Cutting the Board

• If you want your tile work to be easy and look great, you need to install a cement backer board to your wood sub-floor. Cement board can be a little tough to work with due to the fact that is very heavy and the edges are sharp. Cutting the boards is better done outdoors or in a garage as it can be pretty messy. Make sure you wear goggles to protect your eyes and gloves so you don't cut your hands. Measure your space and mark boards for cutting ahead of time. Don't forget to cut openings for vents or pipes if you're working in a bathroom. To cut the boards, use a utility knife and score the mesh side, then bend it over and break it off. If you want a little more precision you can use a jig saw with a carbide blade. To cut for pipe, use a hole saw or start your cut with a drill hole large enough to get you jig blade in and cut from there.
  
  

Installing the Cement Boards

• To install cement board without the worry of your wood shifting and popping a board or tile later, lay down thin set with a notched trowel before setting your cement board. Only put down enough for one board at a time or it will start to set before you get to it, not to mention you won't be able to work around it. Screw the boards in with cement screws and have the screws even or below the surface of the board. You don't want any screw heads sticking up when you start to tile. Keep the boards about 1/8-inch apart and cover the entire area you will be tiling. You can use cement board for floors, walls and even countertops.
  
  

Finishing the Installation

• Once the board is installed you can cover the seams with a fiberglass tape. This is a very important step on showers and countertops, because grout is not always waterproof so you don't want to leave any open spaces behind it. Use your thin set to smooth over the tape and let it dry. The cement board is now ready to accept tile.