Recommended shower install materials??

[jch]

I'm in western Canada (Victoria), so I'm looking for advice about products available here.

Been reading the posts about Kerdi here and on John Bridge and I'm getting overwhelmed.... Been to Big Orange and some contractor tile places and the number of choices is staggering!

For a first-timer like me, specifically what brands would you recommend I use for materials in a simple tiled shower (no niches, but with tiled sloped ceiling, rafters 24" OC)?

i.e. which brands of:

• Wallboard,
• fasteners,
• tape
• tape mud,
• waterproofing,
• tile-setting thinset (for 12"x4" tiles, plus 1"x2" glass mosaic strip), and
• grout

Appreciate any *specific* help you could share. Once I've got specific recommendations, I'll go look up the specific installation instructions on the manufacturers' sites.

Thanks!

[chefwong]

John -

It's not the brands but the process...
Non Shower area - sheetrock treatment is fine.

Shower - Wet Wall Area - any concrete board of choice , denshield, hardiback

Some caulk between the joints of CBU.
I've always just used a alkai resistent tape and thinset

Don't use drywall mud for the shower area.

Waterproofing - Look at both liquid and sheet membranes. FWIW, I'm doing my next project with liquid and certain area like the niche, I plan to use sheet and liquid. Maybe overkill but I tend to build solid like a rock. (Carpenter was cursing up a storm when I had him change the RO for a interior door recently that I built out years ago) ......

Grout and thinset is subjective but Laticrete and Mapei are fine brands I prefer.
KEY advice. ALWAYS check the date /batch codeof your product. Make sure it's fresh IMO.
Grout- you ideally want them of the same batch code

Grout - Epoxy all the way for me. Cost more (labors just the same to me IMHO). Most epoxy grouts have a less than 1% absorption rate.
If you plan on white, you may NOT want epoxy just due to color

YMMV. Good luck

[jadnashua]

I prefer a surface membrane, whether a sheet or liquid...it just leaves much less that can get wet in a shower. Whatever you choose, you must use good workmanship. A conventional liner shower will work, too, but surface waterproofing has its advantages. 24" OC ceiling may be a problem...some stuff can handle it, some can't, so read the instructions carefully. You could using strapping and possibly some intermediate supports to narrow that 24" OC if required, but it might lower the ceiling, leaving a step, depending on method used. one person's experience/predjudice should not make your definitive decision for you...lots of people have used and created successful showers with each of the available methods out there...some are easier for the first timer and I have my preferences, but that's one person's opinion, too.

[jch]

So how about if I use 2x6 blocking (with the 6" face against the ceiling) to span those 24" rafters?

Big Orange only carries a limited number of products, and pro tile shops seem to carry a dizzying array of products.

That's why I'm asking for specific recommendations for a newbie like myself.

Thanks!

[johnfrwhipple]

If your shopping at Home Depot then you needed to decide between RedGuard by Custom or Kerdi by Schluter.

The RedGuard shower can net you a 25 year warranty and the Kerdi one 5 years.

The framing in the ceiling needs improving and you will need to take care tiling this. It is tricky for pros so as a first timer I suggest you practice first before working on your own shower.

Look up the spec sheets on Red Guard and a clamping drain. Personally I prefer a flashing tie in at the drain and I believe Custom does not make this.


JW

[jch]

Sorry--should have mentioned that this will be a cast iron built-in tub (Kohler Villager) with shower head...

If I go to a pro tiling store instead (which is often cheaper than Big Orange), would that change your recommendations? I'm in BC.

Thanks!

[johnfrwhipple]

Work backwards from your tile selection.

What type of thinset does the manufacture recommend?
Are they large format tile?

Do you need Anti-Sag thinset?

Most people do and this will weed out Kerdi from your short list.

With backer boards - do you have a grinder and diamond wheel? No. Maybe Green EBoard is a better choice.

Try keeping the products in one family.

If you love Customs grout - use Custom straight through the job.

If it's Latecrete likewise.

Purchase your tile. Maybe start with 2-4 and practice setting them. Grout them.

If it looks good jump right in.

Setting tile on a ceiling is tuff. Setting tile on a slope ceiling - really tuff.

The tile wil want to slide down the pitch. We start with the first tile and get it supported and set and then build off from there. A Lash type system might be of some use to you.

Most tile stores will let you order direct. If you come into Vancouver for your materials you can use my accounts at Fontile or Centanni tile to purchase product and get my pricing levels.

[Will Rogers Plumbing]

i.e. which brands of:

Wallboard, Permabase
fasteners, Roofing Nails
tape Fiberglass or stucco mesh
tape mud, Thinset
waterproofing, Kerdi with Kerdi Drain or Aquadefense with divot method
tile-setting thinset (for 12"x4" tiles, plus 1"x2" glass mosaic strip), and
grout Customs Versabond for thinset, SpectraLock or Truclolor for grout

[Will Rogers Plumbing]

Sorry--should have mentioned that this will be a cast iron built-in tub (Kohler Villager) with shower head...

If I go to a pro tiling store instead (which is often cheaper than Big Orange), would that change your recommendations? I'm in BC.

Thanks!

If your just doing a tub surround then permabase walls, thinset and tape your joints and corners with fiberglass mesh tape. Water proof with Aquadefense on the corners and seems. You don't have to go all crazy with the water proofing on a tub surround. I like spectralock expoxy grout, trucolor urethane grout is good too, but less forgiving.