How to Lay Hardboard for Tile

Pull any nails or staples left from older hardwood floor or carpet with pliers to remove any old flooring from the surface. Sweep away any debris or dirt to get the floor as clean as possible.

Measure length and width walls of the room and multiply them together to determine the square footage of the room. Once you know the total square footage, round up to the amount needed to get enough full, 1/2-inch hardboard.

Coat the rough side of each panel with 2 cups of clean water using a paintbrush. Allow the boards to dry for 24 hours in the room they will be installed. The water will cause them to expand slightly, and they will be conditioned to the room when they dry. This way, the boards will be resistant to swelling from accidental water spills that may occur later.

Lay the boards out over the subfloor with the rough-side up, and test fit them together. Place the boards at the furthest point from the door first and work toward the exit. Make sure the boards fit tightly together and have clean, straight edges. Use a jigsaw to cut around floor corners or floor obstructions like plumbing fixtures.

Place 2-inch framing nails 1 inch from the edge of the board to connect the hardboard to the existing subfloor. Place nails in each corner at the center of each edge, and then centered between those two. Use a nail set to push the top of the nail just below the surface of the board. Don't create a hole, but force it below the surface enough so that you don't feel the nail when gliding your hand across the board.

Walk the floor to check for stability and to make sure there are no sections that squeak or rise up under pressure. Verify that the board is firmly secured, and that there are no significant gaps in the joints.