Use and Care Guide

DensShield
®
Tile Backer
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9
Residential and Light Commercial Floors
24” (610 mm)
DensShield Tile Backer Over Conventional
Joist (Exterior-glue Subfloor)
19.2” (488 mm)
Joist
16” (406 mm) o.c.
The application of thin-set over subfloor provides a leveling
bed between the subfloor and the back of DensShield Tile
Backer. If this step is not completed, air gaps can cause
movement and crack the grout lines. (This step is common
with all other backer board products.)
Minimum Subfloor Thickness Maximum Joist Spacing
5/8” (15.9 mm) Plywood Sturd-I-Floor
®
* 16” (406 mm) o.c. joists
3/4” (19 mm) Plywood Sturd-I-Floor
®
* 19.2” (488 mm) o.c. engineered lumber
7/8” (22.2 mm) APA Rated Sturd-I-Floor
®
24” (610 mm) o.c. engineered lumber
*3/4” (19 mm) OSB is acceptable
A
B
C
D
E
A
B
F
DensShield Tile Backer Over Engineered
Joist (Tongue-and-Groove Subfloor)
C
A
B
G
C
A
B
H
C
DS005
1/4” (6.4 mm) and 1/2” (12.7 mm) DensShield
®
Tile Backer can be used as a tile substrate in residential and light commercial
floor tile applications as defined in the Handbook for Ceramic Tile Installation, published by the Tile Council of North America.
Laminate DensShield panels, grey coated side up, to subfloor using a latex portland cement mortar liberally applied with
minimum 1/4” x 1/4” x 1/4” (6.4 x 6.4 x 6.4 mm) square-tooth notched trowel. Embed DensShield Tile Backer into mortar while
still pliant (do not exceed open time). Stagger DensShield Tile Backer joints so as not to align with subfloor joints. Butt panels
tightly to each other. Leave no gaps between panels.
Fasten panels to subfloor with 1-1/4” (32 mm) galvanized roofing nails or corrosion-resistant screws. Begin fastening in the center
of each panel, working your way to the edges. Avoid nailing into floor joists on new construction to prevent nail pops. Space
fasteners no greater than 8” (203 mm) o.c. in both directions. Drive fasteners flush with the acrylic surface. Do not countersink.
Staples: (1/4” (6.4 mm) DensShield only) 1/4” (6.4 mm) or larger crown corrosive-resistant chisel-point staples equal to approximately
the total thickness of underlayment and subfloor. Staples shall be placed 2” (51 mm) o.c. around the perimeter and 4” (102 mm)
o.c. in the field ensuring that the staples are between 3/8” (10 mm) and 1/2” (13 mm) from ends and edges.
Apply 2” (51 mm) wide fiberglass mesh tape over joints. Embed tape with setting material.
Apply flooring-grade tile with latex portland cement mortar. Full-thickness thresholds should be used and butted against the
DensShield panels, flush with the tile surface. Use a 2” x 2” (51 x 51 mm) or larger floor-grade tile.
Use either standard floor grout (ANSI A118.6) or polymer modified grout (ANSI A118.7).
DensShield Tile Backer is not to be used in conjunction with heated floor systems that exceed 125°F (52°C) continuous temperature.
DensShield Tile Backer is not for exterior use.
Do not use Type I organic mastics for floor applications.
Do not use DensShield TileBacker in conjunction with passive solar heat systems.
Requirements:
Design floor areas over which tile is to be applied to have a deflection not greater than L/360 of the span when measured
under 300 lb. (136 Kg) concentrated load (see ASTM C 627) or as required by code or tile manufacturer. Maximum variation in the
subfloor surface shall not exceed 1/2” (13 mm) in 10’-0” (3048 mm) from the required plane or as required by design/code.
Materials:
Coated fiberglass mat backer – ASTM C 1178. Latex portland cement mortar – ANSI A118.4. Polymer modified tile grout –
ANSI A118.7.
Installation Specifications:
Coated fiberglass mat backer board in accordance with manufacturer’s literature. Tile – ANSI A 108.5. Grout – ANSI 108.10.
A. Min. 1/4” (6.4 mm) DensShield Tile Backer
B. Tile
C. Latex Portland Cement Mortar
D. Subfloor
E. Floor Joists
F. 5/8” (15.9 mm) APA Rated Sturd-I-Floor
®
G. 3/4” (19 mm) APA Rated Sturd-I-Floor
®
H. 7/8” (22.2 mm) APA Rated Sturd-I-Floor
®