Instead it was designed to be a subfloor or backing material for another material installed on top of it.
Drywall or cement board around fireplace.
Cement board is notorious for cracking its very hard to finish simply with mud.
Hardiebacker board is not designed to take the place of stone drywall or other materials used near or on your fireplace.
Before the tile can be placed cement board must be installed.
The board scratches real easy and if you are good with a spackle knife you could easily mud all the imperfections in the board sand primer and then paint.
But thats what we do with stucco.
I would use a roll of field mesh and mesh the entire thing with sheetrock.
The cement board creates a sturdy surface for the tile installation.
We had a plan of attack.
Homes with outdated brick fireplaces can be brought up to date with a new tile fireplace surround.
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Around a fireplace you can use hardiebacker board to prepare an area for tile installation either stone or ceramic.
An old fireplace can be an eyesore.
Cement board is pretty rigid and has pitting little holes in the board.
Tile around fireplace drywall vs cement board my fireplace paint ceiling user name.
It might make sense to use concrete board then a sheet of 5 8 fire resistant drywall on top of the concrete board.
Add cement board to the entire area you ll be tiling for us that means the floor and all 4 sides of the fireplace leaving room for wood mantle.
Almost like a stucco.
On the ground and drywall use thinset and screws to attach the cement board.