First off, I want to say,"Hello!". My name's Jeff C. and I'm new to these forums (albeit I've surfed them many times in the past several years). The reason I'm posting, is because I have huge dilemma, and you're my last hope (pretty much). I'm more than 3/4 through with a reno of our Master bath, and have reached an impasse as far as how to finish the gap between the concrete backer board (HardiBacker 500), and the tub edge. Here's the layout of the job:
1. Tub is going into a 3 wall alcove with one of the three walls being an exterior wall w/a window in it
2. Tub (a Kohler Hourglass 1219-L; free standing with integral tile-flange, and no apron as I'm framing a knee-wall and tiling it instead)
3. .6 mil plastic sheeting over the studs (in hindsight, if I had found these forums earlier in the project, I would have just used RedGard or a Noble product, and I probably wouldn't need to ask for further guidance, but que sera, sera)
4. As mentioned above, HardiBacker 500 on walls installed with the recommended screws (1st course is already up, and taped)
Ok, so the install instructions do say to bring the CBU over the flange, but due to that one window on the exterior wall (not to mention a huge pita), shimming the studs out any more than I did (1/4") was just not feasible. Sooooo, I'm trying to make the best of the current situation by "adapting to my environment". Which brings me to a couple of questions:
Q1: I know that waterproofing the seam between the CBU and the tub is a crucial one to get absolutely correct, so I plan on using Kerdi-Band, with Kerdi-Seal, to tackle this seam. But, I'm not sure how I should install the Kerdi-Band. The install instructions say to bed it in thin-set on the outside of the CBU, but I'm wondering if this will have a detrimental effect due to the 6mil plastic already installed over the studs, under the CBU (the whole "two waterproof layers trapping moisture" thing) The other alternative is to install the Kerdi-Band behind the CBU, but if that's the proper installation method (in my case), should it go on top of the 6mil plastic, or underneath it?
Q2: I've seen it mentioned, by one knowledgeable person on these forums, that "the tub should be filled with water before pinning it to the studs". Is that correct? (as I was under the impression that it should be filled with water/weighted down, prior to caulking, but have never heard filling it before screwing/nailing it to the studs.) If it's recommended that it should be filled/weighted down prior to nailing it to the studs, how is that accomplished? I mean, how would I prevent a 500+ lb tub from shifting around, off the shims, and/or potentially ruining the entire drain structure or whatever?
This reno is going on over 5 years now (my wife has been very understanding, but her patience has run out) and has hit a serious snag (because I'm scared as hell at messing it up at this point). ANY help/opinions/intruction will be soooooo appreciated that I may name a grandson after the person that guides me in the right direction ... Thank you, thank you, thank you, in advance !!! .... Jeff C.
1. Tub is going into a 3 wall alcove with one of the three walls being an exterior wall w/a window in it
2. Tub (a Kohler Hourglass 1219-L; free standing with integral tile-flange, and no apron as I'm framing a knee-wall and tiling it instead)
3. .6 mil plastic sheeting over the studs (in hindsight, if I had found these forums earlier in the project, I would have just used RedGard or a Noble product, and I probably wouldn't need to ask for further guidance, but que sera, sera)
4. As mentioned above, HardiBacker 500 on walls installed with the recommended screws (1st course is already up, and taped)
Ok, so the install instructions do say to bring the CBU over the flange, but due to that one window on the exterior wall (not to mention a huge pita), shimming the studs out any more than I did (1/4") was just not feasible. Sooooo, I'm trying to make the best of the current situation by "adapting to my environment". Which brings me to a couple of questions:
Q1: I know that waterproofing the seam between the CBU and the tub is a crucial one to get absolutely correct, so I plan on using Kerdi-Band, with Kerdi-Seal, to tackle this seam. But, I'm not sure how I should install the Kerdi-Band. The install instructions say to bed it in thin-set on the outside of the CBU, but I'm wondering if this will have a detrimental effect due to the 6mil plastic already installed over the studs, under the CBU (the whole "two waterproof layers trapping moisture" thing) The other alternative is to install the Kerdi-Band behind the CBU, but if that's the proper installation method (in my case), should it go on top of the 6mil plastic, or underneath it?
Q2: I've seen it mentioned, by one knowledgeable person on these forums, that "the tub should be filled with water before pinning it to the studs". Is that correct? (as I was under the impression that it should be filled with water/weighted down, prior to caulking, but have never heard filling it before screwing/nailing it to the studs.) If it's recommended that it should be filled/weighted down prior to nailing it to the studs, how is that accomplished? I mean, how would I prevent a 500+ lb tub from shifting around, off the shims, and/or potentially ruining the entire drain structure or whatever?
This reno is going on over 5 years now (my wife has been very understanding, but her patience has run out) and has hit a serious snag (because I'm scared as hell at messing it up at this point). ANY help/opinions/intruction will be soooooo appreciated that I may name a grandson after the person that guides me in the right direction ... Thank you, thank you, thank you, in advance !!! .... Jeff C.