For home improvement projects and you're DIYing installation of cement boards, you've probably asked yourself how many screws you're going to need for every sheet of Durock you're putting up. Fortunately, we've researched this topic, and in this post, we'll let you know how many screws you'll need, as well as other Durock installation tips you might need.
Durock can be used for multiple types of installation; hence the number of screws needed per sheet may vary. Depending on the spacing of the screws necessary for the particular project, you'll find that some installations may need more or fewer screws than you would usually use.
For every 3x5 Durock sheet, here are the number of screws you will approximately need:
- Countertops: 54 screws
- Floor: 48 screws
- Wall: 26 screws
- Ceiling: 30 screws
The flexibility of Durock in many applications can ultimately make it quite difficult to approximate the number of screws you will need for installation. In this post, we'll be sharing with you some installation tips for Durock. Keep reading to learn more about other applications of Durock and other information you'll need to know if you'll be installing it in your home.
How many screws per sheet of Durock?
Durock is a sturdy cement board material that is typically used for different applications. In most home renovation projects, a cement board is a great material that you can use for moisture-prone areas because of its resistance to water and ease of installation.
Cement backer boards (or CBUs) are porous boards that allow easy installation of grout and mortar. They can easily be cut with a hand saw, circular saw, or even a multi-tool, which gives home DIYers the flexibility to work with this material.
Installing Durock sheets in your home improvement projects is quite easy. Installation only requires simple tools that you most likely already have at home. However, to install a Durock board, you will need to use specialized cement board screws to properly mount and secure the CBUs to the studs.
A sheet of Durock measures 3 feet by 5 feet long. They come in different thicknesses, depending on where you need to use them. In most stores, you will find Durock sheets in 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch thicknesses.
Get your Durock Cement Board on HomeDepot.
For a sheet of 3x5 feet Durock cement board, the number of screws needed to secure the board depends on where you will be installing them. CBUs require screws to be placed at different measured intervals, so here are the approximate number of screws you will need based on the project you are working on.
The number of screws on this list corresponds to every 3x5 sheet of Durock:
- Countertops: 54 screws
- Floor: 48 screws
- Wall: 26 screws
- Ceiling: 30 screws
How far apart should the screws be in a sheet of Durock?
Screw fasteners are measured differently for every project you will need to work on. Depending on the installation procedure needed, here is the approximate spacing placement for the screws in a 3x5 sheet of Durock. Make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for the proper installation of your Durock sheets.
Countertops
To install Durock sheets for countertops, screw fasteners must be placed 8 inches apart on center. The fasteners should be placed around the perimeter and completely in the field of the board. You will most likely use an estimated 54 screws to mount a Durock cement board for a countertop.
Floors
For floor installation, cement boards should be positioned with the ends and edges close together but with a distance of about 1/4 inch between panels. Secure the fasteners by placing them 8 inches apart on center. Place the fasteners around the entire perimeter and the field of the board. You'll approximately need about 48 screws for every panel used for flooring.
Wall and Ceiling
To mount Durock sheets for walls and ceilings, the cement board must be secured to the stud at 16 inches on center. Space the screw fasteners 8 inches apart from the center stud for walls. You will need about 26 screws to secure the board for the wall installation.
For ceiling installations, space out the screw fasteners 6 inches apart from the center. An approximate number of 30 screws will secure the Durock sheet for a ceiling installation.
What screws do you use for Durock?
Durock's material is quite unlike drywall or regular plywood. This is why you need specialized cement board screws to install Durock sheets on the studs. These screws are designed to attach Durock to wood or light gauge steel studs. These screws are also corrosion-resistant, and the wafer heads prevent stripping of the screwheads.
Durock wood screws can be used to fasten Durock sheets that are 1/2 or 5/8 inches thick. These screws can be used for all applications and can be used to install Durock to a wood framing.
Get these Durock wood screws on Amazon.
For multiple-purpose fastening for both wood and light gauge steel frames, Backer-on Cement Board Screws will help secure your Durock boards. These screws can be attached close to the cement board's edge, preventing fractures and cracking. They are also corrosion-resistant, which makes them perfect to use in high-moisture environments.
Check out these cement board screws on Amazon.
Where do you use Durock?
Durock is a cement board made from an aggregated cement slurry with polymer-coated, glass fiber mesh. This cement board is great to use as backing for most wet environments at home.
When renovating your home, Durock can be used in several different places. It can be used on countertops, backsplashes, and other areas in the kitchen needing backing. They can also be used on floors, walls, and ceilings. Durock works quite well in wet environments such as kitchens, bathrooms, and basements.
One of the qualities of Durock is its excellent capabilities in creating a base for tile installation. Durock's porous surface allows the mortar to be applied to them for the tile to be installed.
Cement boards such as Durock are excellent bases for tile application because they are stronger and more stable. The addition of the textured surface on the Durock sheets also makes tile installation easier because it prevents further mishaps like slipping tile from happening.
What side should Durock face when laid out?
When installing Durock cement board, it doesn't matter which side faces out during installation. Both sides work well for backing applications, and the textured surface does not change the cement board's performance.
However, if you are going to be laying out tiles on your Durock sheet, it would be ideal to place the rough textured side outwards because it is meant to help mortar applications bond better and reduce tile slippage. The smooth side is best used for mastic applications because it helps increase the adhesive coverage.
Either way, thin-set or mastic mortar can be used on both sides with no issues.
How to Choose Cement Backer Boards
Cement backer boards like Durock come in different thicknesses, and they can be used in different areas of your house for different applications. Choosing the right cement boards means you'll get the appropriate thickness you'll need for the project.
Countertops
For countertop installation, you can use either a 1/4, 1/2, or 5/8 inch thick Durock sheet. You will also need a 3/4 inch thick exterior-grade plywood as the base of your countertop and cement board.
Flooring
You can also use 1/4, 1/2, or 5/8 inch thick Durock sheets for flooring installations. To keep the structural integrity of your flooring, an added 5/8 inch thick exterior-grade OSB or plywood should be installed as the base.
Walls and Ceilings
For walls and ceilings, you can use either a 1/2 or 5/8 inch thick Durock sheet fastened directly to the joists or wall studs.
Are there other brands of cement boards?
While Durock is one of the most popular and widely used brands of cement boards, there are other brands of cement boards that you can use. You can typically find these other brands in most hardware stores.
HardieBacker
These boards are made with MoldBlock technology, which is unique to their 90% Portland cement and sand mixture. These boards are great to use in areas where mold easily forms, and they are quite strong for both residential and commercial applications. HardieBacker is made by the James Hardie Industries.
Get HardieBacker sheets on HomeDepot.
WonderBoard
This board is a little bit more flexible than Durock or HardieBacker, which is one of the reasons why this board is often chosen to be used on curved surfaces. Made with Portland cement, aggregates, and other reinforcement, this board is a little lighter and can be a lot easier to manage than other brands.
Check out WonderBoard on HomeDepot.
Final Thoughts
Durock is a very sturdy material that you can use for multiple applications in your home. That being said, if you're looking to use it for your house, just make sure to have enough stock of screws to hold your Durock boards in place. It's important to secure them properly and safely and to keep the structural integrity of your cement boards well.
Looking for more information about cement boards? We've got a couple of articles that might be of interest to you:
How To Tile A Bathroom Wall With Large Tiles