Hardboard

Can You Tile Onto Hardboard?

Hardboard is commonly used around the home as a backer board. Because of this many people, you included, have wondered whether you can tile onto it. Well, let’s have a look and find out.

Yes, you can tile onto hardboard. But there are many reasons why it might not be a good long term option. Because of how flexible hardboard is issues can arise in the longer term.

Tiling Onto Hardboard On Walls

When thinking of tiling onto hardboard on walls there is one big issue to consider, and that is flexibility.

Hardboard, due mainly to how thin it is, is not very rigid. because of this, it will flex a lot when used on walls.

Tiling onto anything that flexes is a big no-no. If you put something ridgid, such as tiles, onto something flexible then you are just asking for trouble.

As the hardboard flexes the tiles will not be able to flex. This strain has to go somewhere, and eventually this somewhere will end up being a big crack right down the middle of your tile.

This is not a strict hardboard problem, it is just a general problem with tiling onto anything that is flexible.

Tiling Onto Hardboard On Floors

Okay so walls might be a really bad idea but what about hardboard on flooring? On the floor, it will commonly be firmly fixed in place, so flexibility won’t be an issue, so I will be fine to use it here you ask?

Well, again there can be serious problems with using hardboard. It is not particularly moisture resistant and is prone to swelling when it gets wet.

So when used on a floor, particularly in a bathroom it has a high chance of getting wet and swelling. This will then cause serious issues with the tiling on top and can lead to all sorts of issues such as cracking and tiles coming loose.

What Is Hardboard?

Hardboard is the harder brother to MDF. MDF stands for medium-density fibreboard, hardboard is high-density fibreboard.

It is stronger than MDF and much denser. The fibres used in hardboard are exploded fibres which are then highly compressed. This is what allows it to reach such high density and strength.

Hardboard is often used as pegboard, or in furniture construction, particularly as a backer board.

You don’t see hardboard in thick sheets, you only ever see it in the really thin sheets.

I’m guessing this is because a thick sheet would be incredibly heavy and probably stupidly expensive as well.

Related Posts

Want to know more about hardboard? We have all the info, you might find these posts to your liking.

Sam Wood

Wood by name, wood by nature. I am a fully qualified, time-served, award-winning joiner with an NVQ Level 3 in Carpentry and Joinery as well as an HNC in Construction. Beyond my joinery qualifications, I have also earned a degree in building surveying. I believe these qualifications make me perfectly positioned to provide expert advice on many different areas of DIY as well as share all of the tips I have picked up in over a decade working on building sites!

More Reading

Post navigation

Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *