Building Materials
Waterproof Backer Board
Waterproof backer board is a lightweight, 100% waterproof alternative to cement board: an extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam core coated on both faces with a fibreglass-reinforced polymer-cement layer, ready to tile straight out of the box. It doubles as continuous exterior insulation and comes with a matching family of pre-sloped shower pans, benches, niches, curbs and accessories. OCALWA supplies waterproof backer board and its full shower system at container scale, direct from verified factories, for importers, distributors and projects.
Waterproof to the core
The core is closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam, so it does not absorb or wick water the way cement, gypsum or wood-fibre backer boards can. Both faces are coated with a polymer-modified cement layer reinforced with an embedded fibreglass mesh, giving a rigid, tileable surface that bonds thin-set the same way tile backer always has.
Because the core is foam rather than cement, a full board weighs up to 60% less than a traditional cement backer board, so it handles, cuts and carries up stairs far more easily. The same foam gives the board real thermal resistance, from R-2.5 up to R-10 depending on thickness, which cement board does not offer at all.
Built to waterproof
Specifications
| Core | Extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam |
|---|---|
| Facing | Polymer-cement + fibreglass mesh, both sides |
| Thickness | 12 / 20 / 30 / 40 / 50 mm (1/2" - 2") |
| Board size | 1200 × 600 mm (custom) |
| Thermal resistance | R-2.5 - R-10 (up to R-5/inch) |
| Weight | Up to 60% lighter than cement board |
| Waterproofing | 100% waterproof core |
| Fire | Class A surface burning · 1-hour fire-rated assemblies |
| Applications | Showers · wet walls · exterior insulated walls · tile backer |
Board range
Board comes in standard grey and white-faced finishes, with thicknesses from 12 to 50 mm to suit the job; the matching shower pans, benches, niches and curbs are available in the sizes below.
Why choose waterproof backer board
100% waterproof core
The closed-cell foam core does not absorb water, so the board will not swell, rot or grow mould even in continuously wet showers and wet walls.
Lighter and faster to install
Up to 60% lighter than cement board, it cuts with a utility knife, carries with one hand and installs with far less dust and mess.
Insulating substrate
The foam core adds real thermal resistance to the wall or floor build-up, something a plain cement board cannot offer.
One system for the whole shower
Pre-sloped pans, benches, niches, curbs and linear drains come from the same waterproof family, so every piece of the shower matches and seals together.
Not just a board · a full waterproof shower system
- Waterproof board · The core wall, floor and ceiling substrate; cut, screw, tape and thin-set tile straight over it.
- Pre-sloped shower pans · Ready-made bases with the fall already built in, so the floor drains correctly without a mud-bed.
- Benches, niches & curbs · Pre-formed pieces complete the shower without extra framing or membrane work.
- Sealing accessories · Waterproofing mesh, joint tape, sealant and washers seal every seam, corner and fastener.
Order the board on its own for tile backer and wet walls, or the full system pans, benches, niches, curbs and linear drains for a complete shower build.
Ready to import at container scale?
Waterproof backer board · frequently asked questions
A closed-cell extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam core is coated on both faces with a fibreglass-mesh-reinforced polymer-cement layer, giving a rigid board that is waterproof through its thickness and ready to bond tile directly.
Yes. Because the core is closed-cell foam rather than cement or gypsum, it does not absorb water at all, so it performs in continuously wet showers, steam rooms and wet walls without swelling, rotting or supporting mould growth.
No. The board itself is the waterproofing layer; you tape and seal the seams, corners and fasteners with the matching mesh, joint tape and sealant, then tile directly over it. No separate sheet membrane or liquid-applied waterproofing is required.
Beyond the flat board, the same family includes pre-sloped shower pans, benches, niches, curbs and linear drains, plus waterproofing mesh, joint tape, sealant and washers, so a shower can be built entirely from matched, waterproof components.
Yes. We consolidate mixed looks and sizes and ship full-container loads from verified factories, with export documentation and quality control managed by OCALWA.