The cement board behind the tile
Hardie® Backer 500 Cement Board is James Hardie's 0.42 in. tile backer for showers, tub surrounds, bathroom and kitchen floors, walls and countertops, in 3x5 ft. and 32 in. x 5 ft. sheets. It meets ANSI A118.9, is noncombustible under ASTM E136, and is evaluated in Canada as moisture-resistant tile backing in CCMC Evaluation Report 14091-R. It is not waterproof on its own.
Hardie® Backer 500 Cement Board is James Hardie's 0.42 in. tile backer for showers, tub surrounds, bathroom and kitchen floors, walls and countertops, in 3x5 ft. and 32 in. x 5 ft. sheets. It meets ANSI A118.9, is noncombustible under ASTM E136, and is evaluated in Canada as moisture-resistant tile backing in CCMC Evaluation Report 14091-R. It is not waterproof on its own.
Hardie Backer 500 is the cement board that goes behind tile. It is Portland cement and sand reinforced with cellulose fibre, 0.42 inch thick, which is a shade under half an inch, in 3 by 5 foot and 32 inch by 5 foot sheets, a 3 by 5 foot sheet weighing about 39 pounds at 2.6 pounds per square foot. It is made for the rooms where water ends up on the wall or floor: tub and shower surrounds, bathroom floors and walls, kitchen backsplashes and countertops, laundry rooms and mudrooms, and it takes paint, wallpaper or texture as well as tile. It contains no gypsum, glass fibre or added formaldehyde, it is noncombustible under ASTM E136, and James Hardie's MoldBlock technology helps it resist mould growth in wet areas.
For Canada, the reference is CCMC Evaluation Report 14091-R, which evaluates the 500 board as moisture-resistant backing for ceramic tile under the National Building Code 2015, with conditions worth reading before you buy. The studs behind it must be no more than 400 mm apart. The board resists moisture but is not waterproof, so where the wall behind has to stay dry, a shower being the obvious case, a water-impermeable membrane goes between the board and the framing, as the report requires. It adds no bracing to the wall. James Hardie backs it with a limited lifetime warranty for interior installations in Canada. Exterior use is limited to James Hardie's HZ10 climate zones, which do not include Ontario.
Available at Pro Materials in Newmarket, Ontario, supplying contractors, builders, and homeowners across York Region, the GTA, Simcoe County and Durham Region. All products are available on a quote basis; contact us for wholesale pricing and current availability.
Smooth face with a lightly textured back. Score and snap to cut.
| Length | 5 ft. (1,524 mm) |
| Height / Width | 3 ft. (914 mm) or 32 in. (812 mm) |
| Thickness | 0.42 in. (10.7 mm) |
| Panel Weight | 2.6 lb per sq. ft. (12.7 kg/m²) |
| Standards | ANSI A118.9, ASTM C1288 |
| Fire | Noncombustible, ASTM E136. Flame spread 0, smoke developed 5, ASTM E84 |
| Canadian evaluation | CCMC 14091-R, interior tile backing |
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Compressive strength, ASTM D2394 | 6,500 psi (45 MPa) |
| Flexural strength, ASTM C947 | 1,700 psi |
| Freeze/thaw, ASTM C666 Procedure B | Pass |
| Water vapour permeance, ASTM E96 (desiccant) | 2.84 perms |
| Floor tile system, ASTM C627 | Light commercial |
| Weight | 2.6 lb per sq. ft. (12.7 kg/m²) |
| Indoor air | GREENGUARD Gold |
| Fastener | Spec |
|---|---|
| Roofing nails | 1 1/4 in. minimum, galvanized or stainless, 0.121 in. shank, 3/8 in. head |
| Screws | 1 1/4 in. minimum No. 8-18 ribbed wafer head, self-drilling, corrosion resistant |
| Spacing, walls | Every 8 in. at all supports, 3/8 in. from edges, 2 in. from corners |
| Spacing, floors | Every 8 in. over the entire surface, 3/8 to 3/4 in. from edges, 2 in. from corners |
| Item | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Alkali-resistant glass fibre mesh tape, 2 in. | Embedded in mortar over every joint before tiling |
| Latex-modified thinset, ANSI A118.4 | For setting tile and bedding the board on floors |
| Water-impermeable membrane | Between the board and the framing wherever the space behind must stay dry, as CCMC 14091-R requires |
| Carbide-tipped scoring knife | Score and snap is James Hardie's cutting method indoors |
Order quantities and lead times may vary. Contact us for availability.
CCMC 14091-R: interior use only, as backing for ceramic tile on wood or metal studs at a maximum 400 mm o.c.
The board is not water impermeable. Where the space behind must stay dry, install a waterproof membrane between the board and the framing
The board provides no bracing and must not carry lateral or structural load
Walls: minimum 2x4 wood or 20 ga steel studs. Keep the board 1/4 in. above the floor, tub or shower pan and caulk the gap
Fasten every 8 in. at all supports, 3/8 in. from edges and 2 in. from corners, heads flush and not over driven
Fill joints with mortar and embed 2 in. alkali-resistant glass fibre tape. Cover fastener heads with thinset
Floors (James Hardie's instructions): subfloor at least 5/8 in. exterior plywood or 23/32 in. OSB, joists at 24 in. o.c. maximum, deflection L/360 (L/720 for natural stone). Bed in modified thinset with a 1/4 in. square notch trowel, leave 1/8 in. gaps, stagger joints. Not over concrete
Note that CCMC 14091-R evaluates only the 1/4 in. board as a floor underlay, and that board is not sold in Ontario. Confirm floor use with your building official
Let the setting mortar cure 24 hours before grouting
James Hardie's HardieBacker videos are filmed for the United States. Where they differ from CCMC 14091-R, the CCMC conditions govern
How to cut HardieBacker cement board (James Hardie)
How to install HardieBacker cement board on walls (James Hardie)
How to install HardieBacker cement board on floors (James Hardie)
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