KERDI-BOARD vs. Cement Board for Shower Walls

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The board behind your shower tile never gets seen again once the tile is up. But it decides whether your walls stay dry for decades or slowly rot behind the grout.

Cement board: strong, but not waterproof

Cement board has been the go-to tile backer for years. It's solid and won't fall apart when wet. But it isn't waterproof: water passes through it. That's why a cement-board shower needs a separate waterproofing layer, either a plastic sheet behind the board or a liquid membrane painted on the face.

It's also heavy, dusty to cut and hard on the hands, and the screws and seams all need treating.

KERDI-BOARD: the backer and the waterproofing in one

Schluter KERDI-BOARD is an extruded foam panel with a reinforced surface. It's waterproof and a vapor retarder by itself. When the seams are sealed with KERDI-BAND, the board becomes the waterproof layer.

	Cement board	KERDI-BOARD
Waterproof by itself	No	Yes (with sealed seams)
Weight	Heavy	Very light
Cutting	Saw or score, dusty	Utility knife
Extra waterproofing needed	Yes	No
Warranty	Board only	10 years, or part of Schluter's system warranty

Which one do we use?

For most showers, Versa Tile uses KERDI-BOARD, or KERDI membrane over a solid backer, as part of the full Schluter system. Light panels mean less strain on older wall framing, and fewer layers mean fewer places for mistakes. Here's how the whole system fits together.

Cement board still makes sense in a few spots, such as outside the wet area or under some floor tile. We'll explain the choice for your project.

See KERDI-BOARD and other Schluter products on Amazon.

Get it right the first time

The board is only as good as its seams and corners. If you're planning a bathroom remodel in Folsom, Sacramento or the Bay Area, see our Schluter shower installation service, or call or text Mike at 916-847-2825.