Do I need a special blade to cut cement board?

Use a carbide-tipped wood-cutting blade to minimize dust.

Cement is a very hard material, so you'll need to use a blade that can handle the material. Carbide-tipped wood-cutting blades have fewer teeth than other circular saw blades and the carbide can withstand the strain of the cement.

Do you need a special saw blade to cut Hardie board?

Can you use a wood or concrete blade to cut James Hardie siding? You shouldn't use a wood blade to cut Hardie or other fiber cement siding. The higher teeth-per-inch count creates more fine dust particles. This increases the installer's exposure to respirable silica dust, which can lead to future health problems.

What can I use to cut cement board?

First, you'll want to choose a scoring tool. A carbide-tipped scoring knife is recommended, but you can also use a utility knife or shears. Never use a high-speed grinder to cut cement board indoors, since this can create a dust hazard.

Can you cut cement board with a Sawzall?

A: You can cut cement backer board with a circular saw or grinder equipped with an abrasive or diamond blade. A reciprocating saw with an abrasive blade will also do the trick, and so will a backerboard scoring knife, which works like a standard razor knife but with a carbide cutting edge.

Will masonry blade cut Hardie board?

That's a stone/tile/masonry cutting blade with a diamond 'turbo' rim. It will work for Hardie Backer board or similar fiber-cement products but it'll make a lot of dust, and would almost certainly be awful at cutting any sort of wood or wood paneling - more likely to burn through than cut it.

The Best Ways To Cut Cement Backerboard

How do you cut a cement board with a circular saw?

Fit your circular saw with a carbide-tipped wood-cutting blade (view example on Amazon), choosing one with as few teeth as possible in order to minimize the amount of dust given off as you saw. Operate your circular saw as you typically would, pushing it slowly and evenly through your cement backer board.

What is a Hardie blade?

Overview. Diablo HardieBlade™ is the only approved PCD (PolyCrystalline Diamond) tipped fiber cement blade recommended by James Hardie Building Products. Diablo Fiber Cement Blades generate up to 50% less respirable dust*, while delivering the longest life in all fiber cement materials.

Can I cut Hardibacker with a circular saw?

You can use a jigsaw, table saw or circular saw, or another tool, as long as it's equipped with the right kind of blade. Once prepared, cut the Hardie board as you would any other material. Mark your line; align the board against the guard as needed and slowly but firmly make the cut.

Which side of cement board faces out?

Cement board has a smooth side and a rough side. Face the rough side out if you will be using thin-set mortar adhesive to install the tile but the smooth side out if you will be using latex mastic.

What kind of screws do I use for cement board?

Cement board attached to plywood or similar underlayment will hold with only 1 1/4-inch screws; for thick or heavy metal fixtures, use 1 5/8-inch screws. In general, 1 1/2-inch galvanized nails will hold the board firmly in place.

What is a carbide blade?

With something like a carbide-tipped saw blade, the main body of the blade is made of steel. The small tips of carbide are brazed on to the body. A good carbide tip might hold an edge ten to twenty times longer than a tool steel tip. The carbide tip on a typical circular saw.

Can I use drywall screws for cement board?

You don't want to use regular drywall screws for cement boards. They can corrode, they can break down the edges of the boards, and they won't drive in flush properly. Use ITW's ROCK-ON and BACKER-ON screws instead.

What do you cut durock with?

Straight Cuts With Power Tools

A circular saw with a carbide-tipped woodcutting blade is the best tool for the job. Opt for a blade with as few teeth as possible. Unlike cutting wood, the less teeth, the less dust when cutting Durock.

Will a Dremel cut cement board?

Yes, a Dremel is a fantastic tool to use to cut cement board. With that being said, it is not the number one preferred tool of choice. To cut cement board, generally speaking, most people will recommend using either a scoring knife or a utility knife.

Can you cut cement board with a hand saw?

While power saws make it a lot easier, it is possible to cut ​cement boards by hand.

Can you use a grinder to cut cement board?

You can also cut backer board with an angle grinder fitted with a diamond-impregnated cutting wheel, but this tool produces a lot of dust and is harder to control than a circular saw, so use caution. And although I've never tried it myself, you can cut backer board using a wet saw, which is designed for cutting tile.

How do you nail cement board?

Fiber cement siding can be nailed by hand or with a pneumatic nailer. It can also be attached using corrosion resistant screws. Use hot-dipped galvanized or stainless steel nails. Nails should penetrate through the sheathing and at least 1” into studs.

Can you cut cement board with a Rotozip?

The Rotozip X-Bit Tile Cutter Bit cuts underlayment, hardboard, fiberock and similar cement board. It's a great accessory to have on hand for those tough cutting jobs.

Can I just screw down cement board?

Doing this will require that you remove the existing surface material before installing backer board over the studs. Cement board can also be used on countertops when laying tile. However, the process will involve using an extra sheet of backer board. Never use standard screws when installing cement board.