Backerboard, or cement board, is a handy tool for DIY tasks. The foundational material for flooring, walls, and other installation jobs is the backerboard.
Tiles are more secure on a cement backer board because of the stability it provides and the protection it offers existing surfaces.
For example, they are more durable and resistant to environmental degradation than other materials like wood or drywall, which distinguishes them.
Cement backerboards are commonly available in the HardieBacker and WonderBoard brands.
Popularity did not happen by accident. WonderBoard’s and HardieBacker’s high-quality materials are suitable for most building projects.
However, a few little variances might make or break any building endeavor.
To help you decide between WonderBoard and HardieBacker for your bathroom renovation, we’ve put together this comparison chart.
Read on for an in-depth look at their advantages and disadvantages, as well as a full breakdown of their materials, features, and more.
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Wonderboard vs. Durock vs. Hardibacker: Who Will Win?
A Backerboard Made of HardieBacker
For the most part, Portland cement and sand go into the manufacture of HardieBacker cement board.
Additional materials set this board apart from the rest in terms of price and quality. Besides cellulose fibers and MoldBlock, HardieBacker incorporates MoldBlock.
Water resistance is one of HardieBacker’s special features. HardieBacker HydroDefense board is waterproof, perfect for bathrooms and other damp places. In addition to being mold-resistant, standard HardieBacker boards are water- and moisture-resistant.
HardieBacker cement boards are unique in that they are simple to utilize. HardieBacker is lighter and more pliable than alternative backerboards, such as Durock.
In addition, the lack of mesh and a particular grid design makes it easier for you or your contractor to cut out the perfect size that you need, making it more convenient for you to use.
And last but not least, HardieBacker may be used on a wide range of surfaces. Because it is softer than conventional backerboards, you may use it with delicate materials like vinyl and enamel without fear of damage. As a bonus, paint and other embellishments adhere better to the smoother surface of the HardieBacker cement boards.
In short, what is the “backerboard” of the WonderBoard?
Backerboard from WonderBoard is used in WonderBoard Lite, a firm product. Fiberglass and cement are used to make it, then reinforced with mesh. Backerboards’ durability is negatively impacted by the lack of fiber and gypsum in this material.
Lite’s 20 percent lighter fiberglass makes it simpler to deal with, making WonderBoard easier to use.
Compared to other cement board brands, such as Durock, it offers a higher flexural strength because of its unique recipe.
This cement backerboard, on the other hand, does not sacrifice strength for flexibility, and it is also extremely long-lasting.
The backerboards from WonderBoard may be used with various surfaces, including tile, stone, slate, and thin brick. There are several ways to use it, from walls to ceilings to any size installation in between.
Additionally, WonderBoard backerboards may be used in bathrooms since they are water-resistant.
HardieBacker vs. WonderBoard: A Comparative Study.
The composition of HardieBacker and WonderBoard Lite is the most significant distinction between the two. HardieBacker combines cement, sand, and cellulose fibers, whereas WonderBoard is a cement mixture reinforced by mesh.
Materials differ in this way, and this impacts their other characteristics. Compared to WonderBoard, HardieBacker is less dense and simpler to handle because it is not made entirely of cement.
HardieBacker and WonderBoard both claim to be water-resistant to varying degrees. However, WonderBoard’s average backerboards are more resistant than HardieBacker’s normal range, omitting HydroDefense backerboards. Unlike HardieBacker, WonderBoard may be used outside.
For a 3ft x 5ft HardieBacker backerboard tile that is 14 inches thick on average, the price ranges from around $12 to $18.
In comparison, a WonderBoard tile of the same size costs $10, saving you $2. These discrepancies can quickly mount up in the scope of a huge undertaking.
Cement backerboards like as HardieBacker and WonderBoard are excellent choices for bathroom renovations.
Their strengths lie in various areas, though. There are several advantages to using WonderBoard to cover a wide area, such as your walls or floor, such as its strength and lower cost.
HardieBacker is a better choice for little areas, such as bathroom corners or the vanity surface, since it is easier to use and less likely to break when chopped into smaller pieces.
In addition, HardieBacker is better suited to sensitive materials like vinyl and enamel, whereas WonderBoard may cause damage to your tub or installation.
A key feature of HardieBacker is that it is quite simple to set up and utilize. It is lighter than WonderBoard because cellulose fibers and cement are constructed instead of a pure cement recipe.
When it comes to DIY installation or small-scale contracting, HardieBacker has the upper hand.
It’s also much simpler to cut and shape HardieBacker than WonderBoard. This board is harder to cut with WonderBoard’s mesh than HardieBacker’s smooth-cutting experience made even easier by the pre-cut grid pattern.
As an added benefit, it is less likely to shatter than pure cement board, especially when sliced into thin pieces.
Nevertheless, HardieBacker is a little less durable than WonderBoard. A few examples include not being able to use it outdoors.
However, even if you’re upgrading your bathroom, it would make no sense to acquire more backerboard from another manufacturer if you intend to do some exterior renovations.
HardieBacker for walls has also been found to be problematic by certain users. It’s difficult to install because of the incompatibility of the stud spacing with all types of walls, and thinset might have issues adhering to the stud spacing.
The pros and cons of WonderBoard Lite
WonderBoard Lite is more reliable than HardieBacker in this regard. Compared to HardieBoard, its substance is more akin to classic cement backerboards, making it a bit more robust and long-lasting.
It’s also easier to utilize than HardieBoard, which has a variety of particular requirements for stud spacing, wetting, and more. WonderBoard is an obvious choice for experienced contractors used to cement backerboards.
WonderBoard is not as rigid as other cement backerboards. Curved surfaces benefit from their flexibility.
In addition, WonderBoard is more resistant to water damage than HardieBacker. Although HardieBacker offers a waterproof line named HardieBacker HydroDefense, most of its products are water-resistant and require extra waterproof sealants to be utilized. A WonderBoard product can’t be damaged by water in any way.
WonderBoard, on the other hand, is significantly more difficult to utilize than HardieBoard. It’s heavy and more difficult to cut. In addition, it is more likely to break when you are trying to cut out tiny pieces.
When it comes to choosing between HardieBacker and WonderBoard your knowledge about cement backerboards should have increased after reading this article.
While HardieBacker and WonderBoard have similar functions, their differing compositions make them more suited for specific applications.
While the lighter HardieBacker is better suited to smaller tasks or working alone, the heavier but more durable WonderBoard is an excellent foundation for your walls and floors.
A Contrast Between Durock and Hardiebacker
There are two types of cement backer boards: Durock and Hardiebacker, which are utilized in rooms prone to water damage.
Even though both of these businesses have highly praised items by customers, each brand has its unique attributes.
Affordability
Both Durock and James Hardie have made promises about the ease of use of their products. There may be some noticeable variances depending on the materials used to make each backer board product.
Smaller weight savings can be attributed to the absence of aggregate components in the Hardiebacker board. Grid patterns have been included in its products, making it easier to score and cut the boards.
Materials makeup
There are two main components to Durock boards: aggregated Portland cement and a polymer-coated, glass-fiber mesh that covers the board’s edges, front and back. The ends are square-cut, and the edges are smoothed to ensure perfect fitment.
Fiber-cement composite materials make Hardiebacker boards, which do not include any glass particles. When cutting the boards for a project, this reduces the amount of dust and debris created. In addition, it limits where boards may be utilized with certainty.
Use both inside and outside.
As a result of the composition of the material, the toughness of Durock boards makes them suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
Instead of being used outside, Hardieboard may only be used internally throughout the entirety of the structure.
Hardieboard works well in a temperature range of 57 degrees to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas Durock works best in 40 degrees to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Water-Resistant Vs. Waterproof
The capacity of a cement backer board to resist water appears to be an additional consideration for customers when making their purchases.
A strong, water-repellent capability and a high level of mold resistance may be found in Hardieboard for the projects that it is employed in. This makes it suitable for showers, baths, laundry rooms, and kitchens as an underlayment.
It is recommended that a waterproofing membrane be used over the Hardieboard in certain locations to provide additional protection when water is predicted to be present continuously.
The first and only waterproof cement backer board is HardieBacker® Cement Board with HydroDefenseTM Technology.
Features unparalleled strength, simplicity of use, and outstanding tile adhesion that you’ve come to expect from the most favored brand of backer board*, plus it’s now completely waterproof. *
A study done by Clear Seas Research in cooperation with the National Tile Contractors Association and TILE Magazine found that the market for tile and stone installation contractors is growing.
ANSI A118.10-certified waterproof, HardieBacker® Cement Board with HydroDefenseTM Technology is designed to keep kitchen and bathroom tile installations free of water damage.
Produces long-lasting effects in a shorter period without sacrificing quality.
The HydroDefenseTM Technology in HardieBacker® Cement Board ensures that your clients, your work, and your reputation are all well-protected.
When it comes to Durock, on the other hand, its material composition results in a waterproof product. Because the Durock board is impervious to water, it will not degrade over time due to this constant exposure.
The Manufacturer’s Warranty.
For the most part, customers like having a product backed by a solid warranty. For 30 years, Durock has offered a limited guarantee on their cement board products, which begins the day you purchase them.
The company guarantees that if the product is installed and maintained correctly, it will not rot, deteriorate, or break down in any other way.
In a similar vein, James Hardie advertises the durability of their cement board products. However, the manufacturer offers a transferable lifetime guarantee for the whole life of the device.
It is vital to remember that the devices should be installed and maintained by a professional since strict installation terms are put in place to protect the guarantee.
In the end, the user’s preference is the most important factor in determining which Durock or Hardieboard product is right for your application. Products from both firms meet or surpass the highest industry standards, and their reputations are well established.
Exactly what can you do with Durock Cement Board?
Durock boards are long-lasting and authorized for use in exterior and interior construction. With glass and ceramic materials, they are allowed for usage. Additionally, they may be used with ceramic and quarry tile and a wide variety of tiles and thin brick.
When it comes to the flooring inside, Durock is a popular choice. First, you need to lay down a solid basis for your tiles.
Durock boards, on the other hand, shine when put to the test of endurance. They can withstand the abuse of high-traffic areas, such as agricultural buildings, where machines, animals, and humans batter the surfaces and flooring to a pulp.
Due to its great tensile strength, Durock can withstand exposure to the environment for extended periods. Outdoor applications include garages (primarily as wainscoting), fences, and even mobile homes (for exterior usage only).
Durock boards, for all their toughness and toughness, may also be the basis for something lovely. Outdoor ceramic or glass mosaics benefit from their base.
What are the best ways to use HardieBacker Boards?
HardieBacker boards, like Durock boards, are cement backer boards that are extremely durable. There are, however, a few differences between the two.
Interior possibilities for HardieBacker boards are limited, although they may be used in various ways. For smaller, more fragile surfaces, such as counters, they are better suited than larger, more robust surfaces. HardieBacker boards can also be used as a base for tile flooring.
Mold-resistant HardieBacker is widely used as an additional underlay beneath showers and baths. Even so, if you want to use it in your bathroom, you may want to apply an additional coat of waterproof sealant.
Consider the advantages and drawbacks of Durock cement panels
Durability is one of Durock cement boards’ greatest advantages. In addition to being sturdy, they are built of cement slurry that also incorporates glass mesh. Because of this, Durock is allowed for outdoor use, not only indoor use. Withstanding high traffic and adverse weather conditions, it is an excellent choice.
Boards made with Durock cement are also waterproof. Outdoor locations benefit because they are more resistant to cold and wetness than HardieBacker because of their capacity to withstand these conditions.
On the other hand, some contractors find Durock to be a more challenging material to deal with. Compared to other materials, this one is far more difficult to work with.
HardieBacker is less abrasive than Durock, which is also more abrasive. Materials that are easily damaged include vinyl, porcelain, and enamel. In reality, the official Durock guarantee does not cover the use of vinyl tile since both the cement boards and the tiles might be damaged in this manner.
For a bathroom, which is better: Durock or HardieBacker drywall?
For your bathroom renovation, you have the option of using Durock or HardieBacker, depending on your preferences and where you are in the remodeling process at the time.
Using Durock as a pre-tiling surface is smart because of its waterproof and long-lasting characteristics.
Because of this, you should be careful when using Durock beneath your shower or bathtub since it is more susceptible to mold and can harm porcelain or enamel.
In constructing your tub’s foundation, HardieBacker is a superior material to use. Additionally, HardieBacker is a wonderful option for bathroom countertops, as it is more versatile.
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