Brick, plaster or cement board – what your substrate means for your tile choice
| Wall Substrate | Maximum tile weight |
|---|---|
| Cement:sand rendering | Generally no restriction A |
| Gypsum plaster | 20kg/m2 |
| Gypsum plasterboard (12.5mm thickness) | 32kg/m2 |
| Gypsum fibreboards | 40kg/m2 B |
| Glass reinforced cement-based boards | 50kg/m2 B |
| Lightweight foam-cored tile backer boards | 60kg/m2 B |
| Other rigid tile backer boards | Consult manufacturer |
B Guide figures only. Certain boards may be capable of carrying greater weights – consult with manufacturer for confirmation
NOTE Where multiple substrates are installed using only adhesives e.g. tile backer board bonded to plaster, the substrate with the lowest value will determine the recommended maximum weight of tiling. In this context tiling is defined as a tile plus its bedding and grouting material
British Standards Institution (2018) BS5385-1:2018: Wall and floor tiling. Design and installation of ceramic, natural stone and mosaic wall tiling in normal internal conditions. Code of practice. Available at: bsigroup.com