Can I use 6mm hardibacker board on walls. - TilersForums.co.uk | Tile Forums

des511 · 30-06-2008

Hi
Can I use 6mm hardibacker board on walls. What I am looking to do is as I put in another thread is to put this board over skimmed plasterboard so I can hang limestone tiles. I would put the board up and drill through the hardibacker and plasterboard into the wooden studs behind. I do not fancy having to rip out all the plasterboard and could get away with putting a 6mm board on top and not the 12mm one. I know that the 12mm is rated at 45kg per square metre so I am wondering what the 6mm would be rated as.

Thanks

**grumpygrouter** · 30-06-2008

Des, I know you are a bit worried about ripping out the plasterbaord but to be honest, it really is the quickest way mate. It may be a bit messy but you would have it all out in half and hour, you just then need to remove the nails/screws for the studwork.

If you want to use 6mm hardi you really need to have adhesive behind it and have it screwed into the substrate to get it flat. you will find the raw boards are usually far from flat.

I have not been in the game long and I was really apprehensive the first time I had to rip out plasterboard and redo. Mine had tiles attached to it by the way. I had the old stuff of and the area cleaned up and reboarded ready for tiling in a morning. Gave me a great surface to tile onto and would alleviate any weight issues that I can see you still have.

If you are concerned about the bath, slice the plasterboard with a stanly knife level with the bath and take it off from there upwards. The only additonal wood work that would be required would be to put supporting timber behind the cut plasterboard and screw the old board and the new sheet to it as well to make sure it is adequately supported.

des511 · 30-06-2008

Hi
Thank you once again for your advice. I have decided to follow your advice regarding ripping the plasterboard off and have just ordered 4 sheets of plasterboard which will be delivered tomorrow. Sorry for the long saga about this but now the plasterboard is ordered and I am ready to go.

Thanks again.

**grumpygrouter** · 30-06-2008

Glad to hear it Des. You have made the right decision. Best if you screw the boards up too and not nail them. You don't need to tape the joints either, just fill the gap with some adhesive. You may find it easier to skim up the recessed area with some rapidset and run over with a short straight edge and let it dry. This will give you a lovely flat surface to tile onto, but it is not really necessary if you don't want to.

bigneil · 30-06-2008

30-06-2008

listen to your uncle grumpy ;0)

**Dave** · 30-06-2008

Good advice grumps...(as usual)......only thing i will add is that the plasterboard should be 12.5mm and not 9mm.......it is better to be safe than sorry and rip the skimmed wall down and not risk the weight issue...no matter what some peeps have said about it bieng alright......

You have made the right decision Dez and good luck on the tiling and it would be nice if you could post some pics .....we love pics...

30-06-2008

yes totally correct as usual david :0)

12.5mm plasterboards for walls whether thats tiling or plastering!

**Dave** · 30-06-2008

I have seen walls re-done in 9mm ed.......springy as ****......

des511 · 01-07-2008

Well the deed is done. Felt bad when I gave the beautiful skimmed wall the first smack of the hammer but after that rather enjoyed it. For the sake of £25 and a bit of effort I now have piece of mind when I come to hang the limestone tiles.
I am going to be using 30.5cm x 30.5cm and 10mm thick tiles on the walls but I am a little worried that if I use the same tile on the floor it will look like to many square tiles in a smal room which is about 4 square metres. I was thinking of using either 60cm x 30.5 cm of 60 x 40cm on the floor to change the look and by the way thses tile will be 12mm thick which will be fine for the floor but to heavy for the plasterboard walls.

Any advice or suggestions would be most welcome.

Thanks

**grumpygrouter** · 01-07-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by des511

Well the deed is done. Felt bad when I gave the beautiful skimmed wall the first smack of the hammer but after that rather enjoyed it. For the sake of £25 and a bit of effort I now have piece of mind when I come to hang the limestone tiles.
I am going to be using 30.5cm x 30.5cm and 10mm thick tiles on the walls but I am a little worried that if I use the same tile on the floor it will look like to many square tiles in a smal room which is about 4 square metres. I was thinking of using either 60cm x 30.5 cm of 60 x 40cm on the floor to change the look and by the way thses tile will be 12mm thick which will be fine for the floor but to heavy for the plasterboard walls.

Any advice or suggestions would be most welcome.

Thanks

Bet you glad you did now eh, Des. If you use a different size tile for the floor, it saves you the worry of having to line up your grout spacing between the wall and the floor. However, te finished look is entirely your choice. Good luck with the tiling bit, show us some pics when it is done.