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Bill Vincent question

cookininbrooklyn

15 years ago

Bill,

For our kitchen floor, we have a hot water radiant heating system being installed - pex tubing in Thermalboard panels (routed MDF with metal sheeting on top). We are installing porcelain tile. There is 3/4" plywood under Thermalboard and joist size/spacing is fine.

Thermalboard installation manual calls for backerboard over their panels, then a waterproof/anti fracture membrane (they recommend Nobleseal TS) and then thinset.

Three questions: 1) how thick does the backerboard need to be? The manual doesn't say; manufacturer rep says 1/4" is fine. Do you agree? If we use either 1/4" or 3/8" then the transition to adjoining room wood floors works well. General contractor whose crew is doing installation seems skeptcial that 1/4" is okay.

2) what type of backer board would you recommend

3) Is Kerabond with Keralastic fine to use as a thinset in this application? That is what we are using everywhere else in the house.

Thanks for the help you have given me. It is very appreciated. I am close to being able to post some pictures of what we done.

Martin

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Comments (5)

bill_vincent
15 years ago
1) The 1/4" is fine. Just make sure they thinset it down as well as either screwing it or nailing it down.

2) The one I like to use is Durock, but Hardi or Wonderboard will do just as well.

3) K/K is fine just about ANY place thinset is required. It's one of the strongest bonding thinsets available.
cookininbrooklyn
Original Author
15 years ago
Bill,
Thanks for the advice. Very useful as always.

Regarding thinsetting the Durock down, the Thermalboard instructions say not to thinset directly to the board because the aluminum coating will not provide a good bond. They were referring to thinsetting the tile I believe and not the backer board.

What are my potential problems if we do not thinset the backerboard down? Thinsetting and then screwing I think it going to make it more likely that someone puts a screw through the pex tubing.

Thanks again, Martin
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bill_vincent
15 years ago
The thinset between the thermalboard and the cement board is not to bond one surface to the other. It's to act as a cushion of sorts, and fill the thin voids that would otherwise exist, and in so doing, take out the minor vibrations that it would cause, severely shortening the life of the floor. For under the cement board, Kerabond mixed with water will do fine.
cookininbrooklyn
Original Author
15 years ago
Would using a thicker cement board provide the same stability as using a thinner cement board with thinset? Or do we really need to use thinset regardless?

Thanks, Martin
bill_vincent
15 years ago
You'd need to use thinset regardless. Cement board has almost no structural strength to it. The only benefit you get from using the thicker board is if you need to raise the floor another 1/4" to meet other surfaces. Other than that, it's a waste.

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