Hardibacker all the way -

I want to voice a note of caution however, you should NOT use a power
saw to cut Hardibacker unless you are wearing a resperator, and you
should wear a resperator when sweeping up cuttings as well. Hardibacker
dust when inhaled can cause silicosis (a dangerous and sometimes fatal
lung disease)- and it doesn't take long exposures over many years to
get it either. It's better to just score and break it.

Jeff

Keith Williams wrote:
In article .com,
says...
I am finishing a new bathroom just off my mudroom/garage. I am trying
to decide if I should back ceramic tile with cement board or Hardi
backer. This will be for a very heavy use shower.. wash out camping
stuff.. push kids in when they come home from football practice all
muddy... not a powder room for makeup.. but a heavy use
shower/bathroom.

Cost: HB is about a buck more per sheet.. not enough to be a
deal-killer if Hardi-backer is better.

AFAIAC, it is. I'll never use cement board again. Though neither
is indestructible.

I have cut and hung a few sheets of cement board to finish off another
bathroom, it is heavy, but do-able. Obviiosly HB is lighter, and
would be easier to handle, but is it as durable in a heavy use shower?

I think it's more durable, over the long run. I worried abut
cement board cracking with any repeated flex. I don't think I'd
use it on the floor.

Do I need a special blade for HB? I picked up a 5 dollar blade at
Harbor Freight that rips right through cement board, but at another
place I saw a blade especially for hardibacker and it was 50 bucks. Do
I need that special blade for HB?

I just use a carbide blade in a 3-3/8" Makita 9.6V cutoff saw.
Cuts like butter. You can also score and break it, like sheetrock
(on steroids but I find it's easier to just cut it.

Floor will be slate, is HB good to back slate floor tiles in a heavy
use area? Or am I better off using Cement board?

Is your subfloor solid? If so, I wouldn't worry about HB. Walls
might need some reinforcement. HB over plywood ought to be good
enough for a tank-wash. ;-)

--
Keith