Installing cement board behind my shower

[jadnashua]

I have used Redgard, I think a sheet membrane is more reliable - it's easier to get full coverage without lumps or drips or pinholes. I used it this week because it was the best for the job at hand, but I didn't particularly like it. Lots of people get instruction and build showers other than with Kerdi at the John Bridge site...they have info in their library on how to do it and will guide you, if you ask. One person's experience is one peron's opinion, just like mine and John W's. Each has their own opinion based on experience and training. A shower made with Kerdi is by no means the only way to build one...lots of other methods work and work well. They each have their advantages and disadvantages, but all can perform well. It depends on your expectations. ANY sheet membrane IMHO, is better than a traditional liner system as there's so much less to get wet. Reducing moisture will reduce the chances of mold. Mold requires three things: the spores (everywhere), moisture (you can control), and food (easy to leave behind unless you have perfect maintenance and cleanliness - unlikely). The surface applied membrane methods (and Kerdi is only one of them) limit how much can get wet, which means it dries out quicker, which limits the likelyness of mold. BTW, I have been trained on Kerdi.

The big thing with cbu is that they are all stable when wetted...and, they expand and contract similarly to tile, so they make a good substrate in a tiled environment, whether it gets wet or not. Some are more impervious than others, and some wick water more than others, but their primary purpose is to hold the tile well, and that's a function of their stability and expansion and contraction properties that match tile's.

I think in all of the discussions that I've tried to bring out facts and dispell misconceptions. I suggest Kerdi, but also have suggested Wedi and other systems in order to get people to think other than a traditional shower. This is all part of being an informed consumer, but it's natural to recommend products you have used and are comfortable with. John has more experience and prefers different products, but doesn't understand Kerdi and therefore seems to downplay it's effectiveness. With ANY product, if you don't install it properly, you'll have problems. There's a lot of resiliency and flexibility with the Kerdi system as well as others. Choose your preference on your comfort level, local availability, support, and needs, but don't say the product doesn't work when you don't have a clue. Craftsmanship is key in whatever method you use...do it well, do it once, be happy.

[johnfrwhipple]

... I used it this week because it was the best for the job at hand, but I didn't particularly like it....

Jim what where you using it for? Did you Red Guard all your Kerdi Seams?

Did you build a shower with a neo angle?

A shower with multiple niches?

What?

Did you flood test the shower? This must be your fourth shower build todate? Is that right? two for you, one for your sister and I think your Mom's place if my memory is correct.

...John has more experience and prefers different products, but doesn't understand Kerdi and therefore seems to downplay it's effectiveness. ....

Now that is not true. I have built way more showers with Kerdi than any other system. I bet I know Kerdi better than you and have installed thousands of square feet of Kerdi and Ditra.

When designing barrier free showers and installing linear shower drains Kerdi's greatest weakness (the dry set thin set rule) held me back and made for inferior shower builds. So I retrained myself in the other systems. Now three years later I can look back and review all systems since I have infact used them.

I love sheet membranes. Noble Seal TS is a hands down winner over Kerdi.

Remember Jim Kerdi is to my knowledge the thinnest protection in the business, at times only 4mil (4 one thousands of an inch) or roughly 1/7th the thickness of your credit card separate your shower from one that holds water to one that leaks.

Jim if you where in fact in this business (perhaps working for John Bridge or Schluter) and where like me building showers your opinion would be varied. If you didn't spend so much time on John Bridge's site getting brain washed you might see the light.

To say I don't understand Kerdi is wrong. I prefer better systems now for my clients because I have had more training and been exposed to better systems - that's all.




NTCA Survey Update of drywall in showers
JW

[jadnashua]

I wasn't building a shower where I used Redgard, I was repairing some subflooring where I used it for its antifracture capabilities over a seam I had to make and to provide a little protection around the tub ends. Other stuff may have been better, but it was specified for that application and it was free, the tile dealer gave us enough to do the job. I was helping my sister. I would have preferred tearing the whole thing out, but that was not in the budget. The tub was installed sloped to the room slightly, and there was damage on each end that was repaired. It was a patch that should last long enough to get them to the point where they can afford to remodel and do the whole thing right.