Both Pro Tiler Tools and Aquapanel are renowned for their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, and this collaborative blog post collaboration aims to provide you with specialist tips and insights as we delve into the importance of using a good quality cement board, its key features, and how you can install it.

The Knauf Aquapanel products available at Pro Tiler Tools include:

• Knauf AQUAPANEL 6mm Floor Tile Underlay Cement Board 900 x 1200mm
• Knauf AQUAPANEL 12.5mm Indoor Cement Board 900 x 1200mm

We stock both sizes in full and half pallet sizes for you, as well as being able to purchase them individually. The key features and benefits of Aquapanel Floor tile underlay 6mm include:

• Thickness of only 6mm for low floor height
• Can be installed over existing wooden subfloors
• It will not deteriorate in water
• Resistant to mould and mildew
• Easy to score and snap
• No pre-drilling is required
• Only 9 screws per board are necessary

In addition to the above the key benefits of Aquapanel Indoor cement board 12.5mm are:

• Will not deteriorate in water
• Resistant to mould and mildew
• Easy to score and snap
• No pre-drilling is required
• 12.5mm thick to align with plasterboards
• MgO free board to comply with building insurance requirements
• Only 11kg/m² for easy handling
• Can support tiles up to 120kg/m²
• Can be curved to a radius of 1

What Is Fibre Cement Board?

Cement board is a type of tile backer board that is made from a combination of cement, cellulose fibres, and other additives. The mixture is formed into sheets and then cured to create a durable and rigid board.

Cement board is commonly used as an underlayment for tile and stone installations in areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, and other wet or high-moisture environments. It provides a stable and moisture-resistant surface that helps prevent damage to the underlying structure from water or other environmental factors.

Knauf Aquapanel boards are made from tough Portland cement, have a coated fibre mesh embedded in the front and back surfaces and do not contain any cellulose fibres. This results in a board that is lighter, and easy to cut using the score and snap method. Furthermore, as it contains no organic compounds is unaffected by water and resistant to mould and mildew growth.

Read More: Tile Backer Board: What Should I Use Under My Tiles?

What is Aquapanel Cement Board?

Knauf Aquapanel board is designed to be used as a high-performance tile backing board and is also ideal as a general building board. This is a tough, impact-resistant glass-fibre-reinforced cement tile backer for use in wet and humid areas.

At 11kg/m², the board is 25% lighter than before, making the installation easier and faster. A bending radius of 1m can be achieved without the need to cut the board into strips.

How To Cut Cement Board

Knauf Aquapanel boards can easily be scored and snapped. Score one side with a sharp knife, cutting through the mesh. Snap the board along the score, then cut through the mesh on the other side. This creates less mess and dust and requires no specialist cutting equipment.

Is Cement Board Fireproof?

Knauf Aquapanel is Non-Combustible (Class A1 according to En 13501-1). When used as part of a full Knauf system this this can achieve 30 minutes of fire resistance. You can check out the data sheets on any Pro Tiler Tools product pages for all product details, or call a member of our knowledgeable team on 01604 859800 with any queries when ordering.

Is Cement Board Waterproof?

Knauf Aquapanel will not deteriorate when exposed to water. It doesn’t contain any organic compounds so will not rot or warp. However, it will not form a waterproof barrier. To form a waterproof barrier, you’ll need to use a Tanking Kit or Damp Proof Membrane.

Can Aquapanel Be Fixed Directly To A Wall?

Knauf AQUAPANEL® Cement Board Indoor can also be applied directly to a masonry substrate using a dot and dab method.

Can You Paint Aquapanel?

Depending on the intended use and requirements, water-based emulsion paints, silicate emulsion paints or latex paints can be used. However, the wall should be skimmed before painting using a non-gypsum-based skim.

How To Install Cement Board

• Step 1 - Cutting. Boards can easily be scored and snapped. Score one side with a sharp knife, cutting through the mesh. Snap the board along the score, then cut through the mesh on the other side. Smooth any rough areas caused by scoring with a rasp. Alternatively, Knauf AQUAPANEL® Cement Board Indoor is easily and accurately cut using a coarse-bladed saw.
• Step 2 - Fastening with screws. Fasten Knauf AQUAPANEL Cement Board Indoor panels to the framework with backer board screws. First, fasten the screws into the centre of the cement boards, then work towards the ends and the edges. During installation, make sure the cement boards are resting on the framework. Screw spacing ≤250mm. Distance from corner and edge ≥15mm.
• Step 3 - Jointing Boards. Leaving a gap of 3−5mm between boards. Fill the joints using Joint Filler and Skim Coating − tape over all joints.
• Step 4 - Apply the finish e.g. tiles, or skim coat and paint.

How To Install Floor Cement Board Underlayment For Tile

• Apply a complete bed of flexible tile adhesive to the subfloor, in accordance with manufacturer’s guidelines. A wooden subfloor must be primed before applying cement board.
• Lay Knauf AQUAPANEL® Cement Board Floor Tile Underlay, starting in the corner farthest from the door. Joints between boards and the subfloor should be staggered (minimum 200mm). No two joints should coincide.
• Leave a gap of 3–5mm between each board and screw Knauf AQUAPANEL® Cement Board Floor Tile Underlay to the subfloor.
• Nine screws per board are evenly distributed with a minimum distance from the board edge of 15mm.
• Fill all the joints with flexible tile adhesive (class C2/S1 acc. EN 12004/12002), then embed tape. Allow for the adhesive in the joints to dry.
• Ready to lay tiles: apply a complete bed of flexible tile adhesive, in accordance with manufacturer’s guidelines.

We understand the importance of achieving a high-quality finish with your tiling projects, so we want to ensure that you’re able to produce outstanding results with our equipment. We also value quality customer service, and offer a speedy next-day delivery service on the majority of products, delivering directly to your door so that you can fulfil projects quickly and efficiently for all of your customers. Should you need any tiling advice or support with your order, don’t hesitate to contact us via email at [email protected] or give us a call at 01604 859800.