Schluter Systems - A review of Ditra, Kerdi, Kerdi Board, Kerdi Fix and Kerdi Band

Schluter Systems has a large product line available here in Vancouver and across Canada and the US.  I have not showcased much of my Schluter installs since the topic is covered quite frequently by others.  I'm going to post a few installation pictures on this page and review in detail my thoughts on the product.

The single biggest asset Schluter Systems has going for it is "Research" and "Training".  If you know the right people to talk to at Schluter Systems (ie Dale Kempster) the level of knowledge is outstanding.   Over the last few years I have spoken ill about Kerdi Board - I still think it sucks as a backer board and regardless of my negative reviews the tech support from Schluter powers forward.

I must say that I'm very impressed by this and would like to share my thoughts on Schluter's products.

So here goes.

Ditra and Kerdi Band installation
Vancouver, B.C.

This bathroom floor is heated with a cable heat system.  Any time we use cable heat we cover it with a crack isolation membrane like Noble Seal TS or we use Ditra.  Ditra is not a crack isolation membrane so we can not use it for proper crack isolation but for cable heat protection it has never failed me in 12 plus years.

Installing wire that will expand and contract while it goes through the heating cycles will cause stress at the mortar to wire connection.  Little tiny cracks can show near the wire.  Ditra takes care of this for us.

In the picture you can see that the Ditra is seamed with Kerdi Band.  This install will help keep moisture from getting in under the tile and into the subfloor prep.  This shower is a wet room and everything you see in the picture drains from right to left and then to the drain.

Building a barrier free shower - heating it - is not a simple process.  It gives me peace of mind knowing that the heating system is protected from water and is GFI protected.  This Ditra was installed in no time and follows the slight grading I incorporated with ease.

I hate working with dry set mortar and much prefer a good modified thin set.  To allow for this later while installing the Ditra we skimmed it out flat with non-modfied thin set show here.  We used KeraBond by Mapei.

Setting the Kerdi Band we like to back coat or flat coat the Kerdi Band and then install over the surface.  This added step ensure we get full coverage and makes up for the lack of grabbing power most no-modifed thin sets have.

We are off to waterproof a shower today with Kerdi Board installed.  I'll post a picture or video on this process and showcase my favourite waterproofing product - Kerdi Fix.

Till then....

Understanding lippage and how it affects the finished look of your barrier free shower

Lippage is a "Dirty Word" in the tile business.  Most times setters are bitching about the tile and the rest of the time clients are complaining about excessive lippage.

What is lippage?  Lippage is the term that describes the difference in elevation or height between two ajoining tiles.

I'll showcase a few work pictures so you have a better idea of what I'm talking about this week.

Using large commercial windows in your next shower renovation

This will be a stunning shower and features a floor to ceiling window on the long wall.  The window is commercial grade and installed as one full wall in this shower.  Waterproofing it was a bit of a challenge but I'm sure my approach will hold tight for generations.

The window is waterproofed with a combination of products and the entire shower assembly was flood tested for 72+ hours and inspected by a Vancouver plumbing inspector.

My primary waterproofing membrane for this shower is the blue membrane from Noble Company.  I used this Noble Seal TS to tie into the Watts clamping drain .  I brought the Noble Seal TS up onto the window and fixed in position with Kerdi FIx.  This is outside the recommendations from Noble Company but I have privately tested Kerdi Fix and it's ability to bond to metals in the past - I have yet to run any testing with Noble Sealant 150.

Waterproofing a window in a shower

On the vertical portions of the window to wall tie in I again used Kerdi Fix and a little Kerdi to make a bond from the window to the backer board.  Once this assembly was cured I used liquid membrane from Mapei (Aqua Defence to tie it all together.

These windows are a tough challange on any job - getting it perfect can be a little troublesome.  Your best approach of course would be to contact your suppliers and ask for a detail drawing.  Waterproofing windows is not covered in either the TCNA or TTMAC Specification Guidelines.

Common sense is often needed.  The window was sanded and cleaned where I bonded to it.  The bond was later tested by me - I tried to pull it off later.  Once complete the shower pan was flood tested - 3 plus  days.

I'm not sure what else I could have done....

In the end you are looking for an approval from the city.

City of Vancouver Inspection Report

In Vancouver once a plumbing inspector has signed off on a shower's flood test you are given one of these.  Knowing that every shower is inspected in vancouver that has a permit it makes good sense to self inspect these showers being built with no city envolvment.  If you need any help with this give me a call at (604) 506 6792 or reach me by email info@byanydesign.com or sales@no-curb.com

At the start of the project we set in our curb and a cast iron clamping drain.  Below the clamping drain you will notice the red fire-blocking.  We skimmed out the face of the framing with Grani Rapid from Mapei.

Floor to ceiling window in shower

This seam the weakest joint in the assembly.  After a light sand and cleaning a generous dose of Kerdi Fix
sealed the lip where the window bottom was installed into its track. Later I used more Kerdi Fix to attach the vertical section of Noble Seal TS.

Attaching Kerdi to the window with Kerdi fix

Kerdi and Kerdi fix was installed prior to the boarders showing up.
These flaps are sealed to the windows framing and then later set down onto the backer board.

The Kerdi and Kerdi Fix was installed into the back side of the window trim on the right side.

In any unusual install it is best to chat with the manufactures of these products.  The work I do here in Vancouver challenges me all the time and not too many weeks go by where I do not contact Schluter Systems, Mapei, Laticrete or Noble Company for help or direction.  I have found that much of the advice that can be given follows suit with printed guidelines - when you need to go outside of these parameters that is when prior expeirenc and for me my "Mad Lab Testing" comes into play.

Seeing is believing and more so - testing is proof that a concept has merit or will work.  I have used Kerdi Fix on many different products and is still my favourite waterproofing material in difficult installs.   I do not think I would use anything else to tie into a window.

As we speak I'm playing with a new product from Noble Company that is a lower VOC version of their Noble Sealant 150.  I will expierement with this new Sku and see how it compares to Kerdi Fix and regular Noble Sealant 150.  I'll let you all know how it goes in do time....

JW

How to flood test an Infinity linear shower drain

I received an email last week from a builder in New York city.  His client had requested a linear drain from Infinity and he was not sure how he could flood test his shower.  The resulting research done by both him and I shed the light onto some of the struggles these new linear drains can bring to the table.

The main problem with the slimmer linear drains is getting an inflatable test plug inside so you can test both the waterproofing connection to the drain itself but also the drains connection to the home's waste line.  My first thought was that the slimmer Infinity drain would be like the Proline linear drain but I was mistaken.  The Infinty FFAS 25 series is a tiny linear drain - or is it?  IS the Infinity FFAS 25 even a shower drain???

I asked Infinity about how to flood test this drain last Wednesday.  As of this morning they still have not responded.  The builder learned that the Infinity FFAS 25 requires a clamping drain to be installed first and then the linear drain gets installed overtop.  So in fact the linear drain itself is not a primary shower drain.

This is important to remember because not all drains are created equal.  I tried to find the approvals for the Infinity drain and could not find an IAPMO report on them - turns out Infinity Drains have no IAPMO report at all - but instead have a CSA report which is valid in the United States and Canada.

Now in searching the link I was given from Infinity the CSA report does not list the Infinty Drain (FFAS 25) anywhere?  I'm not sure I would take this chance and if looking for a linear drain select one that does have a CSA or IAPMO listing and also bears an engraving line cUPC CSA right in plan view for the inspectors.

Is the FFAS 25 an approved linear drain?  I think not - certainly not in Canada and in the States I'll look into it more.


JW

Protecting your home's floors durning a shower renovation

The simplest thing you can do to protect your home from harm in a renovation is to ask your builder or sub trades "Who is taking care of the floor protection?" - It needs to be someone's job and if the responsibility is not assigned most times you get varying levels of care.

Key trades like your electrician require him/her to wear their boots so a barefoot or sock foot approach is not going to work.  Not wearing work boots is a safety hazard and a very risky thing to do.

Here in Vancouver I use Ram Board to protect my clients homes, floors, showers and counters.  This has been one of the greatest additions to our general service package and we have not had to fix one floor since we started using the product years back.

Protecting floors and counters durning renovations

Houzz- Kitchen Remodel, Bathroom Remodel and More »

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Candles And Candle Holders · Fireplace Accessories · Frames · Home Electronics · Pillows · Rugs · Screens And Wall Dividers · Waste Baskets ·

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JW

Shower Drain Selection - The Pros and Cons of each drain supplier

Shower Drain Options

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Cellular Shades · Curtain Poles · Curtains · Roller Blinds · Roman Blinds · Venetian Blinds · Vertical Blinds · Window Blinds ·

Getting the right tile for your next barrier free steam shower.

How to Choose Tile for a Steam Shower

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Bulletin Board · Cable Management · Desk Accessories · Desks · Filing Cabinets And Carts · Task Chairs ·

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