Choosing between a cement board and a waterproof tile wall backing board for your shower

Have you ever seen a construction project fail because the installer used cheap materials because “no one was going to see them anyway”? This is the kind of foolish thinking that can leave the current owner with headaches, heartaches, and less money in their bank accounts.

Tiled shower enclosures have been widely used for years, but due to the poor quality of the backing plates, they have become a nightmare for some homeowners. Waterproofing problems have caused entire showers to crack down to the bare studs as a result of using inferior products in the original installation. Getting the project done right the first time requires selecting the correct tile backing board. Here are 5 points to guide you through this process:

Point 1: Determine if you want the lowest-cost or best-quality material: If you’re in your home for the long haul (and many of us are in a depressed housing market right now), choose quality over upfront purchase costs. The lowest cost tile backing material is cement board (which is waterproof) vs. a waterproof extruded polystyrene plate. Although the waterproof board is more expensive, it will prevent future costly water damage problems.

Step 2 – Ask if you want your shower to be waterproof or waterproof. Since traditional cement board is made of a thin layer of mortar sandwiched between sheets of fiberglass mesh, it is waterproof and requires additional steps or materials to make it waterproof (you need to add a vapor barrier inside the panel or a waterproofing material on the cement board). The extruded polystyrene wall system consists of a Styrofoam brand insulation core coated on both sides with a fiberglass mesh and a polymer-modified resin that makes it 100% waterproof with no additional steps.

Point 3: Consider who will install the wall panel. Cement board is time-consuming to install, messy (it kicks up a lot of dust when it’s cut with a specialized carbide jigsaw blade), and breaks (a 3′ x 5′ board weighs 45-60 pounds) . On the other hand, 3′ x 5′ x ½” Styrofoam boards weigh just under 9 pounds, can be cut with a carpenter’s knife, and create virtually no mess or waste. If you’re paying labor to install these boards, save a lot with Styrofoam wall panels because it is quick to install.On the other hand, if you do it yourself, you may find it difficult to lift and position the heavy cement boards, which can make your the polystyrene system is the preferred option.

Point 4 – Identify if you need recessed (in the wall) shampoo/soap niches or corner/bench seats – For small bathrooms, recessed soap and shampoo niches can make your stall more functional (since the shelves are not stick to the shower space) and improve safety (by reducing the spillage of slippery materials on the shower floor). For larger showers, a corner seat or bench can provide luxury and safety as you can sit down to shower and shave. Your selection of wall backing panel can make a big difference in how easy or difficult it is to make an airtight niche or seat.

Cement board niches require custom framing, custom cutting, and thoughtful waterproofing techniques to ensure edges and corners don’t retain water. You can eliminate this additional time and waterproofing concerns by choosing prefabricated EPS or extruded polystyrene niches and seats. With these systems, you can buy standard alcoves and seats that don’t require special construction framing techniques (saving you time and hassle) and are waterproof right out of the box.

Point 5 – Get Help – If you’re not sure what the right wall plate option is, get help from an experienced bathroom remodeling contractor or wall backer plate supplier. Be sure to start with the end in mind (ie design your shower before construction begins). Do your research online and ask lots of questions before you buy.

Now that you’re equipped with these 5 points, you’re well on your way to starting the tiled shower of your dreams.