There are many occasions when you may want to choose a porcelain tile for your walls. Do you want the floor in your kitchen or bathroom to match your walls? Is there a floor tile that matches the theming of your room, but you wish to use on your walls? Thankfully, with a little bit of extra work, it’s completely possible.
What Is Your Weight Limit?
It’s important to remember when choosing a porcelain tile for your walls, that most porcelain tiles weigh more than their ceramic counterparts. You should always consider the amount of weight your wall or chosen backer board can hold as most porcelain tiles weigh upwards of 20kg/m², plus you need to factor in approximately 4kg/m² for the adhesive & grout.
The below can be used as a general rule;
- Gypsum plaster – 20kg/m²
- Gypsum plasterboard skimmed – 20kg/m²
- Gypsum plasterboard unskimmed – 32kg/m²
- Cement sand rendering – No Restriction/m²
- Lightweight foam-cored tile backer boards – 60kg/m²
- Glass-reinforced cement-based boards – 50kg/m²
- Gypsum fibreboards – 40kg/m²
Our Recommended Backer Boards
With many backer boards to choose from, The Marmox Multiboard and BAL Board are our two most popular options, we’ve comprised the benefits of each below.
Marmox Multiboard
Available in 6mm and 10mm thickness options, the Marmox Multiboard is a great choice for supporting the weight of your tiles whilst building a waterproof barrier that won’t break the bank. Made from a polystyrene base, with a top layer of fibreglass to ensure a great quality product.
BAL Board
Available in 6mm and 12mm sizes, the BAL Board is perfect for ensuring your tile installation is long-lasting and retains that premium feel. Both water and mould resistant, allowing it to hold up over time.
Both the BAL and Marmox boards have a weight limit of 100kg per square meter, allowing you to have peace of mind when hanging much heavier tiles.
When Do You Use Waterproof Backer Boards?
When browsing backer boards, you may have noticed a few waterproof backer board options. This prevents moisture penetration behind the tiles which could potentially cause issues at a later date.
By choosing waterproof backer boards, you save yourself the task of tanking the wet areas to form a waterproof barrier.
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