

Every so often a new building material hits the scene and changes everything. Something called KERDI-BOARD was an example of this. It’s a rigid, waterproof, structural foam substrate for supporting tiles and it expands the possibilities for ceramic and porcelain tile installation more than anything else I’ve ever seen. I first learned about KERDI-BOARD more than fifteen years ago, and since then I’ve used it on a number of projects. It’s much easier to work with than the traditional cement board, and it works better than cement board as a tile substrate, and it glues together using thinset tile mortar.  Click here for the encouraging story of an energetic non-professional, Brad Elkin, who renovated not one but two bathrooms back-to-back in his house using KERDI-BOARD and other get materials. That’s one of them below.

Want a tiled countertop? Glue KERDI-BOARD to the top of your cabinets (no plywood substrate needed in most cases, this stuff is that strong)), then apply tiles. How about a curved, tiled vanity? Cut pieces of KERDI-BOARD for the structure with a utility knife, then join them together with the same kind of thinset mortar used to secure tiles everywhere. You can see me cutting a piece in the photo below.

Thinking of building a shower stall? Apply KERDI-BOARD to the existing walls of your house using stainless steel washers and screws made for the job, add a sloped shower base and joint-waterproofing fabric, then apply tiles and grout. Even a shower stall partition wall can be made of KERDI-BOARD alone – no wood framing necessary. The system includes metal channels for fastening the board to the wall, ceiling and floor, with stainless steel edge caps to create a finished edge on the partition.

Got an uneven block or masonry wall you want to tile? Trowel a coat of thinset tile mortar onto the rough surface, then nestle a sheet of KERDI-BOARD into place. The thinset mortar fills the various gaps underneath the board, creating a flat, smooth and waterproof surface for tiling. No need for mechanical anchoring. I’m surprised and impressed with the things that KERDI-BOARD makes possible and I have been for years. That’s why it’s gone from unknown and innovative, to more and more mainstream all the time.

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