Concrete backer board is an essential component in building a bathroom or shower. The concrete backer board is a type of drywall that is used with a moisture barrier to prevent the studs from rotting due to the excessive moisture from the shower. It is used in shower walls, bathtub sub-flooring and in the bathroom flooring.
The material in a concrete backer board is harder than a gypsum sheet-rock drywall sheet. Although it is cut in a similar manner as the regular sheet rock drywall, cutting a concrete backer board requires the following tools and steps in order to successfully cut to size the piece that you need to work with.
Tools and Materials Needed:
- Utility Knife (with a Carbide Blade)
- Straight Edge
- Tape Measure
- Pencil
- Gloves
- Dust Mask
- Safety glasses
Step 1: Put on Safety Equipment
You should wear safety glasses when cutting the concrete backer board to protect your eyes from any debris that may pop up toward your face. Because the blade that you will be using is extremely sharp, you should also wear safety gloves to protect your hands. A dust mask will keep any loose debris in the air from getting in your lungs.
Step 2: Measure the Area for the Concrete Backer Board
Use a tape measure to measure the area where the concrete backer board will be attached. Take a pencil and make markings on the paper side to indicate where cuts need to be made. Make sure that you check your measurements carefully for accuracy.
Step 3: Score the Backer Board
You will need to line up a straight edge against the pencil marking and score a mark across the concrete backer board, using a utility knife. Unlike dealing with gypsum board, which can be scored with a regular utility knife, you will need a special carbide bladed utility knife to score the concrete backer board. Run the knife across the board several times.
Remove the straight edge and run the blade across your marking several times, using pressure to make the cut deep. This will give you a cleaner break when you tear the measured piece away from the rest of the concrete backer board.
Step 4: Snap the Concrete Backer Board
Position the concrete backer board against a worktable with the score line out a bit. Hit the backer board with your palm and it should give way, breaking of the desired piece that you measured earlier. You may need to hit the concrete backer board several times in order for it to break away cleanly.
You can use the carbide blade to clean up any remaining piece of the concrete backer board from the cut piece. Once you have done this you should have a clean piece ready to be affixed to the wall.
It may take some practice when first working with concrete backer board to make your score lines and cuts clean but over time it should become easier for you. Practice with a small scrap piece in order to get a feel for how the concrete backer board feels before making your real cuts.
