How To Install Cement Board and Waterproofing For Tile Shower Walls - Complete Step-By-Step Guide

What’s his accent? Where in America?

Why aren't you using a foamboard like Go Board, Hydroban etc? Its lighter, no dust and most importantly 100% waterproof unlike cement board. You're going to get water wicking up that cement board where you notched it along the shower pan flange. That wont happen with foamboard

Several very odd things. Destroying the nice edge next to the bath lip. Hanging over the destroyed edge and not waterproofing that edge front and back just sucks up water at the wettest spot! This renders your waterproofing useless. The waterproofing keeps water from failed grout lines from drying, it will stay wet. Concrete board won’t fail when wet and will dry.
Tile is waterproof! Create a good grout line, deep between the tile, it’s waterproof. Waterproofing the board reduces tile adhesion, with heavy tile a big problem.
Fibreglass tape is installed with a layer of thin set laid down first, then the tape and more thin set, see manufacturers video!
There should be a small gap between boards for expansion.
The tile hangs over the top lip with silicon behind the bottom edge, not mortar. The bottom edge of the tile has a small gap above the bath so silicone gets a good grip.

My current bathroom Reno with 2’x1’ heavy marble tile will have the following:
Studs that line up, with planing and shimming the length where needed.
Extra studs were easy to add.
Stud faces are lightly planed to reveal fresh wood for glue adhesion.
A generous amount of glue used to adhere the board and backer screws used every 8 inches, as per manufacturer.
Fibreglass tape applied between grout layers and 1/8” gap between boards.
Waterproofing applied as a 2” wide strip behind grout lines but nowhere else to maximise tile adhesion.
The tile overhanging the bath lip is masked with tape when mortar applied, the tape removed and silicone applied.
A 1/8” gap above the bath between the tile and bath filled with silicone.
Tile spacers allow the proper formation of a grout line.

The tile I just removed after 50 years stuck only to drywall showed no water ingress. Water resistant board was used in a 3’ square around the shower control and tap area only; where the holes are! Water ingress was evident .


Think about the mortar behind the tile. If the concrete board is waterproofed moisture will wick behind the tile when the grout fails and stay wet. Not good for the tile adhesion or mould. In a cold damp basement the board may never dry but in a high rise it will if not waterproofed. The company suggests using waterproofing only ‘when required’ with no guidance, the $112 sale of waterproofing has no influence?

Who still uses cement board?!?

Hi Josh, I've just discovered your channel and I must say you are an amazing teacher . I have a couple of questions. About a month before watching your video, I installed 1/4 inch cement board on the Walls of my shower, is that a problem? Can I do anything to it to make it work? Or do I have to remove it and use 1/2 inch? My second question is, do the walls need to be perfectly level or the bit of unevenness can be even out with thinset when tiling?
Thank you

The cement board is just supposed to sit on the lip. It doesn't need to go below it. The tile does.

Hey friend,
This video skipped the step for the shower lever cutout. 😮😊

buen trabajo , y bien explicado buen trabajo

You don't need the glue! The guy that removes your work down the road will thank you.

How for the liquid nail to dry I'm asking because u cut scenes

Been installing tile new for about 20 years, the only big box we have is HD. Here's some solid advice.
1. Straight edge & plumb the studs & corners, shim if need.
2. Use Aquabar paper over your studs & go over shower lip.
3. Leave a ⅛" gap at your cement board seams (#8 nail)
4. Tape with alkali resistant mesh!
5. I have always used Flexbond thinset & had great results! We live near the 29 Palms Marine base & get shook all the time from the bombing & small quakes are the norm. I've never had a shower leak or crack.
For what its worth thats my experience tiling MANY showers.

You also can add strapping so it bumps out the backer board

MUCH better to use Red Guard and solid fibre tape

I found a Hardi Backer that is already waterproof, It cost about 21.00 a board at Home Depot. You should not have to use the water proofing if you use the more expensive Hardi backer. There is a video of a guy using Schulter band to seal the corners instead oof the fiber tape, so I am going to use it instead.

This guy is great. I am getting ready to tile up. I did not cut out the back of the cement board to go over the shower pan lip though, instead, I cut furring strips the length of each stud and 1.5 inches wide so that the board went over the lip.

Wonderful and Thank you For This Video !!!!

Great job. Love your simple yet thorough instructions. Im thinking of doing this to my sports room this Summer.

Iv been doing this for 50 years, and always used the green board ,dry wall and theres never a problem with it , the cement backer board is a royal pain in the ass compared to drywall.

What if you have a glass block window to tile backer around?

Josh, would you use goboard now instead of cement board now?

Just came across your channel and watched the video. Two things. 1st, instead of using cement backer board, I switched to Johns Mansfield Go Board, it's available at the blue big box store. It cuts like drywall and is completely impervious to water, unlike concrete. 2nd, most shower pan manufacturers recommend installing the backer board to the top of the flange, not over it. The tile or other material will then come down to 1/8" from the bottom and get siliconed. This will leave a gap so that water can't wick up behind the final wall in case the silicone gets compromised. Other than that, it was a good tutorial.

Good information I am going to Lowe’s soon to buy the kit

I'm sorry, but I'm having trouble finding the link to your Amazon store.

Does anyone else like to use rock wool to insulate instead of fiberglass ?

Me trying to figure out why I have so many mold issues... Tearing up the bathroom and realizing they used sheetrock.

Not a deal breaker but you should never use faced insulation adjacent to the shower walls. The paper will become nutrition to any mold that may take hold in a damp environment.

Thx for such clear communication. This is my first time installing over backer board and had not gotten a clear answer regarding joints or waterproofing

The pan that came with my frameless shower kit instructs to leave a 1/16 to 1/8 gap between the backer board and the top of the pan. It then says to apply silicone to that gap. It includes a diagram that shows the bottom row of tiles will cover the lip of the pan.

Why not start putting the boards on from the floor up rather than top down that way the previous board supports the next and you are not trying to hold a board in the air and screw it on!

I have a Kerdi pan, because my shower is is wider then a normal shower, how do you butt the cement board to that and make it waterproof?

Just came cross this video and I have to wonder why any one doing tile today would be using this antiquated product!

Wow this video is so informative , exactly what i was looking for

Josh, thank you for taking time to show step by step process, being so thorough. I Have never done any of these projects, but you sure do a great job taking the mystery out of building a home DIY.
I am in the early stages of planning to build a house, and I want to do most of the work myself so "can save a ton of money" and get the satisfaction of doing it myself. I have subscribed to your channel, and will be watching many more videos.
Your channel is the MOST thorough and BEST channel I have found on home building. No one shows, and explains it as simple as you. Thanks a bunch and keep up the great work. You are helping lots of people! ALL the best to ya!

I'm sold. No kit for me, I'm tiling my own shower. I'm single and live alone so I can get away with washing out of 5-gallon buckets and going to planet fitness while my shower is down.👍

I’ve never used adhesive just screws is that acceptable or no?

If you are doing the whole thing including framing (new construction) you can notch the studs at the bottom - about a quarter inch or even just 3/16 inch deep, the height of the pan to allow the pan to recess into the stud wall. So much easier to notch the studs.

Aqua defense

I love your video; video quality is great, you speak clearly, confidently and with enthusiasm, and your explanations are detailed and clear.

I just don't understand why you started at the top of the wall?

ET

what we are witnessing is our ape behavior coming out. it demonstrates that most people are capable of having a cluster b disorder mindset.

Josh, You make it look easy. The backer board you use is heavy. Then add glass tile. I carried all this in the house. Great job. 👍 It may look easy, but it is not. 😮 Thank you for the step by step.

I like Durok myself

Josh, Excellent video and work. You're a craftsman who cares about his workmanship. I did my bathroom a few years back. The tile work was horrible. I paid top 💵 dollar for poor quality work. My old bath was almost 50 years old. I doubt the new one will last that long. One thing is to wear a mask.

Hey Josh, I like your channel and content, it's been very helpful as I am remodeling our bath room. I am taking out a tub and installing a Delta walk in shower kit. I do however have a question or two. When installing the backer board, in your experience are you putting the board on top of the lip or the tub/shower? Your thoughts and recommendation would be appreciated.

You're great. Thanks for the helpful training. Can I ask ... When you cut the wonder board, and have no bevel in the seam of the wonder board , like you have on the right and left side cuts of the wonder board, how do you avoid the thinset bulging a bit?. Thanks again.

is it a no no to put cement board over drywall. That way the walls stay more protected or is that a dumb idea. I know it shrinks the size but not that much. Thanks

you with the goggles cracks me up it's like watchin bubbles from trailer park boys painting a shower.

I mud first to fill the gaps between boards then put the fiber mesh in with a bit of mortar again... no one ever fills the gap on these videos...😂😂

What do I use for the ceiling? Cement board? We won’t be tiling the ceiling.

No one uses cement board anymore. Why would you when there are much better, lighter, WATERPROOF alternatives?

sorry if this has been asked a million times already,but just to be sure, the backboard should always go over the flange is that right? down to a 1/4 inch from tub base?