I have a new bathtub with Durock cement board installed around it and I‘m ready for tile. I just got a guy out to give me an estimate for doing the tile work around the tub and he said the Durock would have to be primed first. I‘ve heard you‘re supposed to put the tile directly on the Durock, not paint it. Now I don‘t know what to do. Is he wrong? If he‘s wrong, do I hire someone else or just question him? He did another (non-tile related) job for me and did an excellent job, so I trust him, but I‘m nervous about this. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!
Do NOT prime cement board before tiling. The whole reason is to bond to the cement substance of the Durock or cement board. There are times or situations that you need to water proof cement board , but that would be a different situation. I would consider hiring some one else. He may be fine at certain projects but he does not know allot about tiling. Any questions you can e mail me through my avatar and check my qualifications there. GL
I don't see how priming it would have any advantage. I tiled over some a couple years ago and have had no problems at all. I would think the adhesion would be in question if you are basically adding a layer of paint in between. You don't prime concrete before you lay tile flooring so why would you do otherwise to a cement board? I would ask him for is reasoning behind it. If it sounds like BS and a way to add some time to the job hire someone else.
