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.

This is the handiwork of homeowner Brad Elkin.He renovated two bathrooms in his home, beginning first by stripping back to bare wall studs. Brad paid particular attention to waterproofing.

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.

KERDI-BOARD is a structural foam substrate made for ceramic, porcelain and stone tiles. It cuts with a knife, yet is strong enough to function without any other structural support. Pieces join together with the same thinset mortar used to secure tiles.

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.

I hope you found this article on KERDI-BOARD interesting. Please consider helping me cover the cost of producing and broadcasting content like this. Click the “buy me a coffee” button below and it will take you to a fast, safe and simple way to join others who help make this all possible. Thank you!

3 Shares
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin3