How not to tile a shower...

[Sparktrician]

That's spectacular, Tom.  Can't wait to see the final photos.  Great job!!!  [smile]

 

[Alan G]

Looks great! Really like the niches!

Does the bench have conventional framing under the kerdi board or did you just used a thicker board?

Within the next year I will be doing some reno on our house. I have never used the kerdi system. Looking forward to giving it a try. I especially like the presloped pans. Doing a dry pack mortar bed with the proper slope and liners was keeping me up at night!

 

[tjbnwi]

Looks great! Really like the niches!

Does the bench have conventional framing under the kerdi board or did you just used a thicker board?

Within the next year I will be doing some reno on our house. I have never used the kerdi system. Looking forward to giving it a try. I especially like the presloped pans. Doing a dry pack mortar bed with the proper slope and liners was keeping me up at night!

The bench is 2" Kerdi board, made up of a front panel which is 1/4" shorter than the rear panel, capped with a 3rd 2" panel.

The piece of granite is 11-3/4" deep.

The stem wall I could have built out of Kerdi board also (2", 2" 1.5"). Not sure why I didn't.

Make sure the floor is level for the base. Use a 1/4" square notch trowel for the mortar bed to set it in.

Do you access to the drain?

Tom

 

[Alan G]

Okay great. Thanks for the info.

Yes. I will have access to the drain. How is the install and fitup of the kerdi drain?

 

[tjbnwi]

Okay great. Thanks for the info.

Yes. I will have access to the drain. How is the install and fitup of the kerdi drain?

With access to the plumbing it's easy.

On this one I did not have access to the plumbing.

First photo are the drain body parts. It comes with the seals for the mixing valve and corners.

After I removed the old drain I dry fit the new body. The stub was to short.

Using a socket saver, I removed the pipe all the way into the trap hub.

Drain body dry fit to new pipe.

Body mortared in place.

Pan covered with Kerdi. Do not kneel on the foam pan without covering it with cardboard. Use the box, I double layer. I also cut the Kerdi 4" larger all directions, fold up the sides 2", saves on banding and build up.

When you get around to yours, post here, there are a lot of little tips that will help you through the install.

Tom

 

[Cheese]

Hey Tom, I noticed the niches do not incorporate Schluter corners and neither does the shower. Was this based on cost or based upon preference?

 

[tjbnwi]

Hey Tom, I noticed the niches do not incorporate Schluter corners and neither does the shower. Was this based on cost or based upon preference?

If you look at the last picture in the previous post, expand on the corner, you'll see the pre-formed corners. No band because I hem the Kerdi 2" with a j-roller.

The niches I chose to go with Kerdi Fix. Schluter specs it to seal Kerdi board assemblies. Honestly my preference are the pre-formed niches, getting them to work with vent pipe would have been more work.
https://www.schluter.com/schluter-us/en_US/Shower-System/Waterproofing/Schluter®-KERDI-FIX/p/KERDI_FIX

I looked at the last picture again, you may be asking about the inside corners on the curb. Below is a picture showing the inside corners installed.

Tom

 

[tjbnwi]

Something others may run into and how I solve it.

The face of the niches were over 12" edge to edge. I bonded the glass to Kerdi, let it set, cut and installed.

Tom

 

[Michael Kellough]

Using the pre-sloped pan, what is the largest tile it will support?
May be showing my ignorance again but it seems to smaller tile should be used?

 

[tjbnwi]

Using the pre-sloped pan, what is the largest tile it will support?
May be showing my ignorance again but it seems to smaller tile should be used?

If you don't want to do a lot of cutting and fitting, 2" x2" is about the limit to get the tile to follow the pitches well.

The pictured base is pre-sloped with 8x8's. Everything was laid out and cut to get the water to the drain.

Tom

 

[tjbnwi]

Using the pre-sloped pan, what is the largest tile it will support?
May be showing my ignorance again but it seems to smaller tile should be used?

If you don't want to do a lot of cutting and fitting, 2" x2" is about the limit to get the tile to follow the pitches well.

The pictured base is pre-sloped with 8x8's. Everything was laid out and cut to get the water to the drain.

Tom

If you want to do large format tile a single slope with a lineal drain is the answer.

Tom

 

[Alan G]

When you get around to yours, post here, there are a lot of little tips that will help you through the install.

Tom

I really appreciate that. Thank You!

 

[Cheese]

Hey Tom, I noticed the niches do not incorporate Schluter corners and neither does the shower. Was this based on cost or based upon preference?

Actually Tom I was referring to the Schluter decorative edging. I'm at the point where I can't decide if I should run it around the floor and in the corners of the shower or not. Each 8ft strip is about $30-$35, but each actual corner piece that connects the strips is $25-$35. The cost starts adding up in a hurry.

 

[tjbnwi]

I've never done one where the customer wanted the trim pieces. I have used the in specific locations. I'd love to use them, I hate caulking the corners.

Niches with Jolly trim.

Tom

 

[BJM9818]

Wedi makes a similar caulk to Kerri fix. It’s about 1/2 the price. Only issue is it’s grey.

I just did a small 1/2 bath with All set. Not a big fan vs Ardex but it’s supposed to work on all aspects of a tile job.

 

[tjbnwi]

Wedi makes a similar caulk to Kerri fix. It’s about 1/2 the price. Only issue is it’s grey.

I just did a small 1/2 bath with All set. Not a big fan vs Ardex but it’s supposed to work on all aspects of a tile job.

I've used the Wedi sealant, it's about $6.00 less per cartridge than Kerdi Fix. Problem is I'd have to go to 2 different suppliers. Most jobs I use 2 tubes or less.

I found the All Set did not hold on the trowel as well as the Mapie I normally use. Other than that it worked well.

I've heard good things about Ardex, unfortunately no suppler local to me.

Tom

 

[Alan G]

Something others may run into and how I solve it.

The face of the niches were over 12" edge to edge. I bonded the glass to Kerdi, let it set, cut and installed.

Tom

Is that so it was a rigid piece and easier to install in a tight space?

 

[tjbnwi]

Something others may run into and how I solve it.

The face of the niches were over 12" edge to edge. I bonded the glass to Kerdi, let it set, cut and installed.

Tom

Is that so it was a rigid piece and easier to install in a tight space?

Makes the pieces longer, easier to cut than small pieces.

Tom

 

[Alan G]

Got it. Great idea!

 

[Jungle8888]

Very nice Tom, I'm redoing my master bathroom, everything with Schluter and 24x24 tiles, except for the bath floor, which I think is 2x2

Cheers,
Paul