Advice on Backing Board for Outdoor use please

[GraemeL]

Hello. My wife produces ceramic tiles. She wants to mount several of them on a board (with waterproof tile cement) and then hang them, like a picture, on an outside wall that is exposed to the elements.

My problem is the backing board. It needs to be all year round weatherproof. Not sure if waterproof ply would be waterproof enough?

Any advice please?

Thanks!
Graeme

 

[paulears]

Not tiles but similar - ply wood, delaminates after a year or so, and warps too. Marine ply is much better but the wood often starts to rot eventually, and if you seal it, the adhesive won't bond properly. MDF and the other softer boards become sponges quickly.

If it was me, then the longest life would be expanded aluminium mesh that would be screwed to the marine ply, which could be sealed properly with marine grade varnish. This would fix the mesh permanently and securely and then the tile adhesive would work very well on the mesh. It will, of course, be heavy, so proper fixing will be needed.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

epoxy covering over marine ply will last for years often used in boats

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

easy...

Marine ply - cover completely - yes Completely!! Front & back with no more nails or my favourite sticks like s***!! (thinly/sparingly but making sure it's well and truly covered all over) find the external use one - it's bloody cracking stuff

let it set - then - second coat - use to fix tiles...

job done.

You can even use the no more nails to fasten to an external brick wall if you want

tis good s***! innit!

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

about 20 year ago we stuck a dart board up on the wall with no more nails... when it come to knocking the wall down some 15 years later... the wall came down around the dart board - was a cracking site... and to know that I... had a part in saving that part of the building... was.. so emotional... so... epic!!

*wipes tear away from eye*

 

[billmccallum1957]

Correx or Foamex boards would do the job.

examples here... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/White-Mat...hash=item280aeaee65:m:mwrVb8LBXY3UejUabumVEoQ

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=corex+sheets&_sop=16

 

[AllUpHere]

Correx or Foamex boards would do the job.

examples here... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/White-Mat...hash=item280aeaee65:m:mwrVb8LBXY3UejUabumVEoQ

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=corex+sheets&_sop=16

Are you sure tile adhesive will stick to those?

 

[Oliver Wild]

forget ply, use cement board masterboard is a brand name for it, search the internet for "12mm masterboard" it's the cement board that replaced asbestos boards we use it on external Soffits.

 

[Oliver Wild]

have you searched for "tile backer board"

 

[GraemeL]

have you searched for "tile backer board"

Yes - they appear to be moisture resistant but I don't think that would be adequate for exterior use exposed to the elements?

 

[Oliver Wild]

Glasroc H TILEBACKER?

 

[AllUpHere]

How about aquapanel?

 

[GraemeL]

How about aquapanel?

This looks good. A little contradictory in that it says it is for interior use but also

• Will not deteriorate in water

So why not use it outside......

Wickes have it which is very convenient.

G

 

[DavidWH]

Have a look for some 10mm FoamPVC, foamalux/Foamex type stuff.

It isn't going to rot like wood, but might not be as rigid depending on size.

 

[AllUpHere]

Have a look for some 10mm FoamPVC, foamalux/Foamex type stuff.

It isn't going to rot like wood, but might not be as rigid depending on size.

That isn't the ideal medium for tile adhesive to stick to as not only is it slippery, but it bends.

Maybe it would be better to 'no more nails' the tiles to it.

 

[Oliver Wild]

How about aquapanel?

Aqua panel looks ideal!

 

[GraemeL]

Have bought part sheet of aquapanel. The cut edges are not covered in the glass fibre membrane, so I will have to work around that.

Thanks to everyone!

G

 

[Oliver Wild]

Good choice!