I want to re-do the tile that surrounds my tub walls because the old tile has water damage and rotted. I was wondering which type of tile cement backer board is better ? hardiebacker cement board or durock cement board ? and should I install a vapor barrier between the studs and backer board... I seem to get mixed opinions on that ?
Oh, installing a vapor barrier behind the cement board is absolutely necessary. Tile with grout isn't waterproof at all, and you want to keep that moisture out of the wall. Some people even go beyond asphalt paper and insist on using a nail-hole sealing material like bituthane because they are that concerned about the moisture making its way through. Durock is better for walls that will be under constant barrage from water like a shower because it acts more like the troweled-on mortar a professional tile guy would use. Being more purely cement, it will be less likely to expand and contract than the hardi-backer, which contains more fiber.
