Introduction
Are you planning on doing your house sidings with cement boards, but aren’t quite sure what tools to use for doing it? Or maybe you need to install a backer board for your brick or floor project? Whether you’re a seasoned DIY enthusiast or a beginner, understanding the right techniques and tools for working with cement boards is essential for a successful home improvement project.
Installing cement boards can be a fun home project, provided everything goes smoothly. To help with that, here is a short guide on different ways to cut cement boards with different tools and installing them. This guide will not only cover the basics but also delve into tips and tricks that can make your project easier and more efficient.
Understanding Cement Boards
Cement boards are a type of backer board made from cement and reinforcing fibers. They are commonly used in construction and remodeling projects for their durability and resistance to moisture. Cement boards are often utilized as a substrate for tile installations in wet areas such as bathrooms and kitchens. Before diving into the cutting and installation processes, it’s important to understand the properties of cement boards and why they are preferred in certain applications.
One of the main advantages of using cement boards is their resistance to mold and mildew, which makes them an ideal choice for areas exposed to water. Additionally, they are fire-resistant, making them suitable for a variety of applications in home construction. Understanding these benefits can help you appreciate why cement boards are a popular choice among homeowners and contractors alike.
How to Cut Cement Backer Board
This is quite a wide subject, so I’m going to cut it into many parts so you can just scroll to one you need. Cutting cement boards can seem daunting at first, but with the right tools and techniques, you can achieve clean and precise cuts with ease.
How to Cut Cement Board Without Dust
No one likes dust or jobs that produce dust. If you’re installing cement board inside, even more so as small dust particles get everywhere and spreading plastics and taping them takes forever. Minimizing dust not only keeps your work area cleaner but also protects your health during the installation process.
The good thing about flat cement board like backer board is that it can be cut with a utility knife like drywall. This method is ideal for making straight cuts without creating a mess.
Cutting Cement Board with Utility Knife
To cut the cement board with a utility knife, you need to place it flat somewhere. If you’re working inside, it can be on the floor if there is a place, or you might have a cutting table set up as we do at bigger projects. No one wants to spend days hopping up and down the floor. Having a stable and flat surface for cutting is crucial for achieving accurate results.
After you have the cement board placed flat, draw the line you want to cut with a carpenter’s pencil. You can place something to help you cut straight with the utility knife. Press the utility knife to the cement board and drag it towards you; be careful not to slip and hurt yourself.
It’s best if the force you use is mostly toward the cement board and not towards yourself. This way, if the board gives in or the knife slips, it won’t come towards you with force.
After you have done your cut, repeat it a few times to get the cut deep enough. Next, you snap it as you would do with drywall. You lift the other edge up, put your hand or knee behind the scored line, and bend it to the side that is not scored. It will snap along the line.
Cutting Small Details to Cement Board
Sometimes you need to know how to cut holes in cement board. Cutting fiber cement board with a utility knife isn’t always the best option. For intricate cuts, you may need to utilize specialized tools to achieve the desired shape. Understanding the tools available and their appropriate uses can significantly enhance your cutting capabilities.
You might need to make holes in it or create shapes that can’t be snapped so easily. For that reason, sometimes you need to use some of the following tools.
Cutting Cement Board with a Dremel and Other Rotary Tools
Now Dremels come with many shapes, but what I mean here is the rotary tool that is quite common with DIY hobbyists. If you have one that can do oscillating work, jump forward to the next title. Rotary tools can be a game changer when it comes to making intricate cuts in cement boards.
Small rotary tools can cut cement boards. You put the diamond wheel on it, and it can cut it. Another kind of wheel can work, but I like to work with stone and cement with diamond. If the wheel is not the right kind and it comes off the shaft it’s attached to, it can be a little bit dangerous to those around as it shoots off. Therefore, ensuring the proper attachment and safety precautions is essential.
To cut the cement board, you install the blade and start slowly cutting the line or shape you have drawn. I wouldn’t use this way to do lots of cutting, only small parts and details. For larger cuts or straight lines, other tools may be more efficient.
I’d also use a vacuum with it to suck the dust straight away. Keeping your workspace clean during cutting can improve visibility and safety.
Cut Cement Board with Oscillating Tool
Oscillating tools are another way to do small details to the cement board. It can bite into concrete with a correct blade so it can also work for softer cement board with ease. This versatility makes oscillating tools a popular choice for many DIY projects.
Oscillating tools will also create little dust when you cut, so it’s good to have a vacuum with you. The precision and control offered by these tools can make intricate cuts much easier to achieve.
So to begin, you need to draw your shape on the cement board. After that, you take the oscillating tool, or multi-tool, and put the blade that is recommended for cement materials, and start cutting. Choosing the right blade is crucial for effective cutting.
The blade probably has a long cutting edge with teeth. A good way to start is to begin with a 45-degree angle so only a few teeth bite into the cement board. After you get the start cut, you level the blade so the rest of the teeth sink into the board. This will even out the workload of the blade.
Cutting Cement Sheet with Jigsaw
Jigsaw is one of the tools that many DIY hobbyists have. It’s usually a cheap tool, and blades come for many different purposes. This versatility allows you to tackle various cutting tasks with just one tool.
Jigsaws have special blades for fiber and plaster, and that should work with cement board as well. Both are cement materials. When using a jigsaw, it’s important to ensure that you have the right blade for the material you are cutting.
What’s good about the jigsaw is that it’s easy to work with one hand when you cut the lines. You can also alter the blade speed like with any proper power tool. This flexibility is helpful when adjusting for different materials or cutting speeds.
To cut with this, you mark your lines and shapes and place the cement board on the table so that you won’t cut anything under it. After that, you make a starting hole with a drill if you’re cutting into the middle of the board or start by the edge if not. Precision in your initial hole placement can save you time and effort later on.
You can vacuum if you have an attachment for it. Keeping your workspace clean will enhance safety and efficiency as you work.
How to Cut Cement Board Siding
Cutting sidings is more detailed work than the backer board. It’s the final surface of the wall, so the cuts have to be smooth. For that, a masonry blade, table, and circular saw can do the trick with a masonry blade. The right tools can make all the difference in achieving a professional finish.
Cutting Cement Board on Table Saw
The last option here is the good old table saw. There are diamond blades for it as well, so you can use it to cut cement board if needed. A table saw can provide the precision and control needed for larger cuts.
This is one option if you want to make fine cuts with the cement board or Hardie plank. It’s good for long straight cuts and cutting straight edges. If you’re working with larger sheets of cement board, a table saw can truly enhance your efficiency.
If you’re doing sidings with Hardie planks, fine cut details are important. For backer boards, this might be less useful, but it’s crucial for achieving a polished finish on exterior surfaces.
When working with a table saw, you need to follow common table saw safety. Don’t be putting your fingers near the blade and work safely. Every year many workers get their fingers removed. Prioritizing safety during cutting operations is essential to prevent accidents and injuries.
How to Install Cement Board
How to install cement backer board depends on the use. If you install it on floors, you can do it with thinset mortar. Understanding the installation process is just as important as knowing how to cut the boards correctly.
Use a notched trowel to spread the thinset and place the board on top of that. After the thinset and placing of the boards, you need to fasten them to the floor with screws. Get proper screws for the cement board so you won’t have trouble later. Using the correct screws is crucial for ensuring the longevity and stability of your installation.
When you are done installing the boards to the floor, you need to do the joints with the mesh tape meant for it. First, place some thinset on the joints a little wider than the tape. Then press the tape on top of it and do a thin layer of thinset on top of it. This method is similar to doing drywall joints, and it ensures a smooth transition.
If you’re doing walls, you can install the cement boards to the studs like you would do with drywall. Just use the special cement board screws for it so they can hold the board properly. You can do the joints the same way you do it on the floor. Proper installation techniques will contribute to a durable and waterproof surface.
If you need to do a cement board to drywall transition, you can either create a joint in there or make them level with each other and use joint compound on the joint and sand it level. Ensuring a seamless transition between different materials is key to achieving a professional finish.
How to Cut Cement Board Around Pipes
If you have pipes on the floor or wall, you need to make holes for them. My go-to strategy is to measure where they are located when you put the backer board into place, and then drill a hole a little bigger than the pipe is. Accurate measurements are critical to ensure proper fitting around obstacles.
After that, I’ll use a tool like a jigsaw to cut to them in the least amount of distance and the least amount of cuts. So if there are two pipes on the floor, for example, I make 2 holes on the board, and from the outer edge of both circles, I cut to the edge of the board. This minimizes waste and helps maintain the integrity of the board.
After I place the board on the floor, I place the cut piece as well, and it will glue there with cement board joint compound. After that, I’ll do the joints. Properly sealing the joints around pipes is essential for maintaining the waterproof capabilities of cement board installations.
Conclusion
How to cut cement board and install them should be no challenge to you now. It’s not really hard, but you have to take your time doing it. Understanding the tools and techniques available can make all the difference in your project’s outcome.
If you’re doing floors as a beginner, don’t try to make the whole floor at the start. Make boards for half of it, mark the floor area, start spreading the thinset, and place the boards. Taking a methodical approach can help prevent mistakes and ensure a successful installation.
If you want to do the whole floor, that’s no problem either. Just work with manageable amounts, and it will be fine. If you need other water-resistant solutions, here is how to plaster with cement products. Remember, each project is an opportunity to learn and improve your skills, so take your time and enjoy the process.