Things You'll Need
Broom or vacuum
Solvent cleaner
Thinset
Water
Bucket
Stirring stick
Trowel
Sponge
Wood nails
Hammer
While vinyl and wood panels may be the traditional approaches to covering houses and floors, Hardie Planks have made a niche for themselves in the contracting world. Hardie Plank pieces are cement fiber siding and flooring tools that live up their names, providing years of constant, low-maintenance protection. Hardie Planks resist staining, mold and other damage, making them resilient for use in the home. Hardie Plank can be used as a flooring option over a plywood subfloor, with thinset as the glue to hold it securely in place.
Step 1
Clean your plywood subfloor to remove dirt, dust and other contaminants. Sweep or vacuum away all surface contaminants. If necessary, spot clean areas of the floor with mineral spirits or a similar solvent to remove wax or grease. Allow all cleaning efforts to dry before continuing.
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Step 2
Mix your thinset product with water in a bucket per specific product instructions. The amount of water needed may vary by specific product. Stir well until the thinset becomes a cement-like consistency.
Step 3
Spread the thinset evenly with a trowel over an area of the subfloor that you can cover with Hardie Plank within 25 to 30 minutes; otherwise, the thinset will dry too much and not adhere to the planks. Allow the thinset to sit on the surface for about 10 minutes, until it becomes tacky.
Step 4
Place the Hardie Plank boards across the thinset area, laying each with a quick twist into place to make sure the back of the plank is completely covered in thinset.
Step 5
Install Hardie Plank boards across your entire flooring space. If excess thinset seeps between the boards, wipe it away with a damp sponge. Continue until all boards are set.
Step 6
Nail the Hardie Plank boards into place with wood nails long enough to penetrate through the planks, thinset and plywood. Insert a nail every 8 inches along the outer edge of the boards and hammer them firmly into place. This will secure any loose edges and prevent slipping or cracking in the boards.
Tip
If you are unsure about any step in the installation process or about what type of thinset to use, contact a Hardie Plank installer or manufacturer for more details.
Warning
Hardie Plank flooring should only be installed over a plywood subfloor, which must be at least 5/8 inch thick to support the Hardie Plank. The planks will not settle correctly over concrete or other subfloors.
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