If you are tired of your 50's style bathroom full of lime green and pink 4-inch tiles, and are ready to give your house an update into the present modern contemporary era, starting off with the right foundation is extremely important.
One of the biggest selling points on a home is its bathroom or bathrooms.
With this is mind, remember that any money invested in a bathroom remodel will pay for itself when the house is sold.
Not to mention you get to enjoy the benefits of an up to date bathroom while you live there.
Anywhere in your bathroom that you plan to install tile, is a good place to install hardie board.
If your home is built on a concrete foundation, then hardie board is not required on the floor.
This does not mean you do not need hardie board all together though.
Hardie board is impermeable to water and will not rust, or corrode over time.
It is extremely strong when installed correctly and will last 50 years or more in your home.
Hardie board is available for the walls in your shower in 4x8 sheets, 3x5 sheets, and 4x4 sheets.
Hardie board that is installed on the walls should be 1/2in thick.
When it is 1/2in thick, it can be installed directly over the studs.
After it is installed you should tape and float your seams, just like you would dry wall.
Tape and float using a fiberglass mesh tape and a multi-purpose thinset.
This will give your wall strength, and allow you to float out any humps or dips in the wall, to ensure that your install area is flat.
If you are installing tile on the floor over a plywood subfloor, hardie board is a must.
The subfloor must consist of an exterior grade plywood that is 3/4in thick, and should be nice and solid.
Hardie board installed on the floor only needs to be 1/4in thick.
You will need to tape and float the seams here as well, using the same fiberglass mesh tape and multi-purpose thinset.